Keeping your PC squeaky clean

After months or years of usage, your computer is probably in need of a good clean to remove everything from grime on the keyboard to dust over the internal elements of the machine.

To keep your computer in good working order, you need to arm yourself with an arsenal of cleaning products and be prepared to apply a bit of elbow grease.

While you might expect a grubby printer to produce smudged prints, you may not be aware that dirt and grime inside your computer can actually damage system performance.

If dust gathers inside a computer system or monitor, it can affect the unit's cooling capability and cause components to fail.

Dismantling your computer system and attacking delicate components with the Mr Muscle and a vacuum cleaner attachment is not a good idea, though. Before you get stuck in, cast your eye over our guide to sprucing up your PC safely.

Get on the case
The main part of your computer, the system case, can be regularly cleaned without having to be dismantled.

Make sure the PC has been switched off for at least 15 minutes before you go near it to allow the components inside to cool, then use the thin, plastic nozzle attachment of your vacuum cleaner to suck dust out through the fan grille at the back.

Removing dust from the fan will improve the computer's ability to stay cool, which in turn limits the risk of other components overheating and failing.

If you have not cleaned your computer in years, or if this is the first time you are cleaning it thoroughly, you will need to get inside the system case to attack the thick layer of dust that has probably built up over your PC's internal components.

Again, when you delve into the depths of your PC it should have been switched off and unplugged from the mains supply for a minimum of 15 minutes.

As the components inside your computer are fragile and can be damaged by static electricity that you may inadvertently transfer from your body, it's a good idea to wear an anti-static wrist strap to reduce this risk.

If your PC doesn't have a clip-on side panel, look for the screws on the back of the system case that hold the panel in place. You may need a Phillips screwdriver to get them off.

It's also a good idea to disconnect the leads at the back of the system so you can move the case more easily. Just make sure you take note of what goes where to make plugging it all back in easier.

The inside story
Once you've got access to the inside of the case, you can use the plastic nozzle attachment on your vacuum cleaner to suck the worst of the dust out. Be very careful not to touch any of the components with the end of the nozzle itself.

Pay particular attention to any fans or heat sinks that contain dust. Avoid anything that looks like it could get easily sucked up into the vacuum cleaner, such as cables and leads.

If you do catch a cable, check that it's still safely connected to its socket once you've freed it from the vacuum cleaner.

You can also use a canister of compressed air to blow dust from components inside the computer. Computer shops and electronics stores such as Maplin and ARD Electronics sell these for around £4.

When you're using a compressed air canister, make sure you don't tip it upside down as this could release chemicals that might damage your PC's components. Make sure you are directing the dust out of the computer and not just blowing it around the case.

If you find that some dust is difficult to remove, components such as fan blades can be cleaned with a soft, dry cloth. Do not, however, attempt to clean the motherboard itself with a cloth or anything else as you may damage the electrical components.

Reading skills
If the sensor in your floppy disk, CD or DVD drive is dirty, your PC may have trouble reading information from discs and you could end up with flaws in the data saved onto them.

Thankfully, you can pick up cleaning kits for CD and DVD drives and floppy disk drives th at work in a similar way to VCR or tape recorder cleaners.

A CD or DVD drive cleaning kit usually consists of a disc, which will have tiny, soft brush bristles on it, and a bottle of cleaning fluid to apply to the brushes. All you need then do is place the CD in the drive and it will run through a cleaning sequence.

Floppy disk drive cleaners work in much the same way. You can expect to pay around £4.50 for a floppy disk cleaning kit, while a CD drive cleaner can cost up to £8. Both kits can be bought from Lindy Electronics.

Sticky keys
Now it's time to turn your attention to your keyboard. Ever pressed a key and noticed that the letter is repeated on the screen? This is probably because the key is sticking as it is gummed up with dirt, crumbs or the residue of a spillage.

Keyboards may be cheap to replace but it's quite easy to rescue an old, dirty keyboard and improve its performance. First, switch off your computer and unplug the keyboard.

