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February 8th is National Clean Out Your Computer Day – Garrison Pro Shares Tips and Ideas

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PRESS RELEASE
For immediate release
Contact: Cindy Dion
Phone: 727.342.0241
Email: cindy.dion@garrisonpro.com

FEBRUARY 8TH IS NATIONAL CLEAN OUT YOUR COMPUTER DAY
GarrisonPro Shares Tips and Ideas to Clean Computers Inside and Out

Pinellas Park, FL (February 2, 2021) – The Institute for Business Technology first named National Clean Out Your Computer Day in the year 2000. It is now celebrated on the second Monday in February, making it February 8th of this year. National Clean Out Your Computer Day encourages people to take time to do some basic housekeeping on their computers, both inside and out. Although it may be a tedious task, it is imperative that the hardware, software, and files of a computer be kept clean and organized to keep everything running smoothly. GarrisonPro shares some ideas to make the most out of this time.

GarrisonPro’s Founder and CEO, Joe Pilliod, notes that hardware is the body and physical components of a computer. Cleaning hardware will help a computer function faster and last longer. It will protect it from overheating, which could slow performance and cause unexpected shutdowns. Exterior cleaning is as important as interior cleaning. To clean the computer’s physical hardware, the exterior should be wiped down with a clean microfiber cleaning cloth. Isopropyl alcohol will clean the more stubborn dirt and grime. Following that step, a can of compressed air and some Q-tips can be used to clean the air vents, dust filters, and openings of the case. This process may take an hour or so but it is time well spent. Heat is the #1 killer of electronics, and the cleaner the computer is, the more smooth-running and reliable it will be. Be sure to power off and unplug the computer during this cleaning process. Only isopropyl alcohol should be used as liquids could short out electronics or cause a chemical residue.

Next, wipe off monitors and displays with a dry, clean cloth. Add either a little water or a 50% vinegar and 50% water combination if need be, but never use any harsh cleaning solutions on screens. A can of compressed air can be used to clear out crumbs and dust from the mouse and keyboard. A dampened cloth with isopropyl alcohol and Q-tips can be used to clean the surface of keys, the components of the mouse, and in-between the keys of the keyboard.

Once the physical computer has been cleaned, attention can be directed to the digital bits. Over time, a computer can get seriously bogged down due to accumulated downloads, files, programs, and apps. Start out by backing up and copying files onto a flash drive or external drive for safekeeping. Then, begin deleting unused, old, or unwanted files, folders, and apps. Clicking on the ‘Settings’ of the computer, navigate to ‘Systems’, and then ‘Storage’, where some information on which folders contain the most files and data can be viewed. This can help to narrow down where to begin cleaning.

In most cases, computers come with pre-installed programs that are never used, which can be deleted as well. Remove unnecessary programs in Windows by opening “Add or Remove Programs” from the start menu, or on Macintosh computers by simply dragging unnecessary apps into the trash. Both Windows and Mac computers also come with built-in disk cleanup utilities that can be used to remove system files and data that is no longer needed. To free up more space, after unnecessary files and folders have been deleted, browser history can be cleared.

Once all of this is completed, it is important to reboot the computer. Moving forward, be sure to have antivirus and anti-malware software installed for protection. Check to ensure that the newest versions of each piece of software on the computer is being used. One can typically find whether the applications are up to date simply by opening them and keeping an eye out for any on-screen notifications, or by looking in the program’s ‘Help’ menu and selecting ‘About’. Finally, tidy up the desktop and empty the trash bin on the computer.

National Clean Out Your Computer Day is also a good day to take back control on Facebook, Twitter, and other social media feeds. For Facebook, clean up posts from unknown people, edit preferences to suit your current needs, and delete or edit any apps that have access to your data. Click on ‘Ads’ underneath ‘Apps and Websites’ to adjust how personal data is being used by advertisers. On Twitter, regain control by creating lists and deleting accounts no longer needed. It is good practice to trim the fat out of social media feeds regularly.

Taking advantage of National Clean Out Your Computer Day will help computers run smoother, work more efficiently, and provide more digital space. A happy computer will keep the user happy as well.

About GarrisonPro
GarrisonPro is a cyber security, compliance management, and computer support service company founded by Joe Pilliod, a 16-year telecommunications and cyber security specialist from the US Air Force and Department of Defense at MacDill AFB. GarrisonPro’s mission is to keep computers stable, systems secure, and business growing. GarrisonPro serves the Tampa Bay region and beyond. For more information, visit www.garrisonpro.com.

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