5 tips to keep your gadgets in tip top condition

Did you know that the average lifespan of a computer is five years?

Tablets and phones have a shorter lifespan (2–3 years); however, depending on usage and maintenance, your electronics might endure for quite some time. To guarantee that they do, adequate maintenance is required to protect them from malfunctioning and to help them live longer. Here are five things you can do to keep your electronics from breaking down or dying before their time:

1. Maintain cleanliness.
Moisture and filth can overheat your laptop. Heat is the enemy of all electronic devices. And, unless your device is waterproof, keep it away from liquids or places where it might be submerged in water (e.g., toilet bowls, ponds, pools, etc.). A few cleaning suggestions:

Avoid eating and drinking near your electronics. Spilled coffee on your keyboard might cause the motherboard to short out. Food crumbs can build on the keyboard and cause it to malfunction.
Do not spray liquids directly onto the computer, phone, or tablet when cleaning surfaces. Use a microfiber cloth (which will not damage the surface). Watch the video below for cleaning techniques for your laptop.

If you accidently spill something on your computer, switch it off immediately. Remove the batteries and any other attached peripherals, such as flash drives or DVDs. Place your laptop so that the liquid can drain. Wipe away any excess liquid from the device using a soft cloth. Allow it to dry. You should not use a hair dryer or a vacuum cleaner. These can cause harm and static electricity. You may need to bring your computer to a repair shop if you spilled a considerable amount of liquid, especially if it is sweet or alcoholic. Do not attempt to open the computer casing to dry interior components. This may void the warranty on your machine. Check to see whether your PC is still under warranty before doing anything extreme. Repairs are still possible.

2. Use an antivirus program.
Keeping the hardware clean is just as vital as keeping the software virus-free. Install an anti-virus tool on your computer to keep it safe from viral attacks. Check it on a regular basis to ensure that it is up to date. Avoid malware by exercising good practices such as inspecting flash drives and DVDs before opening or downloading anything from them, not reading emails from unfamiliar senders, and avoiding accessing problematic websites (for example, pirate sites).

3. Use adequate storage and protection.
We carry our electronics with us everywhere. While they are built to withstand stress, regular bumps and jolts can nevertheless harm the internal components of your devices.

Make use of a high-quality case, such as a laptop bag with ample cushioning. Padded sleeves help protect the outside and screen of your device from being damaged by other objects in your luggage.
Purchase a phone cover and screen protectors for your phone and tablet. They are excellent at keeping your electronics clean and scratch-free.
Before you put your laptop in your luggage, turn it off. Leaving it turned on within a confined place might cause it to overheat.
Keep electronics away from severe temperatures. Do not leave them out in the sun or in cold weather. This is possible.

4. Take good care of your batteries.
Your device’s battery is its lifeline. Charge and store the battery appropriately to maintain it in good operating order.

Keep your electronics charged at least 50% of the time.
In the words of Popular Science, “shallow discharges and recharges are better than full ones because they put less stress on the battery, so it lasts longer” . This implies charging your smartphone just when it’s 50% or below, rather than 100%.
Charge your battery from 0% to 100% every a month to re-calibrate it.
Overnight charging will not cause your devices to explode. However, if the device is connected in beyond 100% of the time, it will age quicker.

Extreme temperatures, once again, might harm your battery.

5. Look after your power cords.
This may appear to be a little matter, but your power cord is an essential component of your device. You won’t be able to charge your battery without it. There are adaptor/power cables that are easily frayed or broken. This is why, when not in use, it is critical to wrap your cable. Some people firmly wrap the power cable around the power brick. This might cause damage to the wires within the cable. Experts recommend wrapping it loosely in a circle or figure eight and then securing it with Velcro.

When your computer is connected, be sure no one may trip over the cord. It is risky to have the cord going across regions where people can stroll.
Use only the adapter or power cable that came with your device. They are sensitive to changes in authority. Using the wrong cord might result in significant injury.
You can get the most out of your computer and other electronic devices by following a few easy suggestions.