Today, we enter the world of computer cleanliness. You probably think you have it all. That new custom machine, cold cathodes, a light up keyboard, and hard core mouse, a slick mouse pad, a unbeatable joystick (Don’t we all think so.), and, in general, a really nice setup. However, it has been a few months, and now the dust is starting to move in and there are pizza finger prints on your keyboard. It’s time to take some action and, no, I don’t just mean polishing your joystick.

Why should a computer be kept clean inside and out? Dust can adversely affect performance as much as removing your CPU in the middle of a CPL match. Your shot just won’t register right. Collecting dust can cause everything from over heating to static build up and eventual component failure. Let’s face it, you don’t want to lose your fame and chick magnet status in the gaming world all because of some dust, do you?

Equipment:

First, you will need the essential tools. For basic computer and peripheral cleaning you will need:

• Cotton swabs
• Paper towels
• Glass cleaner
• Isopropyl Alcohol
  
• 1 or 2 cans of compress air
• A vacuum with a hose
• A crowbar (Because if you can’t clean it. Just smash it.)

Note: Make sure to find the highest % Isopropyl you can find. The higher the percentage, the faster it evaporate, and the higher quality the chemical is. However for this kind of external cleaning, anything over 70% should do.

Believe it or not, these items actually have other uses than what you probably use them for. Most of you reading this probably live somewhere in the vicinity of Mom’s basement, so I would head upstairs and ask her if she has these things before running out and spending your own money. I live in a studio apartment on my own and I’m a guy. So, naturally, I had to go out and actually buy these items.

Phase One :: The Rub Down

Now that you have the equipment and have come to terms with the fact that these items aren’t just for cleaning glass and digging sticky yellow gunk out of those holes in your head, we can get started. First, turn off your computer and unplug all cables from the back. Take the computer tower to a table or floor space where you can have plenty of room to lay things out and have some elbow room.

WARNING: Never, under any circumstances, spray or apply chemicals directly to an electrical component. If you were to do so, you run the risk of damaging that component and others.

And just to be safe…

DISCLAIMER: I am in no way responsible for your stupidity or lack of common sense.

That being said, take a few sheets of the paper towels and spray them with the glass cleaner. Go ahead and wipe down the outside and remove all that dust that has settled in or around the crevices of your tower. Make sure you get the top, sides, and bottom of the tower. While you are at it, you can take the paper towels and wipe down your monitor, keyboard, and mouse. This process is just to remove the large amounts of dust all over. If you own an LCD, DO NOT wipe the screen with the glass cleaner. You could seriously damage it. I will cover the cleaning of LCDs later on.

Finally, you should have the major external dust removed. By now you might have had to change paper towels quite a bit and that is fine. It is better to use fresh paper towels as much as possible so you aren’t just spreading the dust around.