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Gadgets and computer gear: How to clean them

Our tech cleaning tips will help you keep your gadgets and computer gear looking good, running better, and more sanitary.

Ed Rhee
Ed Rhee, a freelance writer based in the San Francisco Bay Area, is an IT veteran turned stay-at-home-dad of two girls. He focuses on Android devices and applications while maintaining a review blog at techdadreview.com.
Ed Rhee
2 min read

We all love our gadgets and computer gear, but how often do we actually take the time to clean them? Probably not often enough.

The cleaning tips below will not only make them look good, but will make them more sanitary and run better.

Computers and peripherals

Keyboard and mouse
Computer keyboards can get pretty filthy from just normal use, not to mention from eating at our desks or working while we're sick. Studies have shown that keyboards have more bacteria than toilet seats--ick! It's a good idea to regularly clean and disinfect your keyboard and mouse, especially if you share them with others.

Read more: How to clean and disinfect your keyboard and mouse

Watch this: Clean and disinfect your keyboard

Computer LCD display
Remember when your computer LCD display had that brand-new, fresh out-of-the-box shine? If it's looking a little dull lately, it might be time to give it a good cleaning.

Read more: How to clean your computer LCD display.

Flatbed scanner
Have you ever scanned a photo, only to see specks of dust in high resolution? Rather than despeckling the scanned image with software, clean the glass.

Read more: How to clean your scanner glass

Computer interior
Heat is your computer's worst enemy. Over time, dust buildup inside your computer could undermine its cooling efficiency, resulting in shorter life spans for your computer's components. To help keep your computer running cool, clean the inside of your computer every 6 to 12 months.

Read more: How to clean the inside of your computer

Gadgets

Smartphone and tablet
Remove unsightly fingerprint smudges, dust, and oil from your smartphone or tablet and learn what you can do if your device gets wet.

Read more: How to clean your smartphone or tablet

LCD and plasma TVs
A dirty screen can make your TV suffer from poor image quality. Make your LCD or plasma TV run in high resolution again with these tips.

Read more: How to clean your LCD or plasma TV

Point-and-shoot digital camera
Don't let a dirty lens ruin your photos.  Keeping your camera clean is vital for when that perfect photo opportunity presents itself.

Read more: How to clean your point-and-shoot digital camera


If there's more gear you'd like to learn how to clean, let us know in the comments; perhaps it will get added to the list.