Clean computing is the practice of maintaining a clean machine, including hardware and software. The average computer is 5-1/2 years old, according to one estimate. That’s plenty of time for dust buildup inside and outside your device. Depending on environmental factors — including whether you have a furry pet — it might be a good idea to schedule cleanups yearly or monthly.
To keep your computer’s hardware in good shape, there are key tasks you should add to your list of chores — after turning off and unplugging your computer.
Online White Screen is a tool which provides you to check all the dirt and dust particles on your screen which you cant find with your naked eyes. Also it helps to check dead pixels, stuck pixels and warm pixels on your screen,
Dust off the outside of your computer with a soft, dry cloth at least once a week. Remove any fingerprints on the screen. If you want to use a cleaning fluid, visit a computer store to find one that’s specifically designed for your monitor type.
Regular household cleaners may damage a monitor screen, wearing away coatings. Instead, gently wipe your screen with a soft cloth. A microfiber cloth is great for this purpose. You can dampen your cloth with distilled or filtered water to wipe away tougher smudges. Plain water usually works, too, but filtered or distilled water will help you avoid streaks.
If heavier cleaning is needed, moisten a cloth with a 50-50 mix of distilled water and distilled white vinegar and gently rub your screen clean. To clean the front and back of your laptop case, use a clean sponge that’s been dipped in mild dish soap and water and wrung out. Rub gently. Make sure your computer is dry before turning it back on.
To help detect hard drive issues before they lead to other problems, Microsoft Windows provides a Check Disk tool. The tool will scan for and repair issues such as file system errors or bad sectors.
If you haven’t done this scan before, run a full scan, which enables automatic repairs. The process may take a few hours.
Power surges can put harmful stress on your computer, and in some cases damage the power supply and other components. Did you know surge protectors can lose their protection after undergoing just one power surge? Even if they still appear “on,” they may not be providing the protection you need.
So it’s a good idea to check them from time to time, especially after a notable power surge.
Maintaining proper air flow inside and outside of your PC is important. Make sure you have at least three inches of space on either side of your PC that’s free of obstructions such as other computers, papers, or walls. Also make sure your room is large enough or well-ventilated enough to facilitate good air flow.
Another thing to watch is your CPU fan and fan blades. If your processor keeps overheating and forcing your PC to shut down, you may need to upgrade your CPU fan.
It’s time to attend to the programs that create and store your important information. Here’s how to keep your computer’s “mind” as clean as its “body” to possibly extend its longer lifespan.
Antivirus software helps prevent viruses and malware from infiltrating your device and messing with your data or stealing information which could lead to identity theft. Paid and free versions of antivirus software are available, and most programs can be set to work automatically in the background.
Make sure to update your software, especially high-use programs such as Adobe Flash, Adobe Reader, Chrome, and Windows. Outdated software can be vulnerable to malware, because most updates are created to keep software safe from threats. Downloading and installing the latest versions of your programs might not only protect your PC, but can keep it working quickly.
While you do updates, check to make sure you’re using the programs on your system, and consider deleting any programs and files you no longer use. Decluttering helps ensure that your computer doesn’t get bogged down with unnecessary data.
It also limits the number of programs malware might “hijack” to gain access to the system.
If you’re using Windows, there’s another step you may want to consider: cleaning your registry. Keep in mind that this may not make your device operate more efficiently. Your PC boot may work faster or maybe not. Your Windows registry is a huge repository that holds details on everything you do on your PC. Making sure it’s clean is worth considering. But proceed with caution. If you make an error while cleaning your registry, you’ll need to reinstall your operating system. Be sure to back up your registry to be safe.
Several computer cleanup tools can help you on the software side of the process.
Apple computers have their own unique set of computer cleanup tools. Here are three examples to consider.
Windows PCs have their own computer cleanup tools. Here are some of the options to consider:
Windows has a disk cleanup tool that will free up space on your hard drive by deleting old files and other things you don’t need. To launch it, click on the Windows key, type in Disk Cleanup, and press enter.
Computers can slow down if the file system is fragmented. To address this, Windows has a disk defragmenter tool that is built into the system and can run automatically.
If your Apple or Windows cleanup tools aren’t addressing your issues, there are several other app cleanup tools that will require you to install additional software, such as MyCleanPC.It’s smart to do your research to see what type of cleaning suits your individual computer needs.