{"id":7194,"date":"2023-09-05T22:06:15","date_gmt":"2023-09-05T15:06:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/?p=7194"},"modified":"2023-09-05T22:06:15","modified_gmt":"2023-09-05T15:06:15","slug":"how-to-clean-a-laptop-5-easy-steps","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/?p=7194","title":{"rendered":"How To Clean a Laptop: 5 Easy Steps"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-3711241968723425\"\r\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"drop-cap text-big text-gray\"> <span class=\"drop-cap__first text-dropcap \">I<\/span> don\u2019t want to be graphic, but\u2014my laptop has <em>seen <\/em>some things. I\u2019ve schlepped my work computer onto countless airplanes and to the sweaty gym so I could work between sets countless times. And who could forget <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/barbie-crying\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/barbie-crying\/\">the time I ugly cried<\/a> all over my keyboard when Belly chose Jeremiah? (Why, Belly, why?)<\/div>\n<p>According to microbiologist <a href=\"https:\/\/jasontetro.com\/index2.html#about\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/jasontetro.com\/index2.html#about\">Jason Tetro<\/a>, author of <em>The Germ Files, <\/em>there is a price for subjecting your technology to the world\u2019s germs\u2014particularly if you, like me, can\u2019t be bothered to take five minutes and clean it.<\/p>\n<h2>Why you need to clean your laptop<\/h2>\n<p>\u201cLaptops are today\u2019s remote controls,\u201d says Tetro. \u201cThey pick up any of the dust and dirt from surfaces or settling from the air, and they are constantly being touched over the course of a day, leaving behind oil and dirt and bacteria.\u201d While estimates of the amount of germs on laptops are admittedly all over the place, some sources say that they contain <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ajicjournal.org\/article\/S0196-6553(08)00908-5\/fulltext\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.ajicjournal.org\/article\/S0196-6553(08)00908-5\/fulltext\">up to 400 times<\/a> more bacteria than a toilet seat, with public computers being the worst of all.<\/p>\n<p>Of course, it\u2019s not exactly a surprise that the hunks of metal and plastic many of us use <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bls.gov\/news.release\/pdf\/atus.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.bls.gov\/news.release\/pdf\/atus.pdf\">eight-plus hours a day would be filthy<\/a>. \u201c[Laptops] can harbor droplets from coughs and sneezes. Pets also can leave behind oils, saliva and, yes, fecal matter,\u201d says Tetro. \u201cSince laptops don\u2019t get cleaned all that often, the dirt and grime pile up, as does the microbial load.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Personally, this news is enough to make me want to dunk my laptop into a vat of bleach, but wait! It gets worse! As for whether a dirty laptop can get you sick, the answer is, maybe. \u201cIf people use [laptops] when sick, which tends to happen, they can leave behind the viruses and bacteria that can be transferred over to another individual\u2019s fingers and then to their mouths,\u201d says Tetro. Research estimates that people touch their <a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/25637115\/#:~:text=Using%20standardized%20scoring%20sheets%2C%20the,face%2023%20times%20per%20hour.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/25637115\/#:~:text=Using%20standardized%20scoring%20sheets%2C%20the,face%2023%20times%20per%20hour.\">faces an average of 23 times per hour<\/a>, leaving plenty of opportunities for infections.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAs for how long those microbes can live [on metal surfaces], viruses like influenza tend to last <a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/6282993\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/6282993\/\">about eight hours<\/a>. However, norovirus, which is a cause of a very bad case of diarrhea and vomiting, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC7505796\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC7505796\/\">can survive for about a month<\/a>,\u201d says Tetro. Bacteria and fungi can also remain on your computer for a matter of days, he says.<\/p>\n<p>Here\u2019s a plot twist, though: Your health and well-being shouldn\u2019t be your number one concern when it comes to a dirty keyboard. \u201cMost of the time, not cleaning a laptop will be worse for the laptop than your health,\u201d says Tetro. Dust and dirt buildup in your device can clog the filters, causing it to overheat and <a href=\"https:\/\/clicks.trx-hub.com\/xid\/leafgroup_ca5e0_wellgood?q=https%3A%2F%2Fshop-links.co%2F1818837099014174995%3Fu1%3DSTMSHL-1109490&amp;p=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wellandgood.com%2Fhow-to-clean-laptop%2F&amp;event_type=click\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.lenovo.com\/us\/en\/glossary\/how-to-clean-your-laptop\/?orgRef=https%253A%252F%252Fwww.google.com%252F\">shortening its shelf life<\/a>.<\/p>\n<hr\/>\n<hr\/>\n<p>And so, (you know what\u2019s coming!), it will benefit your health <em>and <\/em>your wallet if you take a little time to clean your laptop every week. Below, Jennifer Rodriguez, chief hygiene officer of <a href=\"https:\/\/prohousekeepers.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/prohousekeepers.com\/\">Pro Housekeepers<\/a>, offers an easy, five-step process for ridding your computer of grime and grossness.<\/p>\n<h2>How to clean your laptop in 5 easy steps<\/h2>\n<p>Before we tidy up that laptop of yours, a word to the wise. Never (never!) spray cleaners or water directly onto your laptop. Even a tiny amount of liquid can damage your device\u2019s internal machinery. Double check that the cloth you\u2019re using to wipe down your computer is only slightly damp, never dripping.