Today’s tip is really basic: Periodically clean the dust from inside of your PC.

I was reminded of this because I recently had to snap the front faceplate off of my computer’s case in order to repair a USB/Firewire connector on the front which had collapsed into the case and made it impossible for me to plug in anything. On removing the faceplate, I saw the air filter which filters the air before it is drawn into the case chassis by the case fan. Cake with dust. I took the opporunity to clean the filter. But, it reminded me that everyone has to periodically dust off their PC. Some may tend to forget the insides. The fans get layered with it. The expansion cards get a nice layer of dust on them over time. If it goes unchecked, it can lead to the PC running a little hotter than it normally would.

When dusting it, do not use a cloth and rub the hardware. The static can damage it. It is recommended that you use compressed air and use short bursts of air to blow the dust away. You can use a damp cloth to tackle case surfaces and other non-electric items.