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UITS recommends how to disinfect your workspace and computer for a germ-free environment

Oct 7, 2020
a hand cleaning a computer keyboard with a wipe
UITS has provided an easy how-to list of the best way to clean office equipment and frequently touched items.Photo by Getty Images

There has never been a better time to know how to properly clean your workspace, computer and accessories. With cold-and-flu season just around the corner and the COVID-19 pandemic changing how and where we work, it’s important to clean frequently touched surfaces, even if they’re your own items.

UITS has provided recommendations for how to best sanitize these areas.

Supplies you’ll need

  • Aerosols, pump sprays or wipes containing at least 60 percent ethanol or 70 percent isopropyl rubbing alcohol.
  • A toothpick or other sharp object to dislodge dirt in hard-to-reach crevices.

Cleaning your mouse

  • Use a damp, lint-free cloth and clear any obvious dirt.
  • Disinfect the entire mouse with an alcohol spray or wipe, let it dry, and then wipe with a clean paper towel or cloth.
  • Clean seams, grips or other areas where dirt can accumulate with a toothpick, and then disinfect again.

Cleaning your trackpad

  • Turn off and unplug your laptop.
  • Disinfect the trackpad surface with alcohol spray or wipes.
  • Clean any grooves or gaps around the trackpad and right and left click buttons with a toothpick.
  • Wipe down the area where your hands rest on either side of the keypad with a soft cloth, and then disinfect with spray or wipes.

Cleaning your keyboard

  • If using a laptop, shut it down and unplug it. If using a desktop, disconnect your keyboard or remove the batteries if it’s wireless.
  • Blow out debris and, if the keycaps can be removed, wipe down the inside of the keyboard with a wipe or alcohol solution.
  • Clean keys and surfaces with a clean, damp cloth, and then use a toothpick to clean between the grooves.
  • Disinfect the keyboard with alcohol spray or wipes, as well as the sides, the cable and the wrist-rest, if there is one.

Cleaning your monitor

  • Unplug the monitor and wait for the screen to get cool to the touch.
  • Wipe the screen from left to right with a dry microfiber cloth to remove dust.
  • Dampen a microfiber cloth with distilled water or a 50/50 mixture of distilled water and white vinegar, and then wipe the screen again.
  • Wipe up any excess moisture with a dry microfiber cloth.

Cleaning touch panels inside and outside AV-enabled rooms

  • Dampen a microfiber cloth with rubbing alcohol.
  • Wipe the glass touchscreen clean.
  • Touch panels are not waterproof – do not apply cleaner to the interface or the plastic surrounding the glass.

For more information, see the Knowledge Base page titled “Best practices for cleaning electronics.

Author

IU Newsroom

Justin Whitaker

Communications Consultant, IUPUI

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