Got the winter blues?  Chin up my friend because every day we get closer and closer to spring and the weather we love.  Many people find this is a good time of year to clean out things from their home and get organized again. Ahhh the annual ritual of spring cleaning!  An area that many people neglect is cleaning and organizing the technology in your home and business. Here at M&H Consulting we recommend a spring cleaning of sorts for your technology. Whether it is at home or in the office, this time of year is a great time to clean out your computer as well as cleaning up the hardware.  Here are some ideas for you “self starters†or you can call us to help you neaten things up.
Hardware – If you notice dust and debris caught in your hardware, then this is a good time to think about a professional cleaning. Dust bunnies can trap heat and shorten the life of your system. Your keyboard is probably the area that you use the most and that faces the harshest punishment. There are probably days, if not weeks, worth of chips, splashed coffee, and other debris that has been lodged inside the keyboard and between the keys.  Your tablet and mobile devices probably could use a quick swipe to clear up the touchpad and be sure debris is not blocking any ports. If you are a novice in cleaning hardware you may want to hire a professional.  If you are a “do-it-yourselfer,†you may want to try a few things.
- First and foremost turn off any technology and unplug keyboard from the computer if you are attempting to clean up.
- Compressed air containers can quickly remove dust and debris from visible areas.
- Use a bleach-free disinfecting wipes to remove grime. Studies have shown that keyboards have more bacteria than toilet seats.
- Use a soft, slightly damp lint-free cloth to clean monitors and touch screens.
- If you know how to open the hard drive and remove dust buildup on the case fans, air vents, motherboard and CPU heatsink and fan.
Software and Apps – Evaluate all of your devices and desktop computers in your spring cleaning.
- Remove Apps that you no longer use and check that Apps are updated.
- Turn on automatic updates if you have not already done so.
- Evaluate your software for potential malware and signs that it has been compromised.
- Over time software tends to degrade so consider tweaking it to recover some of your performance level.
- While you are at it you might as well check the security of your computer.
- Review your system backup plan.
You may need professional help to thoroughly examine your software and hardware. Call M&H Consulting to manage your “spring cleaning†needs.
Categorised in: computer lifespan, Computer Support, IT Consulting Services