How To Clean A Computer

We do everything at our computers. We work, we shop, we pay bills, we eat lunch, we drink coffee, and at least one of us files her fingernails over the keyboard. Flip your keyboard upside down and give it a shake. Go ahead, I'll wait. That's a week's worth of crumbs, a few cat hairs and possibly part of a granola bar from 2023.

Computers need cleaning just like everything else in your home, but they need a gentler touch than a quick spritz of window cleaner. Liquid and circuit boards are not friends. Here's how to clean a computer, from the screen to the keyboard, without frying anything.

What You'll Need

• Two clean microfiber cloths
• 70% isopropyl alcohol wipes, or 70% isopropyl alcohol
• Distilled water
• A can of compressed air
• Cotton swabs
• A soft, clean paintbrush or makeup brush
• Mild dish soap

The Golden Rules of Computer Cleaning

• Turn it off and unplug it. For a laptop, unplug the charger and shut it all the way down, not just asleep.
• Never spray anything directly on the computer. Spray or dampen the cloth instead. Liquid sprayed on a screen or keyboard can seep through the vents and into the electronics.
• Damp, never wet. Wring cloths out until they're barely damp.
• No glass cleaner, bleach, ammonia or abrasive sponges. They damage screens and finishes.

How to Clean a Laptop or Computer Screen

1. Turn off the screen. Dust and smudges are easier to see on a dark screen.
2. Wipe gently with a dry microfiber cloth, top to bottom, using light pressure. Most dust and fingerprints come right off.
3. For smudges that won't budge, lightly dampen a corner of the cloth with distilled water, wring it out well and wipe again.
4. Dry with a second clean cloth.

Can you use alcohol on a computer screen? It depends on the screen. Many glossy laptop screens, including most MacBooks, can be wiped with a 70% isopropyl alcohol wipe. Matte, anti-glare and specialty screens (like Apple's nano-texture glass) can't. Use water only on those. When in doubt, stick with the microfiber cloth and distilled water. It handles almost everything.

Never use paper towels, tissues or your shirt sleeve. They scratch the screen and leave lint behind.

How to Clean a Keyboard

The keyboard is the dirtiest part of your computer, especially if you eat at your desk. (No judgment. I'm eating at mine right now.)

1. Unplug it or shut down the laptop.
2. Shake out the crumbs. Turn the keyboard (or open laptop) upside down over a trash can and gently tap it.
3. Blow out the rest. Hold a laptop at about a 75-degree angle (tipped back like an open book) and spray compressed air between the keys in short bursts, moving from side to side. Keep the can upright, so the propellant doesn't spray out as a liquid.
4. Wipe the keys. Wipe the keys and the area around them with a 70% alcohol wipe or a cloth dampened with 70% alcohol. It cleans and disinfects, and it evaporates quickly.
5. Get between the keys. Run a cotton swab dampened with alcohol around the edges of the keys. Test a key first to make sure the alcohol doesn't take the letters off.
6. Let it dry for a few minutes before you plug it back in.

Spilled Something on the Keyboard?

Move fast. Shut down the laptop immediately, unplug it, and turn it upside down in a tent shape so the liquid drains away from the inside. Blot up what you can. Let it dry upside down for at least 24 to 48 hours before you turn it on. Sticky spills (soda, juice, coffee with sugar) usually need a professional cleaning. Rice doesn't help, by the way.

How to Clean a Computer Mouse

1. Unplug the mouse, or turn it off and remove the batteries.
2. Wipe it all over with a 70% alcohol wipe, paying extra attention to the buttons and the sides where your fingers rest.
3. Clean the gunk out of the seams and around the scroll wheel with a toothpick or a cotton swab dampened with alcohol.
4. Turn it over and wipe the sensor gently with a dry cotton swab. Clean the little feet on the bottom so it glides smoothly.
5. Let it dry, then reconnect.

The mouse pad: Most cloth mouse pads can be hand-washed in warm water with a drop of dish soap. Rinse well and let it air dry completely. A hard mouse pad just needs a wipe.

How to Clean the Computer Case, Vents and Ports

• The outside: Mix a couple of drops of dish soap into 2 cups of warm water. Dip a microfiber cloth, wring it out until it's barely damp, and wipe down the case or laptop lid. Wipe again with a cloth dampened with plain water, then dry.
• The vents: Dust clogs the vents and makes the fan work harder, which makes the computer hot and loud. With the computer off, blow out the vents with short bursts of compressed air, or use a soft brush.
• The ports: Brush them out gently with a dry, soft brush, or use a short burst of compressed air. No liquids, and nothing metal.
• Inside a desktop tower: If you're comfortable opening the case, unplug it and blow the dust out of the inside once a year with compressed air. Hold the fan blades still while you spray. If not, any computer repair shop can do it quickly.

Don't Forget the Desk

Wipe down the desk, the monitor stand and your headphones (here's how to clean earbuds and headphones). Dust the cords and the space behind the desk, where dust bunnies breed. If your desk is drowning in paper, here are some home office organization tips.

How Often Should You Clean Your Computer?

• Weekly: Wipe down the keyboard and mouse, and dust the screen.
• Monthly: Shake out and blow out the keyboard. Clean the case and the vents.
• Once a year: Blow out the inside of a desktop computer.
• More often if you eat at your computer, share it with kids, or someone in the house is sick.

How to Clean a Computer: Quick Answers

What's the safest way to clean a laptop screen?

Turn the laptop off and wipe the screen with a dry microfiber cloth. For smudges, use a cloth barely dampened with distilled water. Never spray directly on the screen, and don't use glass cleaner or paper towels.

Can I use alcohol wipes on my keyboard?

Yes. A 70% isopropyl alcohol wipe cleans and disinfects keyboard keys and dries quickly. Test a key first to make sure it doesn't remove the lettering.

How do I get crumbs out of my laptop keyboard?

Shut it down, turn it upside down and tap it gently over a trash can. Then tip it back at an angle and blow between the keys with short bursts of compressed air.

What should I do if I spill water on my laptop?

Turn it off and unplug it immediately. Turn it upside down in a tent shape to drain, blot up what you can and let it dry for at least 24 to 48 hours before turning it on. Sticky spills need a professional.

Keep Going

lean the rest of your tech without wrecking it with these related guides:

• How to Clean Your Phone: Clean and disinfect it without wrecking the screen.
• How to Clean Earbuds and Headphones: Including AirPods and their case.
• How to Clean a Smartwatch and Fitness Tracker: The watch, the sensor and every kind of band.
• How to Clean a Flat Screen TV: No streaks, no damage.
• Home Office Organization Tips: Make it easier to get things done.
• How to Organize Paperwork: So you can actually find what you need.
• Cleaning for Allergies: 20 ways to reduce allergens at home.
• Household Cleaning Schedule: What to clean daily, weekly, monthly and yearly.