Clean up your grungy PC

A dusty, smudgy monitor may not harbor dangerous bacteria, but it's none too attractive just the same. In fact, a screen seriously caked with grime is unnecessarily hard on your eyes.

The fix, unsurprisingly, lies in giving your CRT or LCD a good cleaning, but don't just wipe it with any cleaner you have under the sink. Monitors are delicate equipment and must be cleaned accordingly.

While Windex is suitable for the glass on standard CRTs, never spray it directly on the screen--the liquid could seep under the edges of the monitor bezel and damage the circuitry within. Instead, lightly squirt some Windex on a folded piece of soft cloth or a paper towel, then use that to wipe the glass.

Another option is Staples' Lint-Free Wipes, which promise nonabrasive cleaning. Whichever method you use, your monitor should be turned off (better to see the dust and smudges you're trying to remove), and you shouldn't turn it on again until the screen is dry.

For LCD screens, steer clear of ammonia-based cleaners. Instead, use a soft cloth dampened with plain water. Just make sure the cloth isn't too wet, otherwise droplets could seep under the bezel and cause damage.