by Staff Writer
Like most electronics, gaming hardware and related accessories gather dust easily. Fingerprints, dust and other particulates contribute to dirty game systems, games and accessories. Dirty gaming hardware and accessories will not perform at top efficiency and could stop working altogether, so it is important to keep your equipment clean and tidy. Clean your video game hardware and accessories when you notice dirt, dust and smudges.
Unplug everything. Turn off your game console and disconnect the power source. Disconnect gaming hardware, such as controllers and peripheral devices, also. You may want to remove the batteries from wireless controllers and other independently powered accessories.
Dust the exterior of your game console and gaming hardware. Spray a lint-free cloth with a light amount of electronics dusting spray and wipe down the exterior of all your gaming hardware. To prevent getting spray inside the equipment, avoid spraying gaming hardware or consoles directly. Afterward, wipe everything with a dry cloth.
Spray compressed air into air vents and narrow areas on your gaming hardware. Compressed air can come out very cold, so keep the nozzle at least two inches away from the vent to prevent condensation from forming inside the console. Spray short bursts of air into the vents to dislodge dust inside the console. You can clean your game cartridges and other gaming hardware this way, but not video game discs.
Use rubbing alcohol on gaming hardware. Use a cotton swab and rubbing alcohol to clean small gaming hardware, such as controllers, microphones and ear pieces, and wipe them down with a dry cloth. Pay special attention to the buttons and thumb sticks on your controllers, where oil and dirt can build up.
Dust your gaming hardware and accessories weekly if you use them frequently. Otherwise, dust at least once a month to keep dust and other particles from settling on gaming hardware and causing them to heat up excessively.
Store your games, console and gaming hardware in a cool, well-ventilated space. Excessive heat or cold can damage computer hardware.
