posted on April 10, 2001 06:35:54 AM new
You know, like those little spaces between the letters on the keyboard?? What cleaning agents do you use? How do you get down in there...a q-tip? And the monitor, tower, scanner, printer, speakers.....oh my...mine REALLY needs done and at the "moment" I am in the mood.
posted on April 10, 2001 06:45:11 AM new
Hello Nanastuff In the mood for a bit of spring cleaning?? I use a product called
Blaster (Pressurized Air Duster) to clean the keyboard between the keys. I have a special tiny vacuum to do the surface,don't want to suck up any keys.
ALL POWER OFF
I use the regular vacuum on the monitor (soft natural bristle brush) printer and tower. Then if I am really in the mood I have an anti static Multi purpose cleaner called "Dust Off Office Care" which I spray on a cloth for dusting and polishing the surfaces (Not the keyboard). Good luck
posted on April 10, 2001 06:48:31 AM new
Nana, get out the vacuum cleaner, some duct tape, and a soda straw.
If you have an upright vacuum cleaner, attach the hose. Crisscross the end of the hose with duct tape, sealing it up tight. Then cut a tiny X in the center of the tape with a knife, insert the soda straw, and tape around the base of it.
Now use the end of the soda straw to vacuum out the loose gunk between the keys of your board.
Also vacuum the back of each of the pieces (monitor, tower, etc), wherever there is a ventilation opening that may contain dust. This will improve air flow and help keep the motherboard from overheating.
If you have sticky stuff on the keys, you can remove them one at a time, clean with soap and water, and snap them back into place.
To clean the monitor screen, get a used dryer fabric softener sheet. Turn off the monitor and then wipe down the screen with the dryer sheet. It picks up dust and does something to reduce static electricity, so that new dust will collect more slowly.
Wipe the outsides of all the cases, and if you have a flatbed scanner, just use Windex to clean the glass.
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SilkMoth only on the message boards
[ edited by SilkMoth on Apr 10, 2001 06:56 AM ]
posted on April 10, 2001 06:53:27 AM new
When I notice a real build up of debris I turn the keyboard over and rap it on the desk a few times. Doesn't do much for peanut butter but everything else it is enough.
I can still read the symbols so it is too early for a new board.
posted on April 10, 2001 07:05:12 AM new
zilvy..don't know if I can stand having the "POWER OFF" for the amount of time this is going to take me! lol Where did you get the Blaster?
SilkMoth...I was laughing 'till I realized you were serious about the straw thing. What a great idea! The used fabric sheet does make a lot of sense....I use those on my hair! My keyboard keys won't pop off and I just know if I keep pulling on them I will break something...
gravid..LOL..you rap it?? Well I just did that and I can't believe the ?#@& that fell out of it....OMG I don't think I see any peanut butter....but what could that gloppy thingy be????? uh oh
Thanks!! (can you tell that I am doing everything I can to put this off??)
posted on April 10, 2001 07:12:24 AM new
I'll have to check with my hubby but I'll bet you can get it in any department store or office supply. He does a lot of shopping at Office Max and Staples.
posted on April 10, 2001 07:14:48 AM new
zilvy...thank you..I have to go to Staples in the next couple of days; I will look into that. (YES!! good reason to put this off a couple more days!! lol)
posted on April 10, 2001 07:46:54 AM newNanastuff it just occurred to me that Barry(hatespeeps)Barris would probably tell you to mash a couple of peeps together and used them to pickup gunky stuff off your keyboard. Or have the housekeeper take care of it. Where is Barry(good housekeeping)Barris when we need him???
posted on April 10, 2001 07:50:30 AM new
zilvy...LOL Housekeeper??? I am the housekeeper..yuk. I thought about hiring the kid next door, but I think he scares me more than the puter does. Okay, Barry...show me your peeps!!
posted on April 10, 2001 10:56:38 AM newAvoid canned air and small compressors. Both will contain moisture and the first application of air will blow the moisture onto the electronic parts of what you are cleaning.
If you must use canned air, start the burst directed away from the component you intend to clean and keep the airflow going until you have finished.
I suggest you buy at least an 1800-Watt hand-held hair dryer that has a "cold" and "warm" setting. The cold setting is perfect for blowing out the lint and dust, the warm setting is good for when you drop part of your drink into your keyboard. Blow the liquid out using the "cold" setting and then dry the parts using the "warm" setting.
In addition, remove the lint-trap screen(s) from your dryer, doing so will help increase the volume of airflow.
IF YOU USE THE SAME RECEPTACLE YOUR COMPUTER IS PLUGGED IN TO USE ANY ELECTRIC COMPONENT WATTS, UNPLUG YOUR COMPUTER AND ALL COMPONENTS FROM THE RECEPTACLE. APPLIANCES THAT HAVE MOTORS THAT OPERATE ON WATTS CAN DAMAGE ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS IF THERE IS A FEEDBACK ON THE LINE.
Include in your cleaning inventory (2) broad-bristle art brushes ( USE HAIR, SYNTHETIC DOES NOT CLEAN WELL AND CAN CREATE 'STATIC' ELECTRICITY) and a can of "ENDUST for Electronics."
Use 1 brush treated with the "Endust" cleaner to clean and keep 1 brush dry for wiping and dusting.
DO NOT USE ANY CLEANER THAT HAS AMMONIA, AMMONIA CAN DEGRADE METAL.
posted on April 10, 2001 01:17:57 PM new
I read this somewhere and tried it. It works!
Unplug the keyboard and under a showerhead scrub it with a soft brush and a mild detergent. Rinse completely. Shake as much excess water out of it as you can.
Now you must dry it COMPLETELY!!!!!. You can just set it out to air dry for a few days or use a hairdryer set to LOW, but make sure it is dry before plugging it back in.
I did mine during winter and set it face-down on a house heater vent. Still works great.
posted on April 10, 2001 01:35:26 PM new
See! I wasn't kidding. If you turn it upside down anbd give the gravity a liitle help by tapping it to jar stuf loose all kinds of little gritty pieces fall out.
posted on April 10, 2001 02:44:31 PM new
I hang mine from the cord, and beat it with a stick to get all the "loose" stuff out, like popcorn, pizza crust, and skittles.
Then I hose er' down with my garden hose, with one of those "swishers" on the end, and finally, I blow dry it, or in the winter hang it over the fireplace.
You mean to tell me I went through all that angst over installing a memory module...for nothing? You mean I couldn't have killed my pute with a baseball bat?
