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The "Keeping your computer perfectly clean" mentality - good or bad?

I always keep my Macs clean of prints, dust, and other debris. I can't stand that kinda stuff. Same with my car, I wash it all the time and use the California Duster on it every time I take it out. Call my crazy, but I like having things look their best all the time.
 
Like people who spend quality time polishing the chrome, waxing the paint, protecting and cleaning their low-riders, we do the same for our computers.
 
I'm sort of wondering how some of you are getting your laptop so dirty in the first place. Yes, the occasional screen smudge, and naturally dust is going to need to be cleaned off the screen from time to time.

But lots of scratches? Grease? Are you guys eating with your hands and using the laptop at the same time? I'm definitely NOT a clean freak (one look at my garage would prove that to anyone). But getting your keyboard grimy on a regular basis is just, I don't know, wrong...

Also, I can't believe the abused scratched up laptop exteriors I see some times. I expect that from a 11 year old, but not from an adult. My daughter scratched hers up the first couple of months into 6th grade (they have a laptop program in middle school here). But after those first few, she learned out to take care of her laptop. It's lasted 2 years of middle school so far, and is much better looking then a lot of the MacBooks I see for sale.

Simply treat it like what it is: An expensive, and not-so-indestructible tool. If you paid $1000-$3000 for an electronic doo-hickey to run your private business, you wouldn't slide it across a metal lunch table, or spill an open bottle of beer on it.
 
I was mega-OCD as a kid. As early as 4 years old I used to wash my hands after touching just about anything. I use to have an order that I would arrange my toys on my shelf, and I would change them around nightly, and clean them. And I would turn my lights 3-4 times before snoozing every night to make sure I didn't make a mistake. And a whole bunch of annoying other habits.

By the time I was 7 or 8 I couldn't stand it anymore and snapped out of it, all the wasted time, worrying, and aggravation. Unfortunately that caused me to carry bad habits the other way around into adulthood, as far as leaving things a mess and not taking care of my prized possessions, going months without cleaning the wood floor in my loft, shower, etc.

Recently I've tried to find a balance, as I do feel better when things are clean and my stuff is properly taken care of. But I don't want to obsess over anything. If I see something needs attention, for instance a shelf needs dusting, or dishes are piling up in the sink, I stop what I'm doing and handle it right then and there. There is no schedule to it, and I never think about it. So with that said my MPB gets a thorough cleaning anywhere from every few days to a couple weeks depending on usage.
 
I certainly don't clean my MacBook Pro daily. Probably every time it really needs to be cleaned. Usually, my screen doesn't get smudges, it accumulates dust. So, every like 5 days I wipe it down along with my keyboard with a microfiber cloth and eventually wipe and gently clean the exterior of the casing to make sure it looks nice and aluminum-ish. xDD
Other than that, I really don't see the need to clean it every few hours of every day. Yes, I paid a good amount of money for my computer but, I know that I do my best to keep it clean and protect it from any scratches or bumps or dents. I also don't like protecting my MacBook Pro because it just hides the beauty of it. I don't want to be selfish and keep the beauty all to myself. I want everyone to see it. Which is why I'm not a big fan of putting cases on computers or putting anything on it that completely hides the look of the computer in any way. Now, if it was a clear film then, I would have no issues, but, as soon as it adds more bulk than I want it to then, it comes right off. But, otherwise, I only clean my MacBook Pro every time it needs a good clean.
 
shmutheprophet said:
Wiping off your screen everytime there is a fingerprint, searching the top for smudges and wiping them off. I've done this before, but I really think its unhealthy. It would be more pleasureful to just use the computer and forget about little stuff like this. Let someone touch your screen and dont clean it afterwards for 5 days at least. :apple:
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i'm too busy actually using it most of the time to primp it. i give it a wipe down if there is something noticeable on the screen or outside, but there are usually fingerprints on at least the outside part. i have a marware palm cover, so that part at least stays clean.
 
bplein said:
Also, I can't believe the abused scratched up laptop exteriors I see some times. I expect that from a 11 year old, but not from an adult.
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Not to digress too much, but the same thing was said to me about my old iPhone by someone else. My answer: I use it. It means it gets tossed into the purse, docked, used, tossed into the purse, used, tossed into the backpack...babying things takes too much effort and sometimes things happen. And if anything I am the complete opposite: When I was 11, I babied my laptop as much as some of the OCD folks here. Now, almost ten years later, I must say, I frankly don't care as long as the damn thing works.

