I’ve been working on other people’s computers for a long time. Often times, the problem is either the infamous “Blue Screen of Death”, loud fan or other sounds, or just overall sluggish movement. And today wasn’t any different. Below is an example of what a dirty computer can look like.

Pretty nasty, isn’t it. I’ve seen worse. Just today, I worked on a machine and took out two dust balls the size of my fist. But cleaning your computer is simple, so add it to your spring cleaning list. Here’s how:

• Get a can of compressed air

You can get this almost anywhere. Most likely a store like Target or Wal-Mart will be a bit cheaper than an electronics store. But either way, it’s about 10 dollars or less for a can.

• Unplug everything and take the case outdoors

Trust me on this. You’re gonna be amazed (disgusted) with how much stuff you might find. You don’t want to start blowing this stuff around in your office.

• Open your computer case (desktops only)

Don’t be afraid. Opening a computer case is easy. Most desktop cases have a side cover that comes off easy, usually with 1 or 2 screws. Check your manual if you’re unsure about how to take it off.

• Get cleaning!

Once you have the case off (on the desktop), just pull the trigger. You want to start blowing the air with smaller blasts. You’ll notice the can gets cold. That’s ok, just don’t stand there and keep blowing and blowing. The important areas are the fan(s), and any opening on the case that either pulls in or pushes out air. If you see moisture begin to form, stop. Wait until it has evaporated until starting again. Get all the dust out, then put the cover back on the case. You’re done!

If you’re cleaning a laptop, it’s easier, but more important do clean it more often. Laptops, by their design, run hotter since the parts are in a smaller, more compressed area. What you want to do is look for the exhaust area. On most laptops, it’ll look like this:

What you want to do is take your can and spray with short bursts every 5 to 10 seconds. After a few bursts, let the machine sit before going again. Again, if you see moisture begin to form, stop. Wait until it has evaporated until starting again.

Don’t wait too long before you check out cleaning your computer. You could end up having to pay someone to “fix” it, only for them to do the same thing!