Dust thou clean too little?

With the same level of acknowledgement to the seasons that’s paid by TV repeats and foreign soap operas, we are going to talk about spring cleaning. Specifically, an area that’s little considered most of the time in office environments – the computer.

Most people dust their workstations and hardware on a regular basis, so I am told, but are we really in getting into all the nooks and crannies? And if so, how much of the fluff, dust and tumble weed is, far from being removed, actually being knocked into our computers via the ventilation holes in the process of cleaning? Could there be a case for leaving well alone?

The answers are no, more than we think and probably not. Unfortunately.

Whether we like it or not, dust is over time going to get into our computers one way or another. And if it is inside our PC, the dust is eventually going to clog up the fan and restrict the airflow, thereby running the potential risk of causing overheating. On the basis that it’s cheaper to clean than replace a computer, what’s the best way to spring clean our computer’s insides without doing more harm than good?

Assuming the computer isn’t brand new and still under warranty, or the subject of a maintenance agreement that could be breached by taking a screwdriver to the case, let’s roll up our sleeves.

First off and for the avoidance of doubt and electrocution, shut the computer down and unplug it from the mains. (If you are at all unsure about going any further than this, it might be a better idea to take the computer to your local PC shop instead.)

To eliminate the slightest possibility of damage, ensure you are properly earthed to avoid static electricity as even the smallest zap can damage some delicate components. The belt and braces approach is to buy a grounding wrist strap, which is sometimes also referred to as an electrostatic discharge strap, and work on an anti-static mat to prevent electro-static transfer.

Otherwise, ground yourself by touching the internal metal frame of the computer's case while the computer is plugged into an electrical socket. The static electricity will be discharged and grounded as the electrical circuit is grounded via the AC outlet.

Never attempt to clean the inside of your monitor! There are lethal electrical voltages stored within the monitor’s circuitry for many hours, even after being switched off and unplugged from the mains. Manky monitors are definitely best left to fully trained and qualified technicians.

But back to our cleaning. The hose attachment from a vacuum cleaner is most definitely not recommended; the force involved is just far too brutal. By far the safest method is to use a compressed air aerosol can. Only use sprays that are approved for electronics as these will not contain moisture, and follow the instructions carefully.

Avoid spraying compressed air onto the motherboard. Restrict your attention to the ventilation fan, the vents on the casing and the main power cables where they enter the computer. Use short bursts of air, and don’t touch any components if it all possible, or use mini handheld vacuum or suction devices either.

Be aware that using compressed air carries some risk. Generally, you shouldn’t need to clean the innards of your computers more than once or twice a year. Each time you take the case off, there is a small chance that some damage could occur, so don’t do this more than is absolutely necessary. Instead, go down the line of dust prevention being better than cure. So here are our top three tips:

1) Dust happens. Computers can live with a dusty interior so long as the airflow or fan isn’t obstructed. Don’t take the case off unnecessarily.

2) When cleaning the office, ensure all computer are shutdown first as some cooling vents are used for pulling air in. Cleaning will only disturb what dust is around, and you don’t want computers drawing dust in needlessly.

3) Keep the work area as clean as possible and regularly dust the exterior casing of all hardware, making sure to remove carefully any accumulated dust away from the vent holes in the front, back or sides of the case.