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The best way to add to the life and performance of a computer is to make sure that the inside stays clean and free of dust. To do this you will need to disassemble the computer and remove all the dust and debris from all the internal parts. Because most computer components are very delicate, it's impossible to use a rag or duster to clean out a computer without the risk of a static charge. Static electricity, even if undetected by you, can still cause your computer parts to be rendered useless. That is why when cleaning it's important to make as little physical contact with the parts as possible.
Before starting, you will want to wear a static bracelet. This will keep you grounded preventing the occurrence of a static charge. You will need to touch the case of the computer often to make sure you remain grounded. Start by unscrewing the bolts that hold the case together. After doing this, carefully remove the cover. With a can of compressed air you will want to go through and clean all parts that look visibly dust covered. Make sure to get under parts. Use the air to blow out all the dust and debris from all parts including all fans. A dirty fan especially around the processor can cause it to overheat resulting in permanent damage. For hard to reach places consult your owner's manual to be sure that you correctly remove parts without doing any damage.
After removing all the dust with the compressed air, make sure all air intake vents on the case are clean and clear. Replace the cover to the computer after putting all parts back where they belong. Next is cleaning the keyboard. This can be a challenge depending on the brand and style of the board. Some are easy to disassemble and clean while others may require removing each key one by one. Check with the owner's manual before venturing in to clean the keyboard. To clean the board without disassembling the board you can turn the keyboard upside-down and with the compressed air, blow all the dust and debris out from between the keys.
Some people find that after using a mouse for a while that they may begin to lose their accuracy and this will cause some people to go out and immediately purchase a new mouse. This is usually unnecessary. The mouse is the easiest part of the computer to clean. Most mice have a track ball. To remove the track ball you will just need to turn the little piece that holds the ball in and the track ball will usually pop right out. Inside are wheels and rollers. On these you will see some matted down lint clinging to the wheels and rollers. To remove this you can use your fingernail to gently scrape this lint off. Check to make sure there are no hairs bound up in the rollers. After scraping the lint loose, use the canned air to blow out the debris.
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