If there are visible dust bunnies in the vents, you’ve let it go far too long without a cleaning. The goal is to prevent dust buildup over time, which can cause your laptop to overheat. If you’re lucky, you probably won’t see a big change after doing this. Blow in short bursts, since longer sprays can cause moisture to accumulate inside your computer and can damage the fans by making them spin too fast. Grab your compressed air, give it a quick burst away from the laptop to get rid of any condensation, then start blowing air into any cracks and crevices: the keyboard, the vents and even the USB ports. Just turn off the laptop, unplug the power cable and remove the battery (if it’s easily removable). Provided you’ve maintained your laptop well, you shouldn’t have to open it up for this step. Kerr said you should start with the less glamorous internals: “Canned air will blow crumbs and cat hair and what-have-you everywhere, so if you’ve already cleaned the screen and bezel, you’ll just end up having to clean them again after you’ve used canned air.” Start by blowing out the dust, then move on to the outside.

Tackling that grime on the keyboard may be tempting, but Ms. Once you’ve gathered your tools, it’s time to start cleaning the inside of the computer. “That is fine! They also make nice add-on gifts for people who are getting a new computer/tablet/phone for a special occasion.” But don’t feel like you need them. “Some people like having them, or they feel better about using an Officially Sanctioned Product,” Ms. Clean Magic Eraser (or other melamine sponge) can also work wonders, though it should be a last resort since it’s abrasive.ĭon’t bother with specialty cleaners you see at big box electronics stores - they’ll work fine, but they’re probably overpriced compared with what you have at home. And if you have some particularly tough grime or oil, a Mr. “You don’t need much to clean a computer,” said Jolie Kerr, New York Times contributor, cleaning expert and host of the podcast “ Ask a Clean Person.” “I use exactly four things to keep my laptop clean: Rubbing alcohol, microfiber cloths, cotton swabs and canned air.” Ninety percent or higher isopropyl alcohol is ideal, since it won’t damage the internal components.

It’s also a useful skill if you buy or sell used laptops, since the previous owner doesn’t always leave them in pristine condition.

The keys are clean, the screen is free of smudges and you fall in love with that three-year-old MacBook all over again. Using a freshly cleaned laptop is almost as satisfying as getting a brand new one. You can see that circle of skin oils on the middle of the trackpad. You can see the dirt and grime on your keyboard.

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