Again, it's best to leave it for at least 15 minutes, then turn the keyboard on its side and blow along the keys to remove any dust, hair or bits of biscuit that may have fallen in between the keys; using a soft brush or an old toothbrush may also help.

Next, use a foam cleaner to remove dirt from the keys themselves. Don't spray the foam directly onto the keys as any excess foam may seep into the circuitry of the keyboard.

Instead, spray the foam onto a soft cloth and then use this to clean the keys. You can also use a wet wipe to get your keyboard looking as good as new. If you're having trouble shifting dirt that has accumulated between the keys, try using a cotton bud.

If your keyboard is really filthy, and you're feeling brave, it is possible to dismantle a keyboard and clean the individual keys.

You may find it difficult to rebuild the keyboard and refit all the keys, however, so if your keyboard is still not working properly after you've completed the cleaning process outlined above, it might be time to admit defeat and buy a new one.

Damage limitation
Computer keyboards sometimes seem actively to court disaster, usually involving liquids. Let's face it: while we all know that computer equipment and cups of tea don't really mix, most of us will make a hot drink to sip while we're surfing the web.

If you do spill liquid on your keyboard, unplug it immediately and turn it upside down to drain the excess liquid out. Wipe the keyboard with an absorbent cloth and use cotton buds to soak up liquid between the keys, then leave it upside down for several hours to dry out.

If you've spilled water on your keyboard it should dry out cleanly, but if a sugary soft drink was involved in the drama, you'll probably have to set about thoroughly cleaning your keyboard after the mess has dried up to get rid of the sticky residue left behind.

Slow mouse
If you find that your mouse pointer does not move smoothly on the screen, the mouse itself may be dirty. You should start by cleaning the underside of the mouse, particularly the pads.

If dirt is allowed to accumulate here, your mouse may not move smoothly over the surface of your mouse mat. You can simply scrape the dirt off these pads using a blunt knife or an implement with a smooth edge. You should also clean the mouse mat with a damp cloth.

If your mouse has a ball inside it (in other words, if it's not an optical mouse), switch off your computer, unplug the mouse lead and turn the mouse upside down.

The panel that holds the ball in place is pretty easy to remove; just look for arrows indicating which direction to turn it and then twist accordingly.

Once you've removed the ball, you can clean it using a cloth dampened with foam cleaner or warm water. Use a cotton bud or your finger to dislodge any fluff and dust from inside the mouse where the ball sits.

Make sure the small rollers inside move freely and are not jammed with dirt or hair. Once you've removed any dirt from the rollers, reassemble the mouse , reconnect it and switch on your computer to test it.

Improve your view
If you have a CRT monitor, the chances are that its screen will have been treated with a special anti-glare coating, so cleaning it with a general purpose glass cleaner may damage the surface.

PC cleaning specialists, such as ARD Electronics and Lindy Electronics, sell a specific cleaner for monitor screens, which you should use even if you have a TFT monitor.

When you're cleaning a TFT monitor screen, make sure you don't press too hard as you may damage it. Always use a soft, clean cloth and do not spray cleaner directly onto the screen; spray it onto the cloth and then wipe down the surface of the screen.

You should also take the opportunity to get rid of dust that's built up inside the monitor. With the monitor switched off, use the nozzle attachment from a vacuum cleaner to remove any dust from the cooling vents at the sides or rear.

A build-up of dust in the cooling vents may make your monitor overheat but don't be tempted to try and dismantle the monitor to clean it on the inside.

Apart from the fact that you may find it hard to put the unit back together, the internal components in a CRT monitor retain a high voltage even after the monitor has been switched off.

Polish up your peripherals
If you have a flatbed scanner (a scanner with a lid that opens to reveal a flat glass plate on which you place original documents), and you have noticed that your scanned images are marked with dots and lines, the glass plate inside the scanner probably needs cleaning.

You can use the cleaning fluid you used to clean your monitor screen, spraying it onto a soft, clean cloth and then wiping it over the glass scanning plate.

