10 ways to help your technology last the test of time

Clean out your computer, laptops, keyboards etc of dust

Dust slowly kills computers, they clog up the vents and make it harder for the fans to spin making the other components struggle to keep up. Every 3-6 months pull them out and clean them or follow your devices cleaning instructions.

WARNING: Don’t be tempted to use a vacuum cleaner! The static electricity that is built up on the nozzle can instantly destroy your computer, you just have to look at the Google search results for ‘pc won’t boot vacuum’ to see how many people have made this mistake.

Dust Cleaners, originally designed for cameras however ideal for cleaning other electronics. However they do (supposedly) look a little bit like a douche

Solution: Take your computer/laptop into a well ventilated area (outside or in a clean garage) then use an anal douche air blower to remove dust, then grab a few cans of compressed air and continue the process, just make sure you’re not blowing other debris into the device.

2nd WARNING: Compressed air canisters are great however be careful there is probably a 1 in 200 chance that it will spray water vapour when spraying, if you notice this then don’t turn on the computer for a few hours (at least) or until dry

For computer/phone screens use this and use a wooden toothpick to clean out any dirt from joints etc (especially important when selling a device).

Keep it cool & dry

Especially true for computers, don’t cover up the vents especially when using a laptop on your bed etc, as often vents can be blocked. Use a laptop cooling rest to save your knees from burning (Mac users) and to allow the vents to breath.
As mentioned above make sure the vents, fans etc are cleaned often but also make sure you don’t leave your devices in direct sunlight, a room with good air flow and don’t put boxes in front of vents etc.
Moisture and technology doesn’t mix well, keep your device away from water by using a waterproof case (ideally for the beach etc). If you do get your device wet follow these steps.

Use a surge protector to protect your valuable electronics

The odds of this happening are pretty low but by spending an extra £5-£60 on your power cables you could save yourself £100s or even £1000s (what we use or what we recommend for most)

Remember a computer isn’t the same as a light switch

Leaving your computer running all the time can cost you a fortune in electric bills however (as long as it’s cleaned often and has good ventilation) you can actually do more harm by constantly turning the device on and off as the components inside have to fluctuate between completely cold and then hot. Limit this stress and your computer will last longer.

Don’t shake / drop etc

Moving a device can cause catastrophic malfunctions if it has a hard drive inside (Sky box, PC, Laptop etc), so don’t move it when it’s turned on.

Remember devices are generally not built to last