This $5 cleaning gel did wonders for my keyboard and 4 other PC cleaning tips

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ZDNET Highlights

• Frequent computer maintenance is important to keep your desktop performing at its best for years after purchase.
• This is an important habit to develop early on, and most of the tools you’ll need are either inexpensive or completely free.
• This guide ranges from clearing dust piles to managing startup programs.

Like many people, my entire life revolves around my computer. I use my desktop for work, paying bills, gaming, and everything else. That’s why it’s so important for me to do regular maintenance. It keeps my system running smoothly and stops problems before they happen.

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However, let’s be honest: Most people don’t bother with PC maintenance. It’s easy to forget, put it off, or put it off simply out of laziness. I know this because I didn’t use to be different. For a long time, I never cleaned my computer. I let the dust clusters settle like burrows in my tower.

But over the past few years, I have made it a habit to clean every six months. It’s worth the effort as it keeps the internal temperature cool. Heat is the computer killer. Keeping your hardware cool extends its lifespan.

At the time of this writing it’s been a little over six months since the last clean, so I thought I’d kill two birds with one stone and share what I do to maintain the health of my PC. These are things anyone can do. I’ll focus on both physical cleaning and basic software maintenance to keep your computer in top condition.

1. Safety first

Before we begin, safety first. Unplug your PC and move it to a part of your home that isn’t carpeted, such as the garage, a room with hardwood floors or tile. This is to reduce the possibility of static electricity. If you can’t afford a carpet-free space, consider buying one of these antistatic wrist strap or an anti-static mat (or both).

These are not strictly necessary. It’s very unlikely that static electricity will fry anything in a computer, but it’s better to be safe than sorry. Also, flip the power supply switch on the back of your PC to avoid shock.

You will also need some basic tools:

• a can of condensed air – This is important to clean all the dust. They’re inexpensive, and you can get them at any office supply or big-box store like Walmart.
• Alcohol Wipes That Are Safe for Electronics -Similarly, these are relatively inexpensive and can be purchased at big-box stores. You can also use a microfiber cloth with isopropyl alcohol. If you choose the second option, I recommend getting a bottle of 91% alcohol and using only a dab. Solution added to water leaves residue.
• a small tub of cleansing gel – This is an optional selection to clean up your keyboard. This may seem like a strange suggestion, but it’s great for reaching those hard-to-reach areas.

2. Cleaning the Hardware

First of all, clean all the dust inside. To get started, remove the side panel of your desktop case. The exact method will vary depending on your model, so it’s best to consult your PC’s manual. I have a Maingear M1, which only uses a few thumbscrews to secure the glass.

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Once the internal components are exposed, take a can of compressed air and blow out small bursts of air to blow away the dust. I do not recommend sending a continuous stream. These air cans become quite cold and can cause discomfort if left on for too long. If any dust accumulates on the motherboard, use compressed air to gently blow it away.

Do not use a vacuum cleaner to pick up dust particles. The static electricity generated may damage components. If not stable, the stretched tube will freeze when colliding with parts.

After the inside is cleaned, wipe the outside surface with alcohol wipes or a microfiber cloth dampened with 91% isopropyl alcohol. For monitors, it is not recommended that you clean the glass with alcohol as it “may damage the screen”. As told by Lenovo. Instead, simply wipe it down once again with a dry microfiber cloth.

Some areas, such as the space between the keyboard caps, are difficult to clean. While compressed air can work, it will often push the debris deeper. A better option would be cleaning gel. It’s a reusable blob of goo that picks up pieces without damaging the key switch or sticking to anything.

ZDNET senior contributing writer Adrian Kingsley-Hughes recommends ColorCoral Cleaning Gel from Amazon. That option was not available to me. Instead, I bought this James Keyboard Cleaning Gel For $5, and it works just as well. Finally, take the time to clean up any loose hanging cables. Use zip ties Bundle cables neatly to keep them away from fans and vents.

3. Developing Software

When it comes to software, there are several small steps you can take to keep your PC running smoothly:

• Install Windows updates as they become available to fix vulnerabilities.
• Restart your computer regularly to refresh your PC’s memory cache.
• Run antivirus software to remove any malware that may be around.
• Then there’s the tried-and-true method of uninstalling unused apps to free up PC resources.

The fifth way: Manage your startup programs. Launching too many apps at startup can slow down boot times as well as increase CPU and memory usage. Limiting what launches streamlines performance. To do this, open Task Manager, select the Startup Apps tab marked by the throttle icon. Right-click an entry and select Disable. It’s quick, easy and can make a huge difference.

While you’re at it, delete the temporary files. There are two main ways to do this: automatic and manual.

• To automatically delete temporary files, enable Storage Sense, found under the Storage section in the Settings menu. This feature will start freeing up space when you get low on disk space.
• To manually delete temporary files, open Disk Cleanup from the Windows search bar. Choose what you want to delete – like cached data or a full Recycle Bin. The clutter will go away in a few seconds. If you look at the image below, I had about 80 GB of junk lying around.