Pests In Your PC
Written by mick madigan

Thursday, 20 April 2006

Bugs in machines go back a long way.

In the 1900s, bugs were "little faults and difficulties" in new devices,
according to the Random House Historical Dictionary of American Slang.

Thomas Alva Edison told how he stayed up two nights in 1889 trying to fix
a 'bug' in his new cylinder phonograph.

Though some still say say the real modern usage of the word comes from the
cockroaches, moths and creepies that used to infest the old room size computers,
and cause malfunctions whenever they shorted the electrics...


Nowadays, PCs have got a lot smaller, but STILL harbour a stack of unwanted life.


It's amazing that people who believe in cleanliness health and fitness can spend hours
working at a dirty PC.

Where does that dirt come from? People, mostly.
Coughing, shedding flakes of skin, and spilling drinks and crumbs and bits on
the keyboard, mouse, casing and mat.

Ever noticed a clear sticky, filmy substance on your desk or on parts of
your computer?.
It is most likely to be BIOFILM - bacteria and fungi growing out of what's
been spilled..

Viruses dumped on the PC by coughs and sneezes can easily travel from
person to person.

Inside your PC, the cooling fan sucks in and deposits dust inside
the casing - creating a great home for mites, bacteria, molds and fungi.
All these (and their waste products) can cause asthma and allergy type
reactions.

Cockroaches and flies are quickly drawn by most rotting matter, and spread
germs, smell and allergens.
There's a recorded case of fly maggots crawling out of a keyboard...


Apart from health issues, pests and dirt in a PC can still cause shorting, and
the dust buildup can cause overheating, programs crashing and system failure.

That means downtime, disruption and expensive repairs.
Possibly even permanent loss of valuable data.


While we can't live in a sterile antiseptic world, can you afford NOT to
regularly sanitize your PC?



Here are Your Lucky 13+ Top PC Cleaning Tips :-


1. Turn your computer off, and unplug it before you start to clean it.
Then electrocution isn't an option.
(Also, turning off at night saves electricity, and creates a cooler
environment - discouraging nasties breeding, and things decaying.)

2. Vacuum the keyboard with a suitable extension, or a special PC vacuum.
It's a quick way of sucking out hairs, dust and debris and can also be used
on the computer's outer casing where there is no risk of damage.

3. Wash your hands with a bacteriological handwash before AND after
using a keyboard.

4. Pure water is one of the best cleaning fluids. Many cleaning solvents
can stain or attack the plastic parts of your computer and some people
are allergic to certain fluids.
Take care with alcohol-based wipes, because they can erode the coating
on TFT monitors.

5. If you use proprietary PC cleaning materials, only use them in the ways
and places intended, wear disposable gloves, and read any instructions before starting.

6. Never splash or spray any liquid directly onto the computer or any computer
component.
Instead, spray it onto a CLEAN lint free cloth, then lightly rub your machine clean.


7. Dont try cleaning the insides of your PC. The static electricity you create can
damage the circuits.
Leave delicate stuff to professionals like PC technicians if it must be done at all.


8. Use a cloth (rather than something more abrasive like a paper towel) to wipe
components.
Use fresh cotton buds on the difficult-to-reach areas of your computer.


9. Be careful when cleaning around the back of your machine - it's easy
accidentally disconnecting a plug, then finding certain peripherals like the
mouse or printer arent working when you switch the machine back on!


10. Try to avoid smoking at or near the computer, but if you can't quit
the habit, ensure you clean the machine more regularly- every three
months is best rather than every five for a non-smoker.


11.Pests love spilled food and liquids - by not eating or drinking
at your PC, you can dramatically reduce any health risks.


12. Get rid of clutter regularly. Junk attracts dirt and pests.


13. Do your PC cleaning regularly - not just when there's been a spill,
or you cant find your mouse in the dust!



Keeping a clean computer workstation will help keep your
computer healthy, and you healthy computing!


Start today!

Article Source: http://www.ArticleBlast.com

About The Author:

Mick Madigan lives in the UK and has a continual interest in healthy computing
He has published a  fully detailed guide on the ways computing can harm you
 -and how you can avoid it- at

http://www.m1mart.co.uk


You are welcome to publish this article free of charge on your website, newsletter, or e-zine, provided:

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