We have been lucky enough to have electronics that can make our life easier, but sometimes it's easy to forget that we have to take care of our electronics as well, specifically cleaning them every now and then. Here are some that you might've neglected and how often you should clean them.
1. Smartphone
This is perhaps the most overlooked device when it comes to cleaning or sanitizing. Our phones are one of the most used devices, which means that they could be the filthiest device as well. Seeing as we handle them all the time, it's important to clean them at least once a day.
You can simply use a microfiber cloth, spray it with a little bit of rubbing alcohol, and then wipe it down. It will significantly reduce the bacteria on your device. You can also use UV lights to do this, and there are UV devices that are specifically designed to disinfect phones.
2. Printer
If you have a printer at home and you don't use it as much, it probably has gathered dust inside of it. Just to be on the safe side, try to clean it with a blower or compressed air every week so you won't have trouble removing accumulated dust. Wipe it off as well to remove smudges or fingerprints outside the printer.
3. Earphones/Headphones
Earphones and headphones are worn electronic accessories, so you can expect that they will have sweat, ear wax, and even dirt on them over time. Be sure to wipe your headphones every week to make sure that they stay clean, especially the cushion that covers your ears.
Earphones are a little harder to clean, especially the ones with silicone caps. First, wipe them down with rubbing alcohol, and use cotton swabs or silicone tips to clean out the wax buildup. You can even remove the silicone caps and wash them to remove oils and other gunk.
4. Routers
Routers are also in the neglected electronics club. There are usually out of sight so it's easier to forget to clean them, as pointed out by Bobvila. Routers have vents to release heat and clogged or dusted vents can cause them to overheat and sustain damage. Dust your router weekly to prolong its lifespan and wipe the outer surface.
Read Also: How to Clean USB Ports in Laptops, Computers, and Smartphones, and Why You Should Do It Now
5. Television
Since televisions usually stay in one place, they tend to gather dust. While it's easy to remember to wipe the screen every once in a while, you should also clean the back of your TV. Every month, wipe down the back of your TV.
For mounted TVs, it's possible that you'll find cobwebs too along with dust. You can remove those with a feather duster and wipe the wall behind the TV as well. You can use a blower or compressed air to remove dust buildup in your TV's ports.
6. PC Setup
PCs also need a thorough cleaning from time to time. For your mouse and keyboard, you need to clean them once a week since they are always in contact with your fingers, as mentioned in Mister Sparky. Wipe your mouse and keyboard with a microfiber cloth and rubbing alcohol.
Your PC tower is a different story. It's much harder to clean, but you only have to do it once every one or two months. Use compressed air to remove dust from the components and ports, and wipe down the outside of your tower.
Related: Proper Way to Deep Clean Your PC Tower
