- Physical maintenance of peripherals (keyboard, mouse, monitor, printer, scanner and headphones) extends their useful life and prevents frequent breakdowns.
- Regular cleaning with appropriate products and safe techniques prevents dirt, overheating, and malfunctions.
- Logical system maintenance (disk cleaning, updates, and startup program control) improves the overall performance of the computer.
- Security and backups (antivirus, anti-spyware, strong passwords and backups) protect data and devices against malware and human error.
Taking good care of your computer peripherals is not a luxury: Good preventative maintenance extends its lifespan, avoids unexpected failures, and improves your daily experience using your PC.Keyboard, mouse, monitor, printer, scanner, projector, headphones… they all accumulate dust, grease and wear, and if we leave them alone, sooner or later they will end up causing problems.
In the following lines you will find a very complete guide so you can do it yourself Peripheral maintenance is common in an office or at home.You'll find tips for surface and deep cleaning, safety warnings, best practices for use, and also some logical maintenance tasks for the equipment (hard drive, operating system, and security) that directly influence how these devices perform.
Monitor maintenance
The monitor, whether it's an old CRT, an LCD screen, or something similar, doesn't need any fancy features, but it does proper exterior cleaning and certain ventilation and safety precautionsImproper use can affect image quality or even be dangerous in the case of CRTs.
For external cleaning of the monitor we can use specific cleaning foam for electronic equipment and a slightly damp clothThe important thing is not to soak the cloth or the screen. You must prevent the liquid from seeping through the ventilation slots, as it could reach the inside and damage components.
If the case is very dirty, you can resort to a soft sponge or non-abrasive scouring padAlways apply gentle pressure to avoid scratching the plastic. It's also a good idea to clean the back and base, as these areas tend to accumulate a lot of dust.
The monitor's connections (HDMI port, DisplayPort, VGA, power, etc.) rarely need maintenance, but if you notice persistent dirt or dust, you can Clean them with a stiff-bristled brush and a degreasing electronic cleaner.Apply the product to the brush and never directly onto the connector, and, to prevent future dirt, consult how to cover empty ports.
Regarding location, it is essential that the monitor has free space around for air to circulateDo not cover the ventilation grilles or remove the stand or base, as these are part of the heat dissipation system. An overheated monitor can significantly reduce its lifespan.
In the case of classic CRT monitors, there are safety rules that should not be ignored. They contain the following inside: high-voltage components that store energy even when switched offTherefore, the casing should not be opened under any circumstances unless done by a qualified technician. Furthermore, avoid placing magnetic tapes, discs, or devices that generate strong magnetic fields on top of the CRT monitor, as the internal magnet could be damaged. demagnetizing media and damaging information.
For LCD flat panel monitors or other current technologies, the main recommendation is Do not spray liquid cleaners directly onto the screen.And definitely avoid aerosols containing ammonia or harsh alcohol. It's best to spray a microfiber cloth with a small amount of screen cleaner and gently wipe the screen.
Keyboard maintenance
The keyboard is probably the peripheral that causes the most problems in terms of dirt, because it's full of crevices and we constantly touch it with our hands. Dirt accumulates between the keys. crumbs, dust, food scraps, hair and all kinds of filthThat's why it's crucial to carry out a simple preventive maintenance on regular basis.
For a quick external cleaning, first disconnect the keyboard from the computer (or turn it off if it's wireless) and place it Place it face down on the table and gently shake it.Without hitting it, let the larger pieces of dirt fall through. You can help by gently tapping the back with your hand.
Then, using a soft-bristled brush, a cotton swab, or a fine brush, Clean the gaps between the keys to remove the dust.Another very convenient option is to use a compressed air spray, directing the jet at a slight angle so that the dirt goes to one side and does not re-enter the keyboard.
It is also possible to wash some keyboards with water (preferably distilled), provided that Disconnect completely from the computer and let the device dry for many hours before plugging it back in. If there is any moisture inside, it's very easy for a short circuit to occur when you reconnect it, so this should be done with great caution.
To finish the surface cleaning, you can use wipes impregnated with isopropyl alcohol Use it to clean the keys and casing. Alcohol removes fingerprints, drink residue, and disinfects. Avoid typical hand wipes with perfumes or soaps that often leave a sticky residue.
Deep cleaning of the keyboard step by step
When a keyboard has suffered liquid spills, some keys stop responding, or objects are stuck inside, it's time to consider a deep cleaning by disassembling it piece by pieceIt's a somewhat entertaining process, but with organization it can be done at home.
