Your computer. It's always there when you need it and is an integral part of daily life. Most of us don't realize how important our computers are until something happens and we have to live without them.

There's a special time of the year to remind us about the importance of our computers and taking care of them — National Clean Up Your Computer Month! Who knew there was such a thing right? But when you stop and think for a moment, it makes sense. January is the start of a new year and many people choose to “get organized” as one of their resolutions, so it’s actually great that the two coincide!

In observance of National Clean Up Your Computer Month, here are some specific ways you can give your computer the TLC it deserves:

  • Clean your keyboard and mouse. Both are havens for germs, dust, and other unwanted debris. Use canned air to get in between keyboard keys. Also, wipe down your keys and your mouse with computer-approved cleaning agents. Cotton swabs (like Q-tips) come in pretty handy as well for this cleaning task.
     
  • Wipe down your monitor. Be sure to use products specifically designed for computers and to follow the instructions. Never use glass cleaner and other household cleaning products.
     
  • Remove unused files. Carrying excess files can slow down the performance of your computer. Take some time to delete old files as well as temporary files.
     
  • Empty your trash or recycle bin. You wouldn't leave a full trash barrel under your kitchen sink, so why leave a full barrel of trash in your computer?
     
  • Back up important files. If you've ever accidentally deleted a file you needed, you know how important it is to regularly back up your files.
     
  • Clean out your cookies. If you do a lot of Internet surfing, you'll probably have old cookies that can affect the performance of your computer. Clean out cookies in your browser.
     
  • Do a virus scan. If you don't have virus protection software, make sure you purchase it from a reputable provider and run a scan immediately and regularly.
     
  • Uninstall old software programs. If you haven't used an application in the last several months, take it off your computer by running an uninstall program. You just might find your computer runs faster.

Start celebrating National Clean Up Your Computer Month today! It’s a great way to begin the new year off on the right foot, and tackle that “get organized” resolution.