It's time to decrumb your keyboard and delete that 7th grade research paper you've been holding onto because it's National Clean Out Your Computer Day! Taking the time to cleanout your computer can help ensure your machine runs smoothly. Regularly clearing dust and crumbs protects your system from overheating and damaging the physical parts of your computer and your data. Similarly, clean up-to-date software protects your system from malware, viruses and hackers.

Now, let's roll up our sleeves and get to work!

Wipe it Down

Start by making sure your computer is turned off and unplugged before beginning the physical cleaning process. Begin by dusting the outside of your computer with a soft, dry cloth. Microfiber cleaning cloths work great for this! Make sure to remove any fingerprints on the screen. If you need to use a cleaning fluid, visit a computer store to find one that is specifically designed for your monitor.

Update it

Outdated software can leave you vulnerable to malicious attacks. Double check that your software is up-to-date, especially your antivirus software. Make sure to also check that you're actually using the programs on your computer and delete any software you no longer need. This shields your computer from unnecessary data and limits the number of potential programs that could be affected.

Back it Up

Backing up your data regularly is crucial! You can always replace a laptop, but the data it stores is irreplaceable. If you prefer to store your data on a physical device, you can utilize an external hard drive or thumb drive. Or you can copy your data to the "cloud" online.

Delete it

Delete Files in Windows 10

In the Settings app, click on System and then Storage. Here, you can identify which folders are taking up the most space and delete old files you no longer need.

Need more space on your PC? Check out this Microsoft storage guide.

Delete Files in macOS

Click on the Apple icon in the menu bar and select "About this Mac." Next, click on the storage tab and then the manage button. Here, you can delete old applications or files. The "Reduce Clutter" option will recommend files you haven't accessed in a while that it thinks you can delete.

Finish it up

Finally, after clearing out your computer, empty the trash which will delete the files and apps. Most importantly, finish up by rebooting your computer.