Does everybody know not to use contact cleaner on a keyboard? It's liquid freon, and it will wash dirt into the contacts and ruin the device. Same is true of compressed air to a lesser degree. Use a vacuum cleaner.
Once every year or so, open your computer case (okay, I assume you have sense enough to power down and unplug it first). Take a vacuum cleaner to all the dust bunnies. There's a small brush attachment you can buy which fits a standard vac hose. Use that to get rid of as much dust as possible.
The power supply fan (the big one in the back) also needs attention. Hold it still while you clean the blades; don't let it freewheel, or you might overspeed it and kill the bearings.
If you have a small fan on top of a big aluminum heat sink, hold it still with an artist's paint brush and carefully vacuum the dust off. Use the artist's brush in tight spots.
Leave that power supply alone! It's covered with a metal shield screwed down to the case. They do that for a reason. Unless you know what's in there without looking, keep out. (There are some big capacitors in there which can give you a serious shock -- even with the computer disconnected from the house current.)
Anything you stick into that case should be made of meat or plastic. Keep the metal away--including rings and dangling jewelry.
Save any removed screws on a small magnet for ease in re-assembly.
Hope these suggestions are of help to someone.
Once every year or so, open your computer case (okay, I assume you have sense enough to power down and unplug it first). Take a vacuum cleaner to all the dust bunnies. There's a small brush attachment you can buy which fits a standard vac hose. Use that to get rid of as much dust as possible.
The power supply fan (the big one in the back) also needs attention. Hold it still while you clean the blades; don't let it freewheel, or you might overspeed it and kill the bearings.
If you have a small fan on top of a big aluminum heat sink, hold it still with an artist's paint brush and carefully vacuum the dust off. Use the artist's brush in tight spots.
Leave that power supply alone! It's covered with a metal shield screwed down to the case. They do that for a reason. Unless you know what's in there without looking, keep out. (There are some big capacitors in there which can give you a serious shock -- even with the computer disconnected from the house current.)
Anything you stick into that case should be made of meat or plastic. Keep the metal away--including rings and dangling jewelry.
Save any removed screws on a small magnet for ease in re-assembly.
Hope these suggestions are of help to someone.
