Spring has sprung and there’s no better time than now to clean up your computer. Looking for a good spring cleaning? Here are 5 easy ways to clean up your computer to get ready for warmer weather.
5) Start Dusting and Cleaning
Before we start hitting the software side of things, think about physically cleaning your computer. Use a Q-tip to gently clean the spaces between your keyboard. Run a gentle sanitizer over your mouse and keyboard. Buy eyeglass cleaner and clean your display.
If you have a desktop PC, consider opening up the case (after you turn it off) and dusting out the inside (being careful not to discharge any static as you go along).
Vacuum under your desk. Wipe off your desk. Spray some air freshener. You’re good to move onto the next step.
4) Get Rid of Stuff You No Longer Need or Use
This tip could also apply to an article about “How to Spring Clean Your House”. But it’s equally true on your computer.
Start getting rid of stuff you don’t need any more. That includes programs, software, movies, games, TV shows, browser bookmarks, etc. There’s never a better time than now to de-clutter your life.
Getting rid of stuff helps you free up space. It also helps you boost performance. You may notice you PC starts up more quickly, for example.
3) Tidy Up your External or Cloud Storage
I don’t know about you, but very few of my files are actually on my PC: most of them are on OneDrive. If you’re like me, then it’s easy for your cloud storage to get messy after a while.
Whether you use cloud storage or external storage, tidying up your third party storage systems can get you ready for the warm summer months.
Or, if you don’t use cloud storage, then there’s no better time than now to move files from your computer onto your cloud storage.
2) Fully Patch Up Everything on your System
Many of the major exploits of the last few years (Heartbleed, Logjam, DROWN, etc.) have been caused by a lack of software updates.
Attackers love taking advantage of old, outdated software and hardware. When you leave your stuff unpatched, it gives attackers an easy way to access your system.
Today, many of your critical systems on your computer will update themselves automatically. Unfortunately, that’s made many of us lazy about updates. Some of the other things to check for updates include:
-Motherboard firmware updates
-Router and modem firmware updates
-Video card updates
-Peripheral updates
-Driver update packages from your manufacturer
Manufacturers are constantly releasing updates for old and new hardware and software. Some of these updates are optimization updates. Others are critical security updates. Either way, they’re very important.
1) Install PC Cleaner Pro, CCleaner, and Other Optimization Software
Now that you’ve de-cluttered your PC and sped it up, it’s time to put the finishing touches on the optimization process by installing good PC software.
PC Cleaner Pro and CCleaner are two of the most popular options (I use both on my computer). CCleaner is great at removing unnecessary browser files, for example, and clearing out adware. PC Cleaner Pro focuses more on the registry and removing old programs. By using both software programs, you can significantly speed up your PC and keep it blazing fast for months into the future.
Do you have any other spring cleaning tips we forgot to add? Let us know in the comments section below and we’ll add them to the list!