1. First of all, Turn off the computer and unplug the keyboard of the device. If it's wireless, remove the batteries. Working with the keyboard unpowered is mandatory.
2. Draw or mark on a sheet of paper the layout of all keysThis might seem silly, but it will save you a lot of headaches when reassembling it, especially on keyboards that include special keys or unusual layouts.
3. Place the keyboard face down on your work surface and locate the Phillips head screws that hold the top casing in place. They are usually distributed across the backRemove them and store them together so you don't lose them.
4. Carefully separate the top cover of the keyboard. Try to The keys won't fly off from its housing. Take advantage of this first access to use compressed air and a stiff-bristled brush to remove dust, crumbs, and other objects lodged between the keys. This cleaning may be sufficient: if the keyboard is working properly, you can reassemble it and you're done.
5. If you want to continue with a more thorough cleaning, lift the frame that holds the keys, trying to keep them in place. You'll see the circuit board screw it in. Unscrew it and clean it with a special electronic degreaser and a suitable brush. If you need to disconnect a cable or connector, pay close attention to how it's positioned, because it must be reattached exactly the same way.
6. Underneath the key structure you will find a metal plate held in place with small screwsLoosen those screws and carefully lift the board. Underneath, you'll see a printed circuit board on thin plastic sheets (acetate or rubber membranes). Clean these sheets with a soft, dry or very slightly damp cloth, being careful not to bend or scratch the traces.
7. Below the circuit board is usually a rubber pad that acts as the contact point for each key. This is an area where a lot of sticky residue accumulates if there has been [use/use/etc.]. spilled liquids or old dirtIf it only has dust, a brush will suffice; if you see stains, carefully separate them and use soapy foam and a cloth, always making sure that no traces of water remain.
8. Don't forget the keys themselves. They're the parts that get the dirtiest because they're in direct contact with your fingers. You can clean them with... soapy lather and a soft cloth or briefly soak them in water with a little neutral detergent, drying each piece very well when finished.
9. Once everything is completely dry, reassemble the rubber pad, printed circuit board, metal plate, and circuit board. Replace the top casing, screw it back in, and connect the keyboard to the computer for a general test to confirm that all keys respond correctly.
Mouse maintenance
The mouse, whether optical, laser, or mechanical ball, also accumulates grease and dirt due to continuous contact with the hand and the surface it rests on. A dirty mouse often translates into imprecise cursor movements, strange jumps, or lack of responseespecially in models with a ball.
To begin any maintenance, turn off the computer and Disconnect the mouse from the computerFor USB mice, pull the connector while holding the plastic piece, without pulling on the cable to avoid damage. If it's wireless, turn it off and, if necessary, remove the batteries.
On older mice with a ball, turn the device over and locate the ball's cover. It usually has a few... small arrows indicating the direction of rotationUsing your fingernails or a coin, twist the lid and remove both the cover and the ball. It's important not to hit the ball against hard surfaces, as this could deform it and cause it to stop rolling smoothly.
To clean the sphere, use a dry or slightly damp cloth. If it is very black or sticky, place the cloth on the table and roll the ball gently on top until all traces of dirt disappear. Then, check the slot where it's housed: release compressed air to remove dust and clean the top and bottom of the mouse with soapy foam or a damp, lint-free cloth.
Very close to the ball housing are rollers that detect movement. If they are clogged with dirt, the signal becomes unstable. You can scrape off the dirt with your fingernail or the tip of a flat screwdriverAlways handle them gently so as not to bend or damage them. When finished, replace the ball and screw on the lid.
In modern mice without a ball, dirt tends to accumulate on the scroll wheel, the optical or laser sensor, and the casing seams. For these cases, a [missing word - possibly "cleaner"] comes in very handy. wooden stick for scraping dirt from the narrowest crevicesRun it over the joints of the parts and over the area where the thumb rests, where real deposits of grease tend to form.
In the wheel area, the sensor opening, and other small gaps, it is preferable to use a dry cotton swabTurn it over to remove the dust without leaving any fibers behind. Once the bulk of the dust is removed, wipe the entire casing, including the bottom, with a cloth or cotton ball lightly soaked in isopropyl alcohol (no more than 70-75%).
Let the mouse air dry for a few minutes, without plugging it in yet, to make sure that There is no trace of moisture near the sensor or on the buttonsThen plug it back into the computer and check that it works by moving the cursor and pressing all the buttons.
