As I sit here and type, the white of my laptop has some very obvious dirt on it. You wouldn’t imagine this for a cleaning editor with a white laptop, would you? But mine is filthy for sure.

In this day and age, some of us use our computers more than our television remote. We work on computers, play on computers and we eat and drink near computers. Many will quickly do or look up something even though their hands may have been coated in something that needs to be washed off. And if you’re like me, you have a child (or another adult) that enjoys pointing things out on the screen by actually TOUCHING the screen—leaving lots of fingerprints.

Keeping your computer clean will help maintain it’s usable life for you, and may even help prevent the spread of germs (since they are spread easily through hand contact).

Rule number one: liquids are a dangerous thing for your computer! Do NOT spray ANYTHING on your machine or monitor.

Rule number two: always, ALWAYS refer to your user’s manual to find out how to clean your computer and it’s various parts. If you can’t find your manual, call the manufacturer’s help line (and realize this could be 3 or more phone calls depending on who makes each part you are looking to clean). This is critical because not following the directions could lead to damage that could render you without warranty coverage; and even worse, a machine that is now damaged.

Rule number three: make sure your computer and it’s components are turned off when you’re cleaning them. A black monitor screen will show you where the dirt is quickly and easily. It’s less complicated if you’re cleaning the keyboard while it’s off because you’re not accidentally issuing keyboard commands while you’re cleaning. And the desktop or tower housing will be less susceptible to damage if you clean it’s parts when they aren’t moving.

Monitors have different requirements and it’s best to find out what the manufacturer’s instructions are for cleaning yours. If you don’t have the manual, just call the manufacturer. Monitor screens are a sensitive area and easy to ruin. If you are instructed to use a liquid window cleaner, spray the cleaner onto a very soft cloth (old white t-shirts are good for this) and then use the dampened cloth to clean the screen. Some monitors are well served with an extremely soft cloth that you can get to clean eyeglasses.

The keyboard is also a sensitive area. Again, refer to your manual or manufacturer for instructions. You may have a very dusty environment and may want to spray the keyboard with some compressed air to clear dust that accumulates in the spaces where the keys move as you tap on them. Then, you can use a cotton pad (find these in the make-up aisle used for makeup removal) LIGHTLY dampened with some rubbing alcohol (which evaporates quickly). Be sure not to wet the pad enough that it could drip when pressure is applied to it. Wring it out well and use this to clean the keypad and the surrounding housing.

If you have a desktop or tower computer, you may want to start by vacuuming near the fan opening in the back. You can also wipe down the housing with a soft cloth dampened with an alcohol-based window cleaner if the manufacturer allows it. Professionals that open the housing (which usually renders any warranty null and void—so don’t do this yourself) may use compressed air on the interior components.

Realistically, it would be great if you could wash your hands before using your computer to keep the keyboard clean. A box of diaper wipes near your machine goes a long way to helping this. But if that’s unrealistic for your situation, know that your machine will be easier to clean if you do it frequently and prevent a buildup.