If your computer is unresponsive, you can do a hard shutdown with the power button on the outside of the computer.

Try not to accidentally brush dust into any of the ports.

Some computers have a different mechanism from screws. Consult your computer’s user manual if you are unsure how to open it up.

If your laptop is overheating, there’s a good chance it’s dusty on the inside. Some laptops, including most MacBooks made after 2012, make it difficult or impossible to open the backing without violating the warranty. You may have to take these in for a professional cleaning.

If your can doesn’t have a long nozzle, you won’t be able to be as precise, but you can still use it to clean the computer with extra caution. Always wear a dust mask and work in a ventilated area when you are using pressurized air to blow out dust. Don’t blow dust back into your case. Make sure you’re aiming the canister of air away/at an angle from the inside of your computer case.

Some computers have other air filters that will need to be dusted, too. Check the user’s guide to see what filters are listed.

You can simply pull out large dust bunnies and clumps rather than wiping them away.

If your computer has a DVD or CD drive, use extra caution when using canned air.

Some grease is actually a “paste” important for cooling the computer. You should only wipe away grease that appears in patches or splatters. The heat sink and processor are surrounded by “thermal paste” that needs to be replaced once in a while.

Be sure to dry off any spots that got wet from the alcohol with the cloth so there are no blotches.

Don’t let the fan blade spin a lot. Use your finger to prevent the blades from going around since that can generate electricity and damage your computer’s components. [4] X Research source

Paper towels sprayed with a sanitizing product make a good alternative to moist wipes.

If the air just spread the dust around on top of the keyboard, you can use your vacuum’s upholstery attachment to suck up the loose dust from the keyboard.

It’s best to do this in sections of 3-4 keys at a time, putting the keys back on after finishing a section, so you don’t have to reassemble the whole thing after.

After you’ve done that, you’ll want to keep dust out of your computer as much as you can. This means you’ll need to take some extra prevention steps like elevating your tower, cleaning your floors and your computer’s environment thoroughly, and relocating your computer away from doors and windows.