Blowing across the glass and other components with compressed air may also help to dislodge any surface dirt and dust.

If the printouts from your printer are also marked with ink smudges, it might be time to run a cloth over your printer. A printer relies on rollers to pick up sheets of paper from the paper tray and move the sheets through the printing path inside it.

Over time, these rollers may get ingrained with dirt and will eventually struggle to pick up a sheet of paper for printing and pull it through unevenly. They may also have picked up a coating of ink over time, which can produce nasty streaks and smudges on your printouts.

Depending on your printer, the rollers may be accessible without opening up the unit. If this is the case, make sure the printer is switched off and allowed to cool for at least 15 minutes, then clean them with a damp cloth.

If the rollers still refuse to pick up sheets of paper, try rubbing a sheet of dry, abrasive paper over them to give the rollers a rougher surface and, hopefully, more grip.

Test the printer by feeding a piece of paper through or running a test print, which will also absorb any remaining moisture on the rollers.

Meanwhile, blowing compressed air around the internal components of the printer will help to remove dust, and any ink spillage can be cleaned up with a damp cloth.

Your printer's manual should include information on how to clean it and there may be a specific button on the printer or a command which will run it through a programmed cleaning routine.

If you have a laser printer, it will probably have a fan that can be cleared of dust with a vacuum cleaner attachment, but be very careful with such printers as the toner is dangerous to your health, so consult the printer's manual first.

Clean sweep
Cleaning a handheld computer or a notebook is a lot easier than cleaning a desktop PC, as there are fewer options available to you.

A handheld computer will benefit from a quick screen wipe-down using a soft cloth and some specialist screen cleaner. Clean any buttons with a damp cloth.

You should never attempt to dismantle a notebook computer unless you are completely confident that you can p ut it back together again. You can, however, use the nozzle attachment of a vacuum cleaner to remove dust through the cooling vents.

The screen and keyboard can be cleaned in the same way you would tackle those on a desktop computer system. You can also clean the CD, DVD and floppy disk drives on a notebook using the cleaning kits we mentioned before.

Pick up good habits
Yes, we've mentioned this a few times during the course of this feature but we're going to say it one last time for good measure: always switch off your computer and other equipment and allow them to cool for at least 15 minutes before you go anywhere near them with a cleaning product.

If you can, clean equipment on a hard surface, such as a table, that doesn't generate static electricity and dust, and never spray any type of cleaning fluid directly onto computer equipment or a component inside.

If you have respiratory or skin problems, it's also a good idea to ensure that the cleaning fluids you use will not damage your health. Wear a mask and gloves if necessary, especially when you're blowing dust out of a computer, to avoid inhaling the dust particles.

Cleaning your computer isn't a task that should be left until your equipment looks grubby on the outside; what's going on inside is more important to your PC's long-term health.

Accumulated dust and dirt can clog and wear down the fans in a computer, which can lead to overheating and the failure of some components. Dirty CD, DVD and floppy disk drives will eventually struggle to play and record.

If you wait until something goes wrong with your system before you open it up to find a coating of dust on everything, you won't be making the most of your computer.

How often should you follow our advice? A good clean two or three times a year is a safe bet and with a little elbow grease you can restore your computer to a state of cleanliness that will improve its performance, safeguard its components and increase its life span.

Cleaning products

• Anti-static wrist strap to reduce the transfer of static electricity from your body to electrical components.
• Cleaning foam for cleaning the keyboard, mouse, the computer's system case and other external equipment.
• Compressed air for blowing dust off electrical components.
• Cotton buds, an ideal way for removing dirt from between keyboard keys and inside a mouse.
• A specialist screen cleaner to wipe down monitor screens, rather than a general-purpose glass cleaner.
• A soft cloth made of a fabric that doesn't generate lots of static electricity, such as cotton, to wipe down your monitor screen and other grubby surfaces.
• A vacuum cleaner with plastic nozzle attachment to suck up dust from cooling fans and inside the computer case.