If you want to get the most product life out of your computers and have them operating smoothly and up to spec, then you need to perform regular maintenance. Keeping your desktop or laptop clean is not about looks… it directly impacts heat, airflow, and long-term performance. What follows is a breakdown of the accessible connections and components you can safely clean and maintain.

*The first step: regardless of the maintenance you are performing, always turn off and unplug your device prior to performing any maintenance.

1. External Ports
These ports collect dust, lint, and debris that can interfere with connectivity. It is very important to regularly maintain these ports. When they are dirty, you will experience poor connections leading to data errors, intermittencies, interruptions in charging, and overall slower performance.
External ports include, but are not limited to:

• USB-A / USB-C ports
• HDMI / DisplayPort
• Ethernet (RJ-45)
• Headphone/mic jacks
• SD / microSD card slots
• Charging port (especially on laptops)

Use a lint free cloth or compressed air in short bursts to remove any loose debris or contaminants from the surfaces to be treated. Then apply a small amount of DeoxIT® D100 Liquid to the metal surfaces on the connectors and in the ports. There are many different applicators available from CAIG Labs. You can see some here: DeoxIT D-Series

Choose the applicator that you feel comfortable with and that will get into the spaces you need to treat. Get the DeoxIT D100 Liquid on the metal surfaces, wipe off the excess, and you are done. It is that easy and you will be happy with the results that this little bit of effort gets you.

2. Air Vents, Exhausts and Fans (CPU, GPU, Case Fans)
Maintaining vents, exhausts and fans is critical to the performance of your device. Vents and exhausts can be found on sides, bottom or back of laptops/desktops. Dust buildup restricts airflow through the vents leading to overheating and slower performance. Likewise, dusty fan blades reduce airflow (leading to more heat) and increase noise.

Use compressed air blown into vents and out exhaust paths 

Hold fans in place (if visible) to avoid overspinning
Use a soft brush for dust that adheres to the surfaces
Try not to spin fans excessively

3. Screens, Touchscreens and other Displays
This is an easy area to maintain and you will literally see the results immediately.

Most modern displays use plastic or composite materials for the outer layer of matte-finish monitors. Some touch screens use glass and others continue to use plastics.

Due to the plastic or potential plastic finishes on screens, you should use a product made to clean modern screens. Such products avoid using alcohol or ammonia as these materials can lead to clouding, hazing, cracking and degradation of protective coatings. This is why you must avoid using a glass cleaner.

Instead use Screen Cleaner from CAIG Labs. There are many sized and different applicator types. You can see one of these cleaners here: Screen Cleaning Kit, #CCS-503 (22 oz Spray)

4. Battery Contacts (Some Laptops- if Accessible)
If your laptop has a removable battery, a little maintenance here will yield excellent results.

Dirty contacts will negatively impact charging reliability, create excess heat and reduce both the power flow and lifespan of the battery.

Use a lint free cloth or compressed air in short bursts to remove any loose debris or contaminants from the surfaces to be treated. Then apply a small amount of DeoxIT® D100

Liquid to the metal surfaces on the connectors and in the ports. DeoxIT D-Series Choose the applicator that you feel comfortable with and that will get into the spaces you need to treat. Get the DeoxIT D100 Liquid on the metal surfaces, wipe off the excess, and you are done.