<\/p>\n<div class=\"related-content \" style=\"\" data-module-init=\"related-content\" data-module-immediate=\"\" v-cloak=\"\">\n<div class=\"related-content__wrapper \" v-cloak=\"\" :class=\"{'is-loaded':isLoaded}\">\n<p> <span class=\"inline pr-6 text-seafoam-dark\">Related Stories<\/span> <\/p>\n<p> <related-content class=\"related-content__links\" parent-article-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/how-to-clean-laptop\/\" current-title=\"Your Laptop Is Filthy\u2014Here\u2019s How To Clean It, According to a Microbiologist and Cleaning Expert\" current-image=\"GettyImages-how-to-clean-a-laptop-425x285.jpg\" v-on:parsely-posts-loaded=\"onPostsLoaded\" start-date=\"2023-03-05\" tag=\"div\" inline-template=\"\" url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/how-to-clean-laptop\/\" secret=\"w5ztterVB03LGZJLfXS0hf3EvQBuFFIWew9hmVQxthU\" apikey=\"wellandgood.com\" limit=\"3\"> <\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"related-content__card mb-[10px] sm:mb-[20px]\" :class=\"{'related-content__card--full':posts.length === 1}\" v-for=\"(post, key) in posts\"> <a v-on:click.prevent=\"trackLinkGA($event, key)\" :href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/how-to-clean-laptop\/post.url\" data-url-source=\"related-content\" class=\"related-content__link\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"\"> <\/p>\n<div class=\"related-content__card--image bg-tan\" :style=\"{ backgroundImage: 'url(' + post.image_url + ')' }\"> <img :src=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/how-to-clean-laptop\/post.image_url\" :alt=\"post.title\"\/> <\/div>\n<p> <\/a>  <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> <\/related-content> <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<h3>1. Press the power button<\/h3>\n<p>First things first: Turn your computer off. After all, you don\u2019t want to accidentally delete an important document while you\u2019re removing dust from your keyboard. And cleaning the screen when it&#8217;s on could damage it.<\/p>\n<h3>2. Swipe the entire computer with a soft cloth<\/h3>\n<p>\u201cUse a soft, lint-free cloth\u2014like microfiber\u2014dampened with distilled water,\u201d says Rodriguez. \u201cWipe the screen gently in a circular motion.\u201d<\/p>\n<h3>3. Clean the keyboard<\/h3>\n<p>Grab a can of compressed air and use it to blow out any debris in the keyboard. \u201cThen, a cloth dampened with isopropyl alcohol\u2014at least 70 percent\u2014can disinfect keys. Ensure the cloth isn&#8217;t dripping wet,\u201d says Rodriguez.<\/p>\n<h3>4. Remove dust from vents and ports<\/h3>\n<p>Grab that can of compressed air once more and use it to blow any dust or debris out of the ports and vents.<\/p>\n<h3>5. Wash your hands regularly<\/h3>\n<p>Clean hands, clean laptop. \u201cRegular hand washing can also reduce the transfer of grime and microbes to your laptop,\u201d says Rodriguez. That includes, yes, stepping away from your computer to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/importance-of-lunch-breaks-at-work\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/importance-of-lunch-breaks-at-work\/\">take a lunch break<\/a>. You might actually enjoy the meal, and your keyboard will stay cleaner. Win-win.<\/p>\n<div class=\"post-citations mt-[40px] mb-[30px]\" data-module-init=\"main-2020\/post-citations\" data-module-immediate=\"true\">\n<hr class=\"!border-seafoam-dark mb-[24px]\"\/>\n<div class=\"post-citations-content flex flex-col gap-[24px]\">\n<div>\n<ol class=\"!ml-[18px] !mt-0\">\n<li>\n              Anderson, Glenn BSc (Hons), and Enzo A. Palombo PhD. \u201cMicrobial Contamination of Computer Keyboards in a University Setting.\u201d <em>American Journal of Infection Control<\/em>, 2007, https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.ajic.2008.10.032.            <\/li>\n<li>\n              Kwok, Yen Lee Angela et al. \u201cFace touching: a frequent habit that has implications for hand hygiene.\u201d\u00a0<i>American journal of infection control<\/i>\u00a0vol. 43,2 (2015): 112-4. doi:10.1016\/j.ajic.2014.10.015            <\/li>\n<li>\n              Bean, B et al. \u201cSurvival of influenza viruses on environmental surfaces.\u201d\u00a0<i>The Journal of infectious diseases<\/i>\u00a0vol. 146,1 (1982): 47-51. doi:10.1093\/infdis\/146.1.47            <\/li>\n<li>\n              Djebbi-Simmons, Dorra et al. \u201cSurvival and inactivation of human norovirus GII.4 Sydney on commonly touched airplane cabin surfaces.\u201d\u00a0<i>AIMS public health<\/i>\u00a0vol. 7,3 574-586. 29 Jul. 2020, doi:10.3934\/publichealth.2020046            <\/li>\n<\/ol><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<hr class=\"!border-seafoam-dark mt-[24px]\"\/>\n  <\/div>\n<div class=\"disclaimers__after_content mb-[18px] mt-[16px] pt-[16px]\">\n<div class=\"outline-earmark relative mt-[8px] pt-[10px] pl-[20px]\">\n<p>\n            Our editors independently select these products. Making a purchase through our links may earn Well+Good a commission.          <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div data-type=\"_mgwidget\" data-widget-id=\"1675549\">\r\n<\/div>\r\n<script>(function(w,q){w[q]=w[q]||[];w[q].push([\"_mgc.load\"])})(window,\"_mgq\");\r\n<\/script>\r\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>I don\u2019t want to be graphic, but\u2014my laptop has seen some things. I\u2019ve schlepped my work computer onto countless airplanes and to the sweaty gym so I could work between sets countless times. And who could forget the time I ugly cried all over my keyboard when Belly chose Jeremiah? (Why, Belly, why?) According to &hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":7195,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7194","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-health"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7194","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=7194"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7194\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/7195"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=7194"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=7194"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=7194"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}