Laptop maintenance: How to take care of your portable PC

Most prefer laptops for work and school over PCs because you can carry them easily. Consequently, you should learn proper laptop maintenance.

Take care of your device, and it will take care of you. Keep your laptop in tip-top shape so that it can keep serving your needs for years. 

READ: 5 reasons why you need a business laptop

This article will discuss the basics of laptop maintenance, such as cleaning the display to taking care of the battery.

The 5 essential laptop maintenance tips

1. Clean your machine
2. Deplete the batteries occasionally
3. Protect your laptop from impact and temperature
4. Organize your files and folders
5. Update the software

1. Clean your machine

The most important laptop maintenance tip is cleanliness. Ensure that the display is clear and the rest of the device is grime-free. 

These methods will prevent foreign particles from damaging your screen or your computer’s internal parts. Also, it keeps germs from accumulating on your device and making you sick. 

You also want your laptop to look presentable if you use it outdoors. The tech company HP recommends the following laptop cleaning tools: 

• Soft microfiber cloth
• 75% rubbing alcohol
• A can of compressed air
• Cotton swabs or cotton buds
• Soft brush

You may purchase these as a kit or separately. Then, start cleaning your laptop with these steps: 

1. Blast it with compressed air from a distance to blow away dirt. Keep the can a few inches away from the machine to prevent damaging it. 
2. Next, use the brush and cotton swabs to clear dust in between the laptop keys.
3. Apply some rubbing alcohol on the microfiber cloth and wipe the screen and the rest of the device. The cloth should not be dripping wet to prevent droplets from entering your laptop.

2. Deplete the batteries occasionally

Most plug their laptops into an outlet before using them, but proper laptop maintenance requires depleting that battery. Use your laptop unplugged until the low battery notification appears at least weekly. 

Hampshire College explains that plugging your laptop regularly causes its battery electrons to stagnate, reducing its lifespan. 

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However, do not drain the battery completely to avoid damaging your laptop’s internal parts. Also, turn off Wi-Fi and Bluetooth when you are not using them to conserve energy.

3. Protect your laptop from impact and temperature

You rely on your laptop for work and school, so avoid dropping or bumping it into stuff. Also, invest in a protective sleeve or bag for enhanced protection.

They’re also a convenient way to carry your laptop. Moreover, these laptop maintenance bags have extra pockets for accessories like the power cord and mouse. 

Don’t use your laptop in extreme heat or cold to prevent damage. HP says they can operate safely in temperatures between 50°F to 90°F or 10°C to 32°C.

4. Organize your files and folders

The previous laptop maintenance tips maintain its performance. If you notice it’s taking longer to boot up or operate, you might need to organize files and folders. 

Your device might contain too many that they’ve filled up your internal storage. As a result, you might notice a “low memory” or “low storage space” notification.

Enter File Explorer by clicking the desktop folder icon or typing that name into the search bar. Then, look for files you’re not using anymore and delete them.

READ: How to maintain your laptop battery

Check for unused programs and uninstall them via the Control Panel. Type that name on the desktop search bar or click the Start menu to open it. 

Invest in a USB flash drive or external hard drive to keep important files outside your computer. Also, you may want to purchase a new one if you find yourself constantly removing files and folders for space.

5. Update the software

Sometimes, it can be annoying when your computer requires a restart for updates. However, those are crucial for laptop maintenance.

They fix software to make your machine run smoother. Also, it installs online protections against viruses and malware that could hinder your computer’s performance.

Nowadays, computers download updates automatically when you link to the Internet, so you only need to allow a restart to install them.

Alternatively, download and install them manually by opening the Check for Updates section of your laptop. Enter that name in the desktop search bar and click the first option to open it.