How to Clean and Maintain Your Electronics Properly

Your electronics are disgusting. Studies show the average smartphone carries 10 times more bacteria than a toilet seat. Your keyboard has crumbs from three years ago lodged between the keys. Your laptop fans are clogged with dust bunnies that are raising its temperature by 15 degrees. Here's how to properly clean everything without causing damage.

The Universal Rules

Before we get to device-specific instructions, these rules apply everywhere:

1. Power off and unplug before cleaning anything
2. Never spray liquid directly on electronics — spray on the cloth, then wipe
3. Never use paper towels — they leave scratches on screens
4. Avoid household cleaners — Windex, bleach, and all-purpose cleaners can strip coatings
5. Use microfiber cloths only — they're soft, lint-free, and won't scratch

The Amazon Basics Microfiber Cleaning Cloth (24-pack) ($14) is all you need for most cleaning tasks. One for screens, one for bodies, and spares for everything else.

Monitors and TV Screens

Don't

• Don't press hard on LCD/OLED panels — you can damage pixels
• Don't use alcohol or ammonia-based cleaners on modern displays (they strip the anti-glare coating)
• Don't use tap water (minerals leave streaks)

Do

1. Turn off the display and let it cool
2. Dust with a dry microfiber cloth using gentle, broad strokes
3. For smudges, lightly dampen the cloth with distilled water
4. For stubborn marks, use a screen cleaning solution — the WHOOSH! Screen Cleaner Kit ($16) is safe for all displays including OLED and matte screens
5. Never spray the screen directly. Spray the cloth.

Laptops

Keyboard

Keyboards accumulate more grime than any other component. Flip the laptop upside down (gently) and tap the back to dislodge loose debris. Then use a compressed air can ($9) to blow between the keys at a 30-degree angle. Sweep across the keyboard in one direction, don't blast straight down into the keys.

For a deeper clean, dampen a cotton swab with 70% isopropyl alcohol and clean around each key. The alcohol evaporates quickly and disinfects without leaving moisture.

Trackpad

Dampen a microfiber cloth with a tiny amount of distilled water or isopropyl alcohol. Wipe in straight lines, not circles. Dry immediately with a clean cloth.

Vents and Fans

Dust buildup in laptop vents is the #1 cause of overheating and thermal throttling. Use compressed air to blow dust out of the vents. Hold the can upright (tilting it can spray liquid propellant) and use short bursts.

For a thorough cleaning, open the bottom panel (most laptops have accessible panels) and blow dust directly off the fan blades. This alone can drop your laptop's temperature by 10-15°C.

Phones and Tablets

Apple and Samsung both now recommend cleaning screens with 70% isopropyl alcohol wipes. This was a change from their previous guidance — modern oleophobic coatings are more durable than older ones.

1. Remove the case
2. Wipe the entire device with a 70% isopropyl alcohol wipe or a lightly dampened microfiber cloth
3. Clean the charging port with a wooden or plastic toothpick — never metal, which can damage the pins
4. Clean the speaker grills with a soft-bristled brush (an old toothbrush works)
5. Clean the case separately with soap and water (silicone and hard plastic cases), let it dry completely before putting it back on

Headphones and Earbuds

Over-Ear Headphones

Wipe the headband and ear cups with a damp microfiber cloth. For leather or pleather pads, use a tiny amount of leather conditioner every few months to prevent cracking.

Remove the ear pads (most twist off or pull off) and wipe the driver grills with a dry cloth. Don't let liquid enter the driver housing.

In-Ear Earbuds

This is where it gets gross. Ear wax builds up on the mesh screens and reduces sound quality. Use the tool that came with your earbuds (or a clean, dry cotton swab) to gently clear the mesh. For AirPods and similar, a cleaning putty ($8) presses into the mesh and lifts out embedded wax without pushing it deeper.

The charging case gets dirty too. Clean the lightning/USB-C port and charging contacts with a dry cotton swab.

Desktop Computers

External

Wipe the case, monitor, keyboard, and mouse with a damp microfiber cloth. Use compressed air between keyboard keys.

Internal (Every 6-12 Months)

1. Power off, unplug, and ground yourself (touch the metal case to discharge static)
2. Remove the side panel
3. Use compressed air to blow dust off every component — fans, heatsinks, GPU, PSU vents
4. Work from top to bottom so dust falls out of the case
5. Hold fan blades still while blowing them (spinning fans with compressed air can damage bearings)
6. Clean dust filters (most modern cases have removable filters) under running water, let dry completely before reinstalling

Maintenance Schedule

| Task | Frequency | |------|-----------| | Screen wipe (phone, laptop, monitor) | Weekly | | Keyboard cleaning | Monthly | | Headphone/earbud cleaning | Bi-weekly | | Laptop vent cleaning | Every 3 months | | Desktop internal cleaning | Every 6-12 months | | Deep keyboard clean | Every 6 months | | Replace thermal paste (laptop) | Every 3-5 years |

A few minutes of regular maintenance keeps your electronics performing their best and extends their lifespan by years. Your lungs will thank you too — the dust that builds up in computers doesn't stay inside the computer.

Read our full laptop guide →

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