Your laptop is an expensive investment. Keep it looking and running its best by developing a routine cleaning maintenance program, just as you would perform regular oil changes to keep your car running in top condition. Here are some helpful tips:

• Start by cleaning the laptop case. This case is the exterior shell of the computer; it can be assorted colors, perhaps black or silver. Regularly cleaning this case can help your computer look its best, no matter how many hours of abuse you put it through. Clean this case with a cloth dampened with water. Cleaning solutions such as soap or chemical based products should not be used because they can damage the exterior. If you have something stuck on that water will not remove, try using a Q-tip moistened with rubbing alcohol to dislodge the substance and finish wiping off with the water-dampened cloth.
• Next move on to cleaning the case openings. These openings are the air vents positioned at various locations on your laptop. Sometimes they are located on the bottom or top corners of the laptop. If these air vents are clogged with dust or hair, they can cause the computer to overheat, eventually creating problems such as sporadic reboots. If these vents become visibly clogged, try using a Q-tip and compressed air in a can to clear these openings out. If you use air in a can, make sure not to directly blow it onto the small fans behind the air vents as this can permanently damage them. If there is no way to clean out a vent containing a fan, prop something such as a Q-tip up between the blades to stop them from spinning.
• The next item on the cleaning list is the keyboard. As long as you have compressed air in a can, go ahead and use it to clear out any dust or hair in between keys or along keyboard edges. The keyboards or keys in most laptop models cannot be removed, so you will just have to do your best to get in between the pads if they are very dirty. If you do not have air in a can, a cloth moistened with clean water can be used to wipe off the keypads. Also, if there is something on or between a key that cannot be removed easily with the wet cloth, you an try a Q-tip lightly moistened with rubbing alcohol to dislodge the substance. Be very careful when cleaning keys on a laptop; do not use excess moisture, since all of the delicate electrical components are laid right beneath this board. As long as the cloth is only lightly damp, there should be no problem.
• Onto the touchpad. Each time you use the touchpad, oil from your hands is transferred to its surface; as this oil accumulates, the responsiveness of your touchpad diminishes. Rejuvenate your touchpad response by cleaning it with a cloth dampened with clean water.
  Flat screen laptop monitors are dust magnets. If it’s floating around in the air, it’s going to get stuck onto your screen. Just like your touchpad, accumulated gunk on your screen diminishes its performance, causing you unnecessary eyestrain. Since your screen is not made of glass, it requires special cleaning instructions. Use only rubbing alcohol on a soft, clean cloth to clean your LCD monitor. Do not spray any liquid on your LCD screen as it can cause damage. Do not use paper towels or facial tissues to wipe off the monitor with because they can scratch the surface.
• Cleaning internal laptop components is something that is very tricky, and if not done correctly can permanently damage your laptop. With that said, if dirt or other irritants are building up on any internal components of your laptop, please take it to a computer expert for professional cleaning. They have the knowledge, tools, and experience to take care of your baby properly.
• If other areas of your laptop require cleaning, please refer to the owner’s manual for suggestions. For dirty CD or DVD drives, purchasing a CD/DVD-ROM cleaner is necessary. Visit your local computer or electronics store for details and product specs.

Hopefully this guide as helped you with the basics of cleaning your laptop. Keeping your laptop looking and running its best will guarantee a long, fruitful relationship.