Networking Terms
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support > cleaning your computer

Cleaning Your Computer

If your having performance problems, it might be as simple as needing to clean your computer. Yes, computers do need to be cleaned just like any other appliance in your home. When you clean your furnace make a note to clean your computer at the same time.

Cleaning your computer is not necessarily difficult work and the most technical thing you may need to know is how to use a screwdriver. You won’t really need any special equipment which you don’t already have either.

What you will need:

• Microfiber cloth like the ones used to clean eyeglasses.
• Water
• An old all-cotton rag (use an old towel or T-shirt).
• A vacuum cleaner with attachments. Additionally, there are some mini-vacuums made specifically for cleaning computers.
• Optional: an air compressor, with emphasis on optional.

WARNING: Remember, you are dealing with electronic equipment here. Unless you’re just wiping down the dust, make sure the piece of equipment you are cleaning has been unplugged, just in case.

Step 1:
Clean your monitor
You should try to keep your monitor screen clean, simply to make the picture look better and brighter. Simply wipe it down with the microfiber cloth or a little duster. If you see some stains, put a little warm water on the all-cotton rag and wipe the stains from your screen. Many people often use window cleaner to clean their screens. Avoid doing so because these products often contain ammonia.

Step 2:
Clean your computer tower

• Wipe your case down with your cloth. You may use water or other cleaner.
• Vacuum any ducts on your case. Unless you’ve done some heavy modding, you probably only have a couple of fans in the back of your computer tower.
• Vacuum your keyboard and make sure to get in between keys. Additionally, wipe it down with your cloth to remove dust or stains. Be gentle!
• Old ball-mice may have scrolling problems if the wheels inside get dirty. Unless you think you can figure out how to open your mouse and put it back together, we recommend you simply get an optical mouse. They have nothing to clean and work great.
• It may be a good idea to vacuum inside your computer every once in a while. If you haven't ever looked inside a computer, you will be amazed at how much dust is collected in there. Make sure everything is unplugged, and that you have discharged any static electricity from your body. Be careful when cleaning inside your computer since there are lots of sensitive components in there.
• Additionally, you may want to blow out dust from headphones and microphone jacks, USB ports, etc. We recommend you use an air compresor for this if you have one.

Final note, keeping your computer clean will increase the lifetime of your hardware and will help everything run smoothly and more efficiently.

Helena, Montana

406.495.3525
1 Engineering Place
Helena, Montana 59602

Billings, Montana

406.656.6000
315 N. 25th Street, #102
Billings, Montana 59101

Bozeman, Montana

406.587.0721
901 Technology Boulevard
Bozeman, Montana 59718

Tempe, Arizona

480.517.5800
80 E. Rio Salado Prkwy, #201
Tempe, AZ 85281