National Computer Cleaning Week: September 22-27 2008!
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It's that time of year again, when everyone is encouraged to give their computer a really good clean - and get rid of the dirt, dust, grime and germs that build up through everyday use!
When we talk about Computer Valeting, we mean physical cleaning of the dirt, dust grime and germs that have built up on your PC!
Take a look at the back of your computer. Can you see the air intake? Behind that, a fan starts to rotate the minute you power up your machine, taking in cool air to keep the temperature on your processor down. Along with that cool air, dust and particles get sucked into your machine. These rest on vital components of your PC - motherboard, RAM, graphics card, printer card, network card, etc, and build up layers of dirt on them. They also build up around the fan, slowing it down. One day, that fan will stop... your processor will overheat... your work will be lost... Costing you untold £££'s to rectify... Or maybe even costing you a new machine.
Take The CompuClean Test:
Computers today are subject to all sorts of filth. Many factors contribute to the dirt, dust, grim and germs that regularly build up on your PC. The environment in which your computer is, if you eat and drink at your machine, and the kind of work that you use your computer for. We'd like you to take part in our test, and send us your results. To take the test: Take 3 sheets of clean, white A4 paper, and lay them side by side on your desk. Pick up your keyboard, and turn it upside down. Give it a bit of a shake, and watch everything fall onto the paper! You may find, amongst other things, bits of staples and paperclips, paper, dust, crumbs of food and dried fruit, hair, finger nails, dead skin, and dead insects! We'd like you to send your results to testresults@computervaleting.co.uk.
Just imagine what grime builds up inside your tower/desktop unit!
Things You Don't Really Want to Know:
Every time you place your fingers on your keyboard, your mouse, and your monitor, you leave behind grease, stains, and germs.
In studies carried out by the University of Arizona, it was discovered that the average computer keyboard contains 400x more germs than the average toilet seat - including e.coli. Keyboards are littered with crumbs, nails, hairs, skin, insects and other particles, debris that builds up through daily use. Monitors are usually peppered with the stains of pointing fingers. Not only is your mouse a festing ground for germs and microbes, but it catches dirt as it traverses the mouse mat, causing 'sticky mouse'.
In the UK, businesses lose £11.7bn each year due to sickness. Some of that sickness can be prevented by regular computer cleaning.
Other Factors to Consider:
Every time you power up your computer, the fan on your machine starts spinning, cooling your power unit. Another fan spins on your processor, cooling this. Both these fans suck cool air from outside into your machine.
However, along with this cool air comes a colossal amount of debris from the surrounding environment.
Do you work in an office? Think of all the paper particles floating in the air - and being sucked into your machine. Upon opening a PC unit, you'll be amazed at the dirt and rubbish that builds up amongst the components. A thin layer of dirt residue lies on the vital components. These build up static electricity, which could short at any time. Can you use your PC without it's graphic card? Printer card? Network card? RAM? Motherboard? Hard drive? CD ROM? DVD? If any one of those components shorts, the whole machine is rendered useless until a replacement is purchased. True, components are getting cheaper - but maintenance is cheaper than replacement!
Consider This:
You regularly take your car to the experts to have it serviced - not because it is broken - to keep it in good running order, and to minimize expensive repair costs. Why neglect your PC?
Over time, your computer will build up dirt and dust. Take preventative measures to protect your data!
Benefits of Regular Computer Cleaning: