Holly from Timonium, MD asks:
What is the best way to clean my computer screen, keyboard and mouse?
Thank you for asking. We all want a sanitary work environment, but if you use the wrong products or techniques to clean your electronics, you could cause more harm than good. Below, I have outlined the best way to clean each component. Before starting the cleanup, turn off and unplug everything.
Computer Screen: First you will need to know if your screen is glass or plastic. Most older computers and some new ones still have glass panes. If you have an LCD monitor, the cleaning will be more delicate because those screens are plastic.
*Gently wipe both glass and LCD monitors with a lint-free cloth to remove dust and dirt. Natural fiber or micro-fiber cloths are best because they are less likely to scratch the screen.
*Next, wipe the screen with a slightly damp cloth. Water is safe on nearly all surfaces in small amounts. Never spray water directly on your monitor screen because this could damage it. Spray a little water on a lint-free cloth and wring it out until the cloth is just damp.
*Do not use ammonia-based products such as window cleaner on an LCD monitor. You can use a small amount of window cleaner on a soft cloth and clean a glass monitor screen, but make sure your screen does not have a special coating or finish since ammonia can damage that.
Monitor cleaner solution can be used as well. Office supply stores, electronics shops and mass retail stores sell cleaners made for all types of computer screens and they ofren include a micro-fiber cloth with the bottle.
Keyboard: What follows are instructions for cleaning dust and dirt. If you spill liquid on your keyboard, please read our previous article on cleaning up a spill.
*Place a small dropcloth or a piece of newspaper on a table, turn the keyboard over and shake out any loose debris.
*Next, use a can of compressed air to loosen and remove dirt by directing the air stream between the keys. Then invert and shake out the keyboard again.
*To clean the keyboard surface, make a diluted solution of standard liquid dishwashing detergent. Use a damp (not wet) lint-free cloth to gently clean off the key surfaces. Then wipe the keys with a dry cloth.
Mouse: If you have an optical mouse, follow the manufacturer’s directions for cleaning it. The sensor usually needs only a quick wipe with a lint-free cloth.
For a standard roller-ball mouse:
*when you turn it over you should see a locking ring around the rolling ball, usually with an arrow indicating the direction to turn to unlock it. Press the ring down, and turn it in the direction of the arrow. If the mouse has no arrows, push and turn counterclockwise.
*Remove the ring and the roller ball. Gently rotate the roller ball in a lint-free cloth moistened with warm water or a dilute solution of dishwashing detergent. When it’s clean, set it aside to dry.
*Inside the mouse case, you’ll see a pair of rollers. Use cotton swabs moistened with 90 percent isopropyl alcohol to gently clean the rollers.
*Make sure all components are completely dry before reassembling the mouse.
After everything has been cleaned, plug in your monitor, keyboard and mouse, turn your computer on, and confirm that everything is working properly.
For more help on caring for your electronics, call Teltek IT! Our maintenance plans will ensure that software is current, security measures are in place and that all systems are functioning optimally!
Teltek is proud to offer IT services as the fourth component to our multi-systems approach as your single source technology services company. This Managed Service Provider (MSP) offering completes our longstanding goal to provide our clients with a one-call resource for all of their business technology needs. IT outsourcing, remote back up and disaster recovery, helpdesk support, computer network relocations, security products and server/desktop virtualization are just a few of the services now available.
