Cleaning computers
Bill Gates’ dream of a computer on every desk and in every home seems to have become a reality even in this corner of the world where statistics rate us poor.
Gone are the days when people would bow for the man who knows how to operate a computer. Also gone are the days when computers were a property that could only be bought by large business entities. Even a common shop in an average market square has computers where such services as Internet, typing, printing and photocopying are provided.
It is no longer news to find a household with a computer and children playing games on it. Computers have become part of us. Finally, many are joining Bill Gates’ dream of having a computer on their desk.
However, while we enjoy benefits of working or playing on computers, we should be aware of the health risk of using a dirty keyboard which can be a source of diseases.
Keyboards become health hazards because we usually eat while working. We handle food and continue punching the keys.
While it is easy to see the dust on the CPU box and the monitor, it is not easy to notice dirt on the keyboards because constant touching of the keyboard removes the dust, but the hidden dirt remains.
It is for this reason that I have dedicated this week’s space to cleaning of the keyboard.
According to steps outlined on www.pcworld.com, the first step is switching off the computer and, if it is wired, removing if from the CPU box.
The next step is turning the keyboard upside down and shake it so that loose debris should fall from beneath the keys.
You can use a brush to guide such small articles to ensure they all find their way out.
Personally, I prefer using methylated spirit when cleaning the keyboard. I dip a cotton piece into the methylated spirit and use it to clean above the keys and in between the keys where dust settles.
Repeat the process where you feel there is need to repeat the process. After cleaning use a dry swab of cotton to remove any residual moisture. After that, reconnect the keyboard and switch on the computer.
Wishing you, dear reader, a week full of activity. Remember, the devil finds work for idle hands. n
