Cleaning a computer for resale involves three steps: Cleaning the outside case, cleaning inside the case and cleaning the hard drive. While the first two steps are cosmetic and will appeal to the buyer, the third step is the most crucial. The final step assures your privacy.

Cleaning the Case

Turn off your computer and unplug it. Get some household vinegar. All outside surfaces of your computer (including the plastic case, the keyboard, monitor glass, metal and even the rubber mouse ball) can be cleaned with vinegar. It is much safer and more environmentally friendly than any household cleaner. It's as good as any commercial computer cleaner sold in electronics stores and costs quite a bit less. Use a clean, soft cloth to rub the vinegar over the surface of the case, monitor, etc. The cloth should be damp, not dripping--especially when cleaning the keyboard.

Cleaning Out the Inside

Open the case of your computer to expose the guts. Use canned air (available at most hobby and hardware stores) to blast the dust from inside. Do not vacuum as you do not wish to suck any small parts away.

Cleaning Your Hard Drive

Remove the hard drive while your case is open and replace it with a new drive. Destroy or disfigure the old hard drive so that the disk is not readable. Drilling a couple holes through the entire assembly will do just fine. This is the ONLY way to be sure your data cannot be mined. Erasing a disk via software will not assure security. Your computer is ready to sell.

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Cleaning with Vinegar

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