Cleaning Electronics and Tech Accessories

Dust the outsides. Use a soft electrostatic dust-mop cloth lightly moistened with dishwashing liquid and water, making sure to wipe all buttons and knobs. Do not use any abrasives or solvents, such as rubbing alcohol, since they can damage the metal finish.

Spray the vents of the machines. Use a can of compressed air (available at electronic and office-supply stores) to remove dust, holding the canister a few inches away from the machine at about a 45-degree angle. This angle blows out the greatest amount of dust.

Unplug the dock and wipe it down with a damp soft, lint-free cloth. Liquids should not be used on iPod docks, since they can seep through the cracks and damage the machinery. Aerosol sprays, solvents, and abrasives can mar the finish.

Wipe the entire surface of the remote control, including the front, the back, the sides, and the buttons. Use a disinfecting wipe, but squeeze excess liquid from it into the sink.

Dust the entire surface of the stereo. Wipe everything, including the knobs, with an electrostatic dust-mop cloth that has been slightly dampened with water and a few drops of dishwashing liquid, then wrung out.

Clean the speakers. Run a clean medium-size paintbrush with soft, natural bristles over the speakers from left to right to lift dust. You can also spray the speakers with a can of compressed air, using the above technique, but the paintbrush method often frees more dust and is just as safe.

Wipe down the screen. Dust the screens of plasma, LCD, and standard television sets in long, horizontal strokes, beginning at the top of the screen, with a dry electrostatic dust-mop cloth or a dry-cleaning sponge. (Shorter strokes cause smudging.)

Remove any stubborn dirt. Purchase a specialty screen wipe at an appliance or office-supply store and follow the package instructions.