CLEAN UP YOUR (COMPUTER) ACT

The computer gets just as dirty as anything else in the house. We do everything at our computers. We eat, we drink, we file our fingernails. Occasionally, we will dust the monitor/screen. And sometimes, if we’re very, very good, we will wipe off the keys.

Stop! I know what you’re thinking! “What’s the big deal? Just spray it with a window cleaner, right?”

Wrong, computer killer. Never spray anything directly onto the monitor or screen. Some spray will go through vents onto the circuit boards. And circuit boards are very finicky about being dropped in on by any liquid, especially strong cleaners.

Here’s the scoop. Try this safer method instead:

THE MONITOR

1 Turn off the computer. Don’t just power down; turn it off at the switch.

2 Gently wipe the plastic casing with a cloth dampened with water and just a bit of dishwashing detergent.

3 Spray glass cleaner onto a lint-free cloth and then gently wipe the screen.

4 Never touch the back of the monitor.

THE MOUSE

Every time you roll the mouse, you are rolling grease, dirt, and gunk into its innards. About once a month, you need to clean it to keep it rolling along. Here’s how:

1 Unplug the mouse from the computer. If yours is wireless, to to step 2.

2 Open the back/underside and remove the ball.

3 Clean the ball with a damp cloth, and let air dry.

4 Gently clean the inside with a cotton swab moistened with rubbing alcohol.

5 Blow in compressed air to dry.

THE KEYBOARD

Science can’t explain it, but soft drinks, crumbs, and coffee are undeniably attracted to computer keyboards. Put them and a kid or three in proximity, and they’re bound to interact messily sooner or later. Here’s how to clean up the inevitable mess when it happens:

1 Unplug the keyboard.

2 If liquid is spilled, turn the keyboard over and let it drain and dry for at least 24 hours. If the spill was a sticky drink--a cola or a latte, perhaps --try prying the small key caps off the kkeyboard with a flat-head screwdriver to get better access to the mess.

3 Take a picture of the keyboard layout, or make a quick sketch of it before you remove any keys so you can put them back where you found them. Don’t remove the spacebar, the Enter key, or other large key caps, however.

4 Gently clean the keyboard with a wet cotton swab. Gently pry off really grimy gunk with a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol.

5 Rinse the key caps thoroughly, and them to air-dry.

6 Replace the key caps.

7 Let everything dry for at least 24 hours before plugging the keyboard back in.