PC Maintenance: Basic Computer Maintenance Tips

Summary: Regular and ongoing PC maintenance for personal and small business computers keeps them functioning at maximum speed and efficiency and can help them last longer.

Many of us take electronics and computers for granted until they break down. When that happens, it brings business productivity to a halt – and it seems to happen at the worst possible time. Every day, users crank out work on them, surf the Internet, compose and receive emails and perform many other tasks, rarely thinking about their computer’s health until a problem arises. Regular maintenance for computers can keep them running fast, efficiently and securely and extend their lifespans.

What Is Basic Computer Maintenance?

Basic computer maintenance encompasses firmware and software updates, up-to-date virus protection, regular cleaning and various other operations. Some should be done daily; others weekly, monthly or quarterly.

Many computer users spend more time at their computers than driving their cars. So, it’s ironic that some of the same users clean their cars often but never clean their devices. Here are a few simple PC cleaning and computer maintenance checklist tips:

• Wipe Your Monitors and Screens – We recommend wiping your monitors and screen with a soft cloth once per week. It is essential to clean them gently because screens can be easily damaged by pressing on them.
• Dust and Blow Out Keyboards – Using a can of compressed air, blow the dust out of your keyboards and the surfaces of your devices. Dust is the enemy of electronics. We recommend dusting your devices every week. In addition to compressed air, you can wipe your keyboard with a clean, soft and slightly damp cloth.
  • If you use a non-optical mouse, the roller ball mechanism inside must be cleaned regularly. If you have a corded mouse, unplug it first. Next, turn over your mouse and remove the cover and the ball. Blow out and clean the inside and the ball with a cloth and a small amount of alcohol.
  • If using an optical mouse, blow out any crevices on either side of the scroll wheel and wipe the overall surface with a cloth and alcohol, as suggested above.
• Avoid Eating and Drinking at Your Computer – Food particles in your keyboard will eventually cause keys to malfunction. Also, any liquids accidentally spilled on your keyboard, especially on laptops with built-in keyboards, could cause extensive damage. An external keyboard can be more easily replaced.
• Shut Down Daily and Reboot Often – Shutting down and rebooting is a rest and refresh for computers. Optimally, computers should be shut down daily or every other day when users are finished using them. Shutdowns allow the machine to cool down, clear its RAM, rest its circuits and avoid late-night cyberattacks while you sleep. If you are a creature of habit, make shutting down and rebooting a daily part of your routine.
• Clean Inside Twice Per Year – If you feel comfortable opening your machine, refer to your device’s manual or website for the best way to open the case and any necessary precautions. Also, remember that laptops and desktop computers have different considerations to be addressed. You may use a handheld computer vacuum to reach every internal circuit and component. For more difficult-to-reach dust, you can also try using compressed air. Always protect computers during dusty events like construction or sanding activities.

In addition to scheduled internal and external cleanings, there are many more serious essential elements to computer health:

• Use Up-To-Date Antivirus Software – Cybercrime is at an all-time high. Having professional grade and up-to-date antivirus software is imperative for computer health. Remember, malware can be designed to overwhelm computers and fry hard drives. In addition, out-of-date or free protection might not have the latest virus definitions.
• Update Software and Firmware
  • Software updates often contain security patches and fixes related to the app. For that reason, accepting all updates should be a standard operating procedure.
  • Firmware, the software that controls hardware operations, should also be updated whenever updates are released.
• Debloat Your Device – The harder your computer has to work to retrieve and store data, the slower it will run. Overworking can shorten the lifespan of all devices. Removing old files and programs you don’t need will immediately lighten the load. However, the remaining data will be stored in a disorganized manner with large gaps on the storage drive. That’s why it is crucial to defragment your storage drive weekly. Defragmentation is the sorting and reorganizing of stored data to make retrieval more accessible and faster. Imagine a public library packed with books. If any of them were removed simultaneously, there would be gaps on the shelves in different sections. Then, librarians would have to reorganize the books and move them to appropriate sections, closing the gaps and making them easier to find. You can usually find a defragging function in your computer’s control panel and set it to perform this function automatically. However, if you have a Mac, they defragment automatically.
• Avoid Over-Charging Laptops – Overcharging your laptops and tablets can wear out their batteries. It is best only to charge laptops when necessary and allow the batteries to drain a bit rather than leaving them plugged in overnight.
• Use Premium Surge Protection – A power strip is not necessarily a surge protector. A surge protector blocks excess power that, if allowed in, could damage or ruin your devices. Electrical storms or utility company problems can cause such surges. Investing in a high-quality surge protector is well worth the expense.

If you are not confident about performing your own basic computer maintenance checklist tasks for PCs and other office devices, consider contracting with an IT support service for regular scheduled maintenance and support. This type of outsourced IT service can provide in-office or in-home repairs and service as well as remote computer help-desk support.