Cleaning contents, was Moldy Computers

[Guest guest]

OK, I'm slow to respond. I actually wrote this response way back, but it got

lost in the shuffle and never sent. Hope it helps.

Actually, I am certain that the advice on cleaning can apply to any item. Good

Luck.

Regarding the computer, inside is a small fan for cooling. Dust accumulates on

the blades and nearby components as well as anywhere there is airflow. If you

take the back panel off, you will see that it probably needs to be cleaned. The

fan just keeps blowing bits of it back out at you.

Use a can of compressed air sold just for electronics (available anywhere they

sell computer stuff, about $4). Remember, carefully follow the mfr directions

for taking your computer apart; it's ok, it's easy and won't void the warranty,

but you can make a mistake and cause a short if not careful. Also, blow/spray

the air outside or toward a vacuum nozzle so it picks up the dirt instead of

letting it fly around you and the room.

This is applicable for ALL computers, not just laptops. So if your computer is

bothering you, this is the first thing I would do. I guarantee, if you've never

done this, you'll be amazed at the amount of dust ! And we all know what's in

dust.

If you're going to wipe it down, I would not use 'bleach', but would instead

choose a pre-wetted wipe, if it contains bleach, ok. You will find that the

'cleaning' wipes are much better for removing the sticky dust because they have

surfactants. Plain bleach and water will not clean the sticky stuff as well.

Besides, do you want the chlorine?

Here's the good part! Some cleaning supply places sell plain dry wipes and the

dispenser cans. You can then make your own wipes with any solution you want and

the wipe is stronger than paper towel. E.g., choose your favorite: vinegar,

lemon, baking soda, even mild soap. When we discovered what we thought was the

best cleaner/disinfectant, we made our own wipes. The results were and continue

to be astounding.

Our research and continued support for the conclusion was based on using ATP

measurements for comparing relative cleanliness of mold and bacteria on a

surface.

To this day, our selected cleaner has yet to be beat. Disclosure: I have no

financial interest in the product.

The next surprise was what we found doing a comparison test of water v alcohol v

3 different commercial disinfectant/cleaners. We wiped (cleaned) the surface and

measured ATP each of 3 passes. After the first pass of wiping, the plain water

reduced the contaminant by the greatest percentage. Plain Water. Of course, when

the third pass was measured, the best surfactant reduced it the greatest amount.

The type of disinfectant meant nothing and had no impact on the amount of

contaminant reduction.

Armour, M.S., Environmental Health

Armour Applied Science

>

> Hi Everyone,

>

More than half the stuff we purchase ends up arriving with mold contamination.

Electronics seem to be particularly problematic. Specifically computer

equipment is a real problem.

>

>> The crazy thing is that my wife did not react to the old laptops that we had

in the house that we owned, which had the roof leak. We had old grungy external

keyboards and didn't seem to have this type of problem.

> > How would you take care of them to prevent mold contamination?

>

> I am wondering if the new computer technology is somehow causing this

situation, since our old computers didn't seem to produce this kind of problem.

The guy who did the shielding of the laptop said that the new processors emit

EMF radiation, which is very similar to cell phone radiation. Older generation

PCs apparently were not as bad.

>

> Thanks,

>

>