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Blowing the dust off your computer's vents is just the beginning of what should be regular computer cleaning and maintenance. Cleaning your computer is simple and easy.

There are many ways that computers can get "dirty." Many people are aware of the ways computers get dirty on the inside, by becoming infected with spyware, viruses, and other malware. But computers can get physically dirty on the outside as well, and many people never even notice it because the computer is tucked away under their desks. Dust, pet hair, and other airborne particles can clog your computer's ventilation system and cause the entire computer to run hotter than normal, thus shortening the life expectancy of your processor and other electronic parts. With a little basic computer maintenance you can take care of both problems and keep your computer running in top shape.

Cleaning A Dusty, Dirty Computer:

Dirty computers build up heat and operate at higher temperatures than a clean computer does. Every so often every computer user should consider opening up their computer case and doing some basic computer cleaning. The only store bought material you will require is a can of compressed air, available at almost any retailer that sells computer equipment or accessories. It also helps to have a vacuum cleaner nearby with a removable hose. Use the compressed air to dislodge all of the built-up dust on the CPU, memory chips, hard drives, and accessory cards. Use the vacuum cleaner to suck the dust up and get it out of the computer's interior. Always make sure to ground yourself by touching the computer's metal case to prevent any static electricity from damaging the fragile electronic circuitry. Once you have dusted off the interior of the case, be sure to suck the dust out of all of the air vents on the outside of the case as well.

The same compressed air that you used to blow dirt out off of your CPU and interior computer components can also be used to clean your keyboard. Take the tube and stick it under the keys of the keyboard and blow out as much of the debris as possible. You will likely be able to remove a lot of food particles, dead skin cells, and pet hair by this method alone. If you are adventurous you can also remove the keys from the keyboard and clean more thoroughly using a cotton swab and rubbing alcohol. Just make sure you remember where the keys go when you snap them back into place. If you are worried about it, take a digital photo and print it off before you start. The tops and sides of the keys can also be cleaned with swabs and rubbing alcohol. You can also find commercial cleaning agents as well.

Do not use commercial cleaners on your LCD monitor unless the solution is labeled specifically for LCD flat panel monitors. Even without a commercial cleaner you can still gently wipe fingerprints and other smudges off of the screen with a soft, lint-free cloth moistened with a small amount of water. Never spray water directly on the screen, and always make sure the monitor is off and unplugged before cleaning it.