How to clean your kit

OK, most of us tend to use our computers on a daily basis, but how often do you actually clean your kit?

Why should you clean your kit?

Not only is that its grubby, but you can increase your kits lifespan, improve performance. We have pulled together a number of good guides about keeping your kit clean. NOTE: The less moisture you expose your gear to, the better.

Your Keyboard

Some studies have shown that your keyboard can have more bacteria than toilet seats. Might be time to clean it?

1. Unplug your keyboard or remove any batteries.
2. Turn it upside down and give it a good shake.
3. If you have a can of compressed air to hand, use it to blow our any remaining dust.
4. If you have a mini vacuum that can clean keyboards then go ahead, but try to avoid a full size keyboard as we don’t want to damage any switches.
5. Wipe the keyboard keys and surrounding area, under the keyboard, and palm rest with disinfectant wipes or a lightly dampened (With a Disinfectant mix) lint-free cloth, like a microfiber that comes with monitors, TV, smart phones etc. Make sure you squeeze out any excess liquid before wiping the keyboard.
6. Using a lightly damped (with water) lint-free cloth go over your keyboard again.
7. Use a dry lint-free cloth immediately remove any of the remaining moisture from the keyboard.

If you have a large microfiber cloth then you can divide it up and use a different corn for each step.

Your Mouse

Some mice you may need to take apart to give them a good clean, but in general this should keep them clean.

1. Unplug your mouse or remove any batteries.
2. Turn it upside down and scroll the scroll wheel.
3. Using a tooth pick or tooth brush go around the mouse and remove any dust stuck in the gaps. Make sure you clean any dust on mouse feet.
4. Wipe the mouse disinfectant wipes or a lightly dampened lint-free cloth with a disinfectant mix, like a microfiber that comes with monitors, TV, smart phones etc. Make sure no liquid runs inside your mouse and that you squeeze out any excess liquid before wiping the mouse.
5. Using a lightly damped (with water) lint-free cloth go over your mouse again.
6. Use a dry lint-free cloth immediately remove any of the remaining moisture from the mouse.

Your Mouse Mat

1. Check out what your mouse pad is made of, if don’t know, google it!
2. Clean according to the type of surfaceIf the surface is fabric, try rubbing gently with a damp cloth or rag with a bit of shampoo. Shampoo can be used a cleaner that is gentle on most fabrics, and you most likely already have it.If the surface is plastic or glass, use a mild household spray and wipe with a cloth or sponge. Kitchen cleaner seems to do the trick.
3. Rinse the cleaner off the mouse pad.
4. Put the mouse pad up to dry.
5. Once the mouse pad is completely dry, before you start using it again, you don’t want to damage your mouse.

Your Headset

1. Unplug your headphones.
2. Check what type of headset you have, The ear pieces differ you can either have like a cloth material or a plastic/leather material

For plastic/leather

3.Mix water with one drop of washing up liquid and stir it in.
4.Lightly dampen the cloth and wipe the headset over including the ear pads.
5.Wipe the Headset with a dry cloth or paper towel.

For cloth materiel,

3. If you can remove the ear pads.
4. Use a lint roller to go over the pads.
5. Get a bowl with water with a drop of laundry detergent and put your ear pads in.
6. Squeeze the ears pad to soak up all of the water and use your fingers wipe off any dirt.
7. Remove the ear pads from the bowl and squeeze them to get all the water out of them
8. add them to another bowl filled with room temperate water.
9. again squeeze the ear pads to soak up the water,
10. remove and squeeze and put them somewhere save to dry.
11. While they are drying follow the plastic/leather instructions to clean your headset.
10. When the ear pads and fully dry attach them back to your headphones.

If they are still grubby or you can’t be bother then you should be able to purchase another pair of ear pads online.

If you have any tips, or improvements on what we have here, drop a message in the comment section below.