Tech Support Maintenance Basics Clean Your PC Just like anything else you touch and use on a regular basis, your PC and notebook will accu- mulate grime. But it’s not just the aesthetics that are affected: Keyboards and mice become breed- ing grounds for bacteria, screens get clouded with dust and, in extreme cases, clogged vents and heatsinks can even lead to component failure. Fol- low these simple tips in an open, well-ventilated area to excise the grime from your PC before it becomes a biohazard or crashes and burns. Keep Your Keyboard Clean Make sure your cleaning cloths are of the lint-free variety. A can of compressed air can blow dust off heatsink fins and other hard-to-reach surfaces. 70 May 2012 / www.smartcomputing.com As the component you touch most often when you use a computer, the keyboard is a notorious scum magnet. To clean it, dis- connect it from your PC (remove the bat- teries if you use a wireless keyboard) and turn it keys facing down over a cloth and tap the backside of the keyboard several times to knock loose debris from between the keys. Next, use a can of compressed air to blow the remaining gunk from between the keys. Use a paper towel or cloth damp- ened with isopropyl alcohol to scrub the grime off the keys. Give Your Mouse A Bath Disconnect the mouse or remove the batteries and then use a cloth