A Simple Cleaning Chore to Set Yourself Up for Perpetual Productivity
Considering how much attention as your home computer likely gets, I bet most of the time your gaze is focused on a browser screen instead of the area around your machine. Although it’s not always an item on everyone’s spring cleaning checklist, I want you to take 20 minutes today and focus on your home office area—whether your setup is a compact corner or a room unto itself.
TODAY’S 20-MINUTE TASK
Clean Up Your Computer Setup
We’re spring cleaning, so we’re not so worried about the day to day messes that creep up, especially in well-used areas like your home office. Spend only just a minute or two tidying piles of papers and the like, then get down to business with some less routine, once-in-a-while types of tasks:
- Take a clean, dry microfiber cloth and wipe down your computer screen (never use glass cleaner or other solvents—they can strip protective coatings from your screen). For particularly grimy areas, you can lightly dampen the cloth with water and buff gently.
- Dust in and around your computer and other electronics, like your wifi router or modem (plus all the cords!). You might find it helps to unplug and move some things out of place to really clear dust from inside shelves. Check the vents on your devices—if they’re particularly dusty, you can gently vacuum them, just make sure the device is powered off first.
- Take a post it or a piece of tape and run it between the keys of your keyboard to catch dust and crumbs. If you can unplug your keyboard, you could also try this old-school technique: hold it upside down over a trash can and shake and tap it to clear debris from between the keys.
- If you have time left in your 20 minutes, use it a sign that you should finally stop ignoring that pop-up and update your operating system.
How was that? Feeling ready to take on tomorrow?
It’s Not Too Late to Join Us!
This spring cleaning season, Apartment Therapy is giving you a plan for getting your home refreshed the fast and easy way—in just 20 minutes for 20 days—and we’re just getting started. Sign up now and get your spring cleaning done the simple way.