Headphone and headset maintenance
Headphones and headsets don't get dirty as quickly as keyboards or mice, but contact with ears and hair means that, over time, sweat, oil, and skin debris accumulate.In addition, if several people share them, it is advisable to disinfect them from time to time to maintain reasonable hygiene.
The first step is to carefully remove the ear pads or the rubber tips in the case of in-ear headphones. Try to hold them by the edges and Do not pull on the cable or force delicate plasticsKeep dry cloths, cotton pads, and wipes specifically for electronics or with mild disinfectant on hand to prevent the liquid from reaching the internal components.
To disinfect the ear pads, put a few drops of antiseptic (for example, diluted isopropyl alcohol or headphone cleaner) on a cotton pad and Pass it over the entire surface in contact with the skin.There's no need to soak or submerge them in water, as that could deform the material or peel off the coating.
On the part of the speaker diaphragm where the grille or mesh is located, use a completely dry cotton swab to remove dust, earwax, or other debrisMake gentle movements and avoid pressing too hard so as not to depress the membrane or damage the driver.
Next, clean the outer mesh with a cloth or pad lightly dampened with antiseptic, rubbing gently. This way you achieve Disinfect the area without soaking the inside of the earpieceIt's better to apply a small amount of product several times than to leave it dripping.
Finally, wipe down the headband, side casings, and cables with another cloth lightly dampened with the same solution. Rigid parts tend to accumulate dirt where they rest against your head and neck, so spend a moment in those areas.
When you're finished, put on your headphones on a completely dry cloth for a couple of hoursEven if you've been careful with the liquids, there's always a small risk that a tiny amount might have come into contact with something. Allowing time for drying greatly reduces the possibility of short circuits when you use them again.
Other peripherals: printers, scanners, and projectors
In addition to the classic keyboard, mouse, and monitor, in many work environments we find Printers, scanners, and projectors also need a minimum of care.They are not so delicate in terms of everyday dirt, but improper use can drastically shorten their lifespan.
Inkjet printers
The main problem with inkjet printers is the ink nozzle jam or dryingIf you turn off the printer abruptly, without letting it finish the cycle and park the printhead, the nozzles may remain out of their resting position and dry out more easily. If you need specific solutions, consult our printer troubleshooting guide.
To minimize this risk, get used to Always turn off the printer using its power button. and only when the printing job is completely finished. Also, if you go a long time without printing, the printhead ink tends to dry out. It's a good idea to print a few test pages now and then to keep the system active.
Laser printers
In the case of laser printers, the critical component is the toner. Toner powder is very sensitive to lightThat's why cartridges usually come packaged in opaque plastic bags. If exposed to bright light for too long, it can be damaged and produce poor-quality prints.
For internal and external cleaning of a laser printer, it is advisable to use a a vacuum cleaner specifically designed for computer equipment or a lint-free clothAvoid blowing on the toner, as the particles can disperse and be annoying or even irritating.
If the toner powder stains your skin, wash it off with cold water instead of hotHot water could further fix the powder to the skin or clothing, making it more difficult to remove.
Scanner
The most delicate component of the scanner is the glass where we place the documentsIf the surface gets scratched or covered in lint, the scans will appear with lines or smudges. Keep the surface clean with a soft cloth lightly dampened with water or a neutral cleaner, always with the device switched off and unplugged.
When you need to move the scanner from one place to another, make sure Block the internal moving arm if the model has a transport lockThis prevents sudden shocks to the mechanism during transport, which could misalign the focus or damage the motor.
Projector
Projectors generate a lot of heat, so the ventilation system is vital. When you turn them off, the fan usually activates to cool the air. cool the lens and the lamp graduallyNever unplug the projector while it's in this process: wait until the fan stops completely before removing the cable. To protect equipment from power outages or surges, consider using surge protectors. a UPS.
It is also advisable to keep the dust-free ventilation grilles and avoid blocking them with papers, walls, or other objects. Poor cooling can drastically shorten the lifespan of the lamp and the appliance itself.
Logical maintenance: hard drive and operating system
The performance of peripherals also depends on the state of the system. Having a computer full of junk files, with a crammed hard drive and useless programs loaded at startup not only slows down the computer, but can also cause blockages and failures that affect printers, scanners, or external drives.
Wipe hard drive
One of the simplest periodic tasks is Empty the Recycle BinBefore you do that, take a look around in case there's anything you might need in the future. Once you're sure, empty the trash and free up that space.
