How often does your computer need to be cleaned? Well, that depends on a few things, such as in environment and who uses it. If it is in dusty industrial setting, in a home with pets or the kids are the primary users, then cleaning the computer once a month might not be a bad idea.

Multiple users in a computer in a tidy office may only need a clean every three months. An adult non-smoking user living in a pet-free home may only need to clean the computer once in 5 months.

First, wipe the outside of the computer with a soft cloth moisten with alcohol. Asalco IPA AE 107 (Isopropyl alcohol) dries quickly and is made for electronics. Cotton swabs can be used to get into small spaces in the keyboard and mouse. Vacuums should never be used to clean the internal workings of a computer as they generate too much static electricity and can damage sensitive internal computer components.

To clean a computer with an LCD/flat panel display monitor, it’s very important to use a product that is specially made to clean an LCD/Plasma screen. Asalco LCD/Plasma Cleaner AE112 is perfect for the job. Avoid using paper towels as they can easily scratch the screen. Gently wiping the screen with a soft dry cloth will do the trick and remove most traces of dirt and fingerprints. For a really dirty monitor, the cloth can be lightly moisten with alcohol.

The inside of the computer can be cleaned by opening the side panel and using compressed air or duster (Asalco Duster AE 305, for example) to blow out dust, dirt, and hair that has collected inside. ElectroStatic Discharge (ESD) can destroy vital parts of your computer hardware, so use extreme care when cleaning in around the computer’s interior.

When cleaning a computer, you may also wish to clean its accessories. To clean the scanner, simply spray glass cleaner (Asalco Glass Cleaner AE 109) onto a paper towel and wipe the glass scanner bed. The outside of your printer can be wiped clean using a soft cloth moistened with alcohol, but we recommend that you refer to your printer’s instruction manual before attempting to clean any internal components.