bplein said:
Simply treat it like what it is: An expensive, and not-so-indestructible tool. If you paid $1000-$3000 for an electronic doo-hickey to run your private business, you wouldn't slide it across a metal lunch table, or spill an open bottle of beer on it.
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No, I wouldn't, but I would not mind eating around it. If something spills, so be it. (My laptop would not slide across a metal lunch table, I'm afraid :( )


That being said, I used to be slightly unhappy at the idea that fingerprints liked to show up very obviously on the black MacBook. I got mine laser engraved and now people are creating fingerprints on said laptop to touch the laser etched portions. Nobody cares anymore, I don't care, the engraving detracts from the fingerprints. It's a very good idea if you're lazy :)
 
I never cared too much about keeping it 'smudge / dirt free'. Unless something is physically obscuring the screen, like a fleck of spit or a crumb, I don't brush anything away. Well, I brush dust away every now and again. I also eat and drink around my computer. It still looks sharp, and I've never had a laptop break down on me, ever, somehow I seem to take good enough care of it without paying attention to the fact that I'm doing it. :)
 
I am ocd about keeping my computer clean. I use Pledge Multi-surface Streak-free wipes (refill pack) to wipe down my screen as well as keyboard and palm rest after that. I also use Dust Off compressed air canisters to clean out crap stuck in the little speaker grills on the side of the MBP's keyboard. I think I've been pretty good with my MBP which is exactly one year old today lol.
 
It's good-- Within Reason.

Just be reasonable.

I clean mine about once a week...

But I don't search for finger prints.

Personally, the screen is my biggest issue. I can't stand when it's smudgy or dirty, and I HATE when people touch things on the screen.

[story time]

The other day, I was doing a video project for my principal. He had out his pencil, and accidentally touched the screen with the tip of the pencil! I was going nuts inside, and I couldn't say anything to him without sounding rude/pompous. I got home and searched the screen for any damage, then cleaned it. Ughhhh. :mad:

[/story time]
 
Keeking your macbook clean is a good thing, however I can't manage to take out little specs of stuff that get stuck on the grill thing on the sides of the keyboard. How do you clean that?
 
Thanks, I'll try that. So far, tape, paper clips, sewing needles and toothpics have failed me. stuck stuff in there bothers me more than smudges or a dirty keyboard.
 
Keepin' it clean

I'm looking to clean up my MBP a little. Any hints for cleaning the glossy screen in particular? Not sure what I can and can't use. It sounds like alcohol wipes are good for the rest of it...
 
I'm not the worst person I know about this, but my Powerbook lives in a sleeve while traveling even short distances, I use iKlear and a microfiber cloth weekly, and I abhor dirty fingers near my machine.
 
schmidty said:
I'm looking to clean up my MBP a little. Any hints for cleaning the glossy screen in particular? Not sure what I can and can't use. It sounds like alcohol wipes are good for the rest of it...
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Mr. Clean Magic Eraser, by far is the best thing I've used. You can use it damp on the metal surfaces, and dry on the screen, cleans everything rather well.
 
Clean when there are visible signs of accumulated dust & grime. Any more frequent is a waste of time, energy & nerves.
 
Iclear

Luzzio said:
I'm actually not sure if I should purchase iKlear or just continue using the alcohol swabs.

Anyway, I don't really care about little smudges on case of my MB, since it's pretty much inevitable considering I have to carry it around with my bare hands.

A total contrast compared to my first month of owning it :D I treated it like a Goddess back then (it's named Sandy)
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Hey this is my first post, i saw you said that you used alcohol swabs, BAD BAD BAD!!!! Iclear is the best thing to use. Anything ammonia or alcohol based us horrible for the LED screen which all newer MBP's have, I messed mine up badly with eyeglass cleaner. Good Luck
 
I don't worry too much about mine getting smudged, but mine is 3 years old and well-used. Might feel differently if it were hot off the presses.

I don't care if others worry about theirs getting smudged. No skin off my nose.
 
It's more a matter of where I put my money.

I did the work for this machine, and I want it to stay absolutely perfect for as long as humanly possible.

But yes, I do catch myself being just a little too overprotective.
 
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