In addition, it is advisable to eliminate the temporary files and cache files This is generated by the system itself when you install programs, browse the internet, or work with different applications. You can use the Windows tool "Disk Cleanup" or third-party utilities like CCleaner to automate much of this process.
On mechanical hard drives (HDDs), file fragmentation occurs over time, forcing the read/write head to search for data in different areas of the disk. To improve performance, you can run the disk defragmentationIn recent versions like Windows 10, this task is usually scheduled automatically, while in earlier versions it may be necessary to launch it manually.
If your computer uses a solid-state drive (SSD), you shouldn't defragment it as if it were an HDD, because It offers no benefits and may shorten the life of the disk.In any case, before defragmenting a mechanical hard drive, it is advisable to empty the Recycle Bin and delete temporary files, so that the process is faster and more efficient.
It's also a good time to review your installed programs and uninstall those you no longer useOld applications or those installed "just to try them out" end up taking up space and sometimes add background services that slow down the system without contributing anything.
Operating system maintenance
Keeping your operating system up to date is almost as important as cleaning your hardware. Regularly check that You have installed all the security and performance updatesboth from the system itself and from particularly sensitive applications, such as Java or, at the time, Flash, and from firmware of the peripherals.
Another key point is to check which programs load at startup. Many installers add small assistants or updaters to the Windows boot list, and while one or two might not be noticeable, if several accumulate... Startup time can double without you noticingYou can manage this list from msconfig (in older versions) or from the Task Manager in more recent systems, unchecking those that you don't need to run at startup.
The "less is more" principle also applies to everyday use: the more applications you have open at once, the greater the memory consumption and processor workload. If your computer is running low on resources, this can translate into... freezes, crashes, or general slownessClose anything you're not using and you'll notice the difference.
Finally, don't underestimate the power of a good restart. Turning your computer off and on again from time to time helps to clear the memory, close processes that have become stuck and restore a more stable system behavior.
Security and backups
Maintenance isn't just about dust and screws. The logical security aspect is equally, if not more, important, because a viruses, ransomware, or a poorly secured Wi-Fi network They can render your files and equipment unusable in a matter of minutes.
Periodic backup
If you work with important documents, photos, or sensitive projects, you should plan a weekly or monthly backup of the hard drive contentsDepending on the volume of changes you make, it's best to use an external hard drive separate from your main computer.
To create these copies, you can use built-in Windows tools or third-party backup programs. You have the option to back up the entire system or just your personal filesThe most practical solution is usually the latter, reinstalling Windows and applications afterward in case of a serious disaster to ensure a clean system.
Protection against viruses and malware
Malware includes viruses, worms, Trojans, rootkits, ransomware, and other similar malware. To minimize risks, always keep the antivirus updated and firewall activeAnd be selective with the websites you visit and the programs you download from the internet.
Perform full system scans regularly, and use critical area scanning or custom scans when needed. If your organization uses specific solutions (for example, Panda Endpoint Protection), get used to launch in-depth scans from the antivirus panel itself every so often.
Spyware, phishing, and passwords
Spyware is a type of software that is dedicated to collect information about your activity to show intrusive advertising or for other unclear purposes. A simple way to combat it is to install a good free anti-spyware program, such as Ad-Aware or similar, run regular scans, and remove anything it detects.
With email, be extremely cautious with messages that ask you to update information about bank accounts, online services, or educational platforms. Many of these are phishing attempts, meaning... identity theft to steal credentialsBe wary of emails with spelling mistakes, suspicious senders, or links that do not point to the official domain of the entity they claim to represent.
Regarding passwords, it's a very bad idea to always use the same one for everything: email, social media, online banking, payment gateways, etc. If someone gets hold of one, it opens the door to all the others. The best practice is use different and strong passwords, supporting you if necessary with a password manager or automatic secure key generators.
If you use Wi-Fi networks, especially in public or shared environments, check that the network is protected by WPA2 or higher encryption and a strong passwordIn educational institutions or large organizations, connect only to official networks (such as Eduroam in universities) and avoid open, unprotected networks.
By combining this physical care of peripherals with logical maintenance and good security practices, it's much easier to enjoy a computer that run smoothly, without strange noises, without jams, and with fewer unpleasant surprisesUltimately, taking the time to clean, organize, and check saves time and money compared to constant repairs or having to replace devices prematurely.
