Let's Celebrate Clean Out Your Computer Day
There are so many holidays for people. But what about your computer? Don't you think it deserves a holiday too? All right, maybe you do give your PC or Mac a day off occasionally, but wouldn't it be nice to do something special for your computer at least once a year? Well, there is a holiday created for this purpose - Clean Out Your Computer Day.
A Bit of History
Celebrating Clean Out Your Computer Day goes as far back as 2000 when it was sponsored by the Institute for Business and Technology. That's how the tradition started and now Clean Out Your Computer Day is celebrated every second Monday of February. This year it's February 11, really close to Valentine's Day. So let's give our computers some love!
Show Your PC or Mac That You Love It
Enough talk - it's time for some action! Let's give your computer a good cleanup and ease its burden. Just think of it, your poor system has to deal with all your files, software, a whole load of stuff online plus all the junk and clutter you leave behind. No wonder your computer is slowing down - it simply can't cope. So, here's what you need to do to make your computer clean and fast again.
Get Rid of the Dust
Yes, dust is the first thing you should take care of. And I don't mean going over your PC with a duster. What you need is some canned air that will blow out the dust from your computer's inside. Desktops tend to accumulate heaps of dust in their cases and laptops are not much better - they suffer from dust too. A good sign of a dusty computer is overheating. So, give your PC or Mac a good blow-through with that canned air.
Disinfect and Vaccinate
And now is the time to give your computer a medical checkup - scan it for viruses and malware. You can use your antivirus. If you don't have one, Microsoft Security Essentials is really good. Plus you can back it up with Malwarebytes. And don't forget to keep your anti-virus updated because it will vaccinate your computer against future infections.
Learn how to protect your PC or Mac
Clean Out the Junk
Now that your computer is free of any infections you may have had, it's time to delete junk files - temporary system and Internet files, unneeded logs, old system restore points, clear the caches, delete duplicate files, maintain the registry and so on. There are lots of software programs that will help you do it, from the built-in ones like the disk cleanup utility in Windows to all sorts of automatic computer speedup and optimization suites. Here is a list of programs I've used myself:
- CCleaner - a free Windows cleanup utility that can cleanup all sorts of PC junk, clean the registry, help you manage your startup entries, uninstall software and even shred files and wipe free disk space.
- MacKeeper - a really thorough cleanup and maintenance suite for Macs. It has everything you may want - a file cleaner, safety features, a duplicate file finder and what not.
- iolo System Mechanic - a personal favourite of mine for Windows cleanup and maintenance. This program has been around since 1998 and it's really really good. Right now there is a System Mechanic giveaway where you can win a free license.
- Easy Duplicate Finder - a really advanced duplicate finder for Windows and Mac users. It can help you organize all your files, from emails and documents to music and photos.
Finishing Touches
By now your computer should be a lot cleaner, which means that it should be running a lot faster. But there is still room for improvement - you can organize your folders and make files easier to find, you can clean up your Inboxes and delete old emails, and you can move large files like movies to an external hard drive. And don't forget to wipe your computer screen - it does have a tendency to get dusty!
If you love your computer and want it to stay fast and healthy, spread the word about Clean Out Your Computer Day and let's celebrate it every year!
Did you know about Clean Out Your Computer Day?
© 2013 Snurre