When Was The Last Time You Cleaned Your PC?

Time to clean your PC the right way!Get ready for PC spring cleaning time! Just think about it – Can you still remember when was the last time you took your PC for a spring cleaning? Deleted old files from your pc? If you can’t remember, then you’re most like due for cleaning

Don’t worry, there others who do not have time set aside to clean their computer, but they do find that time when their system slows down. Regular cleanings of your keyboard, mouse and tower, especially since most are in a restaurant environment, can keep your system running perfectly and help you determine which files are still important from the ones that needed to be rid of. This can also get your restaurant Point of Sale system up and running perfectly.

Follow this few simple tips for your spring cleaning:

1. Cleaning your mouse. No one ever suspects the little guy, but your mouse could hold a variety of harmful bacteria that may cause illness. Use a proper amount of cleaning solution on a lint free cloth to clean your mouse every now and then. If you or other users have been sick, you may want to do this more often..

2. Next is your keyboard. Keyboards collect a lot of tiny dirt from you – little crumbs the snacks you were munching on, dust from papers going across the desk, and sometimes even dirty unwashed hands on the keyboard. Cleaning the keyboard is not hard as it seems, first you need to shut down your PC, unplug all wires and take your keyboard to a trash can. Gently turn it upside down, so it won’t fall to the ground, and lightly shake it or use compressed air to remove any dirt or deposits hiding between the keys.

After getting rid of the debris from around the keys, use cotton {swabs|buds} with a small amount of cleaning solution like isopropyl alcohol to clean in between the keys. Next use a lint free cloth with a little bit of cleaning solution to wipe the top of all the keys. Finish up by wiping the entire keyboard with a dry cloth.

3. Clean your computer. The actual computer component that your monitor, keyboard and mouse plug in to , also called the CPU. These units can collect an astonishing amount of dirt, especially if they are placed on the floor. Have you baffled after seeing what’s under your computer tower? If so, it’s definitely time for a cleaning.

Using the same lint free and cleaning solution, wipe down the outside vents and around the connections. The key is making sure you get as much dust as you can off the vents. The more dust is in there, the more your PC is going to overheat.

4. Dumping old files. Can’t remember how long has it been since you emptied the trash files in your recycle bin? The recycle bin temporarily stores your trashed files before they are permanently removed from your PCs hard drive. To empty the recycle bin, simply right click on the “trashcan” icon and click “Empty Recycle Bin” then click Yes to permanently delete the files and free up space on your hard drive.

5. Clearing up the cache. Another disk space hog can be temporary internet files that have never been deleted. To simply delete temporary internet files within MS Internet Explorer, open IE, click on Tools -> Internet Options. Under the Browsing History section, you can find the button “Delete…”. Click it and you will see several choices like Temporary Inter Files, Cookies, History, Form data and Passwords, which you can delete whenever you want.

Below is a brief description each choices under the Browsing History section:

Temporary Internet Files – Deleting the temporary internet files will remove copies of webpages, images and media that are saved on your PC for {faster|quick} viewing.

Cookies – Also called the browser coockies, serves as the storage area where your web browser store bits of information. Deleting this will, remove all your website preferences such as login information.

History – Deleting the history will remove the list of websites you have visited.

Form Data – This will delete any saved information that you have typed into forms.

Password – This option contains all passwords that are automatically filled in when you log on to your online accounts. Deleting this will remove all stored info from all websites you’ve visited in the past.

There is also a Delete All button that will clear all of the above.

So maintain a healthy PC! Clean your computer regularly, especially if your PC is placed in an environment, like a restaurant kitchen, where dirts and spills are common.

The author of this article is the Vice President of Customer Relations at POS-For-Restaurants. With over 20 years of restaurant POS solutions experience, POS-For-Restaurants helps you use your technology to be more efficient, more productive and more profitable.

More information on our website: POS-For-Restaurants.com