How and why clean computer: keyboard, mouse, screen

Let's start with a riddle: what does the toilet bowl have in common with the keyboard you use to post on Facebook or respond to your business emails? No it's not a joke from a sketch by Gustave Parking … These two objects of our daily life attract bacteria and mites in equal proportions. In any case, this is the conclusion of an experiment conducted in London in 2008 by the laboratory which. The company discovered that keyboards used by its employees contained germs that could affect their health. How do we get rid of it?

Key steps for efficient cleaning of your computer

Dust, food debris, hair, ash (for smokers), micro skin debris, perspiration and grease present on our fingers … In short, there are two categories of items to remove from your keyboard: debris and traces.

While regular cleaning prevents the accumulation of dirt and filth, it also helps extend the service life of the device if it is a laptop and provides greater user comfort: a clean keyboard is more pleasant.

Caution! certain precautions must be taken in order not to damage, during the process, the electronic components below the keys.

Remove dust with a vacuum cleaner set to minimum power

First, you should go after the dust. There are commercial air bombs and chemical foams which may be effective, but are also toxic to health and the environment. What natural solution for dust removal?

First of all, for a desktop PC, it is important to disconnect the keyboard beforehand. In the case of laptops or laptops, Don't forget to turn them off.

Turn over the material and shake it so as to drop the larger particles. Then bring yourself a vacuum cleaner combined with a brush and adjusted to its minimum power. Position it as close to the keys as possible so that the dust does not fall back before it is sucked out.

Do not hesitate to use a small hairbrush or a cotton rod (made of cardboard) to remove glued or recalcitrant dust.

Remove keys

For a stand-alone keyboard, you can remove the keys one by one using a flat ruler or screwdriver. This step will guarantee complete dust removal and optimal cleaning.

Clean with a microfibre cloth

For this step, ban liquid products. An infiltration would damage the operation of the keyboard. It is preferable to slightly moisten a microfibre cloth with a special solution. For example, white vinegar or diluted Marseille soap.

Rub the edges and contours of the keyboard with a circular movement. This step, which is somewhat rebarbative, will require patience and thoroughness.

Once again, you will probably gain precision with a cotton rod. After soaking it in your solution used to wet the cloth, make sure to wrench it before use.

Finally, complete the work with an absorbent paper towel. Not to mention cleaning the cable and the bottom of the keyboard always with white vinegar.

How to clean the mouse?

Start by disconnecting it and then gently rub the mouse buttons with a rag or a small brush soaked in white vinegar or alcohol. Using a toothpick, remove the inlaid dirt between the buttons.

Check the lens, remove the dust with a cloth soaked with a little vinegar and do the same for the dirt accumulated on the pads.

Clean the mouse mat with plenty of water or dishwasher.

How do I clean the computer screen?

The best way to do this is to use a microfibre cloth. Pass it gently, without pushing too much on the entire surface of the screen, while moving from top to bottom.

Then pass a disinfectant solution consisting of distilled water and white vinegar in equal parts and gently rub the screen with a cloth soaked with this mixture. Do not use other products: more corrosive or abrasive, they could permanently damage the screen.

Article updated and republished

Illustration bannière : Nettoyer clavier d’ordinateur très sale – © smile23