Dust, fingerprints and crumbs will make your gaming setup look messy, but they can actually shorten the lifespan of your gaming gear, and reduce performance over time.
There are a few simple weekly habits you can do, to keep your controllers responsive, keyboards crisp, and your consoles breathing easy, without feeling too much of a boring chore.
Clear Dust From Vents And Fans
Dust in your air vents and fans end up reducing airflow, and raises the temperature within your equipment, so you need to clear it regularly.
If you can, aim for a weekly quick check, and a deeper clean every 1 to 3 months, depending on your gaming environment.
Start by turning off your equipment, and unplugging the device. Use a can of compressed air, in short bursts, to blow out any dust from the vents and fan blades.
If a fan spins freely, brace it gently with a finger, or a non-conductive tool to prevent it from over-rotating whilst you spray.
For a cleaner gaming PC, remove the side panel, and use compressed air to work from the inside out. Blow dust from the heatsinks, power supply, grills and case vents. use a soft brush, or a microfiber cloth to loosen clumps, before blowing them away.
Run a high-efficiency filter in the room, keep your gaming computer case elevated and off the carpet, and close your windows on high-pollen days.
Compressed air is so handy for blowing away dust and crumbs from any device, like controllers, consoles, cellphones or the wires at the back of your equipment, and make sure you vacuum it all up after, so it doesn’t just end up back in your devices.
Wipe Down Controllers And Handhelds
Keep your controllers or handhelds free of sweat, oils and grime, by wiping them down at least once a week.
Use a clean microfiber cloth to remove any surface dust, and fingerprints. For more stubborn spots, you can lightly dampen the cloth with a 70% isopropyl alcohol solution, to disinfect without soaking seams or buttons.
I personally use an isopropyl alcohol spray designed specifically for cleaning screens, as it gets rid of dust, grime and fingerprints all-in-one, and can be used on your screen, or buttons.
For your joystick tops and tight crevices, you can wrap a corner of your microfiber cloth around a toothpick or cotton swap, to reach the smaller gaps, working gently, so you don’t push the debris further into the openings.
Clean Your Keyboard Without Taking It Apart
Make sure you unplug your keyboard, or power off your laptop first, to avoid accidental keystrokes, or short circuits.
Turn your keyboard upside down, and gently shake it, and tap it over a trash bin, to dislodge loose crumbs. Then, use a few short bursts of compressed air in a zigzag pattern, to blow dust from between the keys.
Next, use your microfiber cloth lightly dampened with the 70% isopropyl alcohol, and use it on the tops of the keys and keyboard frame. You can use a cotton swab dipped in the alcohol for narrow gaps, and around key edges.
For excessive dust and crumbs, you can use putty cleaner, which you can press onto your keys, and in between your keys, to collect the debris, and this is something you can use whenever you notice a build-up of crumbs or dust.
Make sure you remove batteries from wireless keyboards, before cleaning the battery compartment, ensuring everything is completely dry before reconnecting.
Tidy And Disinfect Your Desk Setup
Remove controllers, headsets and any loose peripherals, so you can see dust build-up, and can reach every spot.
Wipe your desk with a microfiber cloth, and a mild cleaner suitable for your desk material, and throw the cloth into the washing machine, so it is clean next time you need to use it.
Use disinfectant wipes or the 70% isopropyl alcohol solution on your controllers, mouse, and keyboard. Obviously, avoid saturating your electronics – lightly dampen the cloth, and let items air-dry.
Organize your cables with a cable management system, to reduce dust traps, and make cleaning faster. Using Velcro straps, cable sleeves or a simple tray under your desk, helps to keep power strips and power adapters off the floor.
You can also use compressed air in short bursts, to clear any dust, following with a dry cloth, or a handheld vacuum to collect loosened particles.