How to Clean Your Computer Inside & Out

Cleaning the exterior of your PC

Computers don’t need an intense cleaning routine to keep them looking new, but occasionally taking the time to shine it up can make a big difference. Before cleaning your computer, unplug and turn it off completely. Although you shouldn’t be using liquid near your computer’s internal parts, keeping it turned off during cleaning prevents any potential damage.

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How to clean your screen

Wipe down your computer screen with a dry cloth to remove excess dust. Then, dampen the cloth with water—make sure the cloth isn’t too wet, as any dripping liquid may damage the internal parts of your computer.

Keep your keyboard spotless

Crumbs, dust, and sticking keys happen to the best of us. If you ever eat while working on your computer, your keyboard will likely need regular cleaning. Using a can of compressed air, clear any crumbs from the surface of your keys. Once there’s no more visible debris, start cleaning with a clean cloth, isopropyl alcohol, and cotton swabs. Dampen your cloth with alcohol and run it over the full keyboard before using cotton swabs to clean between the keys. Be careful not to soak your cleaning supplies in alcohol so it doesn’t seep into your computer and damage internal parts.

Don’t forget the mouse

If you use a desktop computer or a laptop with an external mouse, don’t skip this step. There’s no need to clean the inside of your mouse, but regular use may make the exterior sticky or smudged. Unplug or remove the batteries before using your clean cloth and a small amount of isopropyl alcohol to wipe clean but be careful to not get any liquid inside. If it still looks worn after thoroughly cleaning, it might be time for a new computer mouse.

Tips for cleaning the inside of your computer

For most personal computers, you won’t need to clean the hardware inside of your device. However, older desktop computers may need the occasional interior cleaning and there are plenty of ways to clean up your computer software. Deleting files and clearing your history gives you more space and speeds up your device’s performance.

How to dust inside your PC

Most laptops aren’t meant to be opened by their users, which makes cleaning inside challenging. Some laptops’ warranties may also be voided after the bottom panel has been opened. For most modern laptops, you won’t need to regularly clean inside. However, if you notice visible dust in the vents of your laptop, it’s worth opening up for a quick clean, as dust buildup can cause your device to overheat.

Power down your laptop before unscrewing the bottom panel. It’s a good idea to remove the battery inside while cleaning. Using a can of compressed air, blow short bursts of air at the internal parts of your computer. Make sure you’re blowing the dust out of the computer and not just moving it around.

If you notice your desktop computer running slowly or making more noise than normal, cleaning the hardware inside may solve the problem. Your computer’s fan pulls air inside to cool the internal components, bringing dust along with the fresh air. Eventually, dust build-up can keep your hardware from cooling itself and lead to overheating. Desktop computers tend to be easier to take apart for cleaning so it’s a good habit to clean inside regularly.

To dust inside your computer, unplug your device and turn it off completely. After you open the case of your desktop’s tower, use a can of compressed air to spray inside until all of the dust is gone. Avoid using a vacuum cleaner, as they create static electricity that can damage your device. Rubbing the internal components of your PC with a rag or feather duster may also cause damage.

How to clean computer files

Cleaning the inside of your computer means getting rid of unnecessary files and applications that are slowing you down. Depending on your computer’s processing system, you’ll take different steps to clean out files, but it’s the same general process for any device.

In the search box on your computer’s taskbar, search disk cleanup and select Disk Cleanup from the results. Select Clean up system files to delete temporary system files and free up extra space on your device. Double-check what files you’re deleting before clearing them and when in doubt, back up your data to cloud storage or an external drive.

Clear your browser history

If your computer still runs slowly, clear your browser history for some extra storage space and boosted performance. Navigate to your preferred web browser, open settings, and delete browser history.

Once you’ve wiped down your device and freed up precious storage space, your computer should look and perform better than ever.