How to clean the Windows 10 Registry

• In order to keep Windows 10 PCs running smooth, you have to do regular maintenance.
• One of the ways you can do this is to clean the Windows 10 registry with a third-party tool.
• If you want to learn how to clean registry Windows 10 manually use the regedit command.
• You should also create a restore point before starting to revert to the original state of the registry.

We all know that in order to keep our Windows 10 computers running smooth and fast, we have to do regular maintenance and clean the files that are left from old software installations.

Today we’re looking at cleaning the Windows 10 registry of these leftovers. We highly recommend you use a third-party tool if you want to clean the Windows 10 registry.

These tools have been created with this purpose in mind, and they evaluate the registry keys and only delete the ones which are no longer in use.

Also, keep in mind that some registry entries that are still in use can get damaged, and a third-party software can sometimes fix them, so there is one advantage of using this method.

There are two ways in which you can do this: with the default Windows 10 tools or with third-party software that is dedicated to cleaning the registry of your computer.

Before we begin explaining how to clean your Windows 10 registry, a word of advice: be very careful if you delete anything.

If you don’t know what you are doing, then there is a big possibility that your programs and the operating system will no longer work properly. Follow these guidelines at your own risk.

We recommend creating a Restore Point before beginning and also, create a backup of your registry as it is before you start deleting entries.

How do I clean the Windows 10 Registry?

1. Use a third-party registry cleaner

2. Cleaning the Windows 10 registry with Registry Editor

1. Press Windows Key + R and enter regedit.
   
2. Now press Enter or click OK.
   

Alternatively, you can just use the Search bar by doing the following:

1. Click the Search bar and enter regedit. You can also open the Search bar by using the Windows Key + S shortcut.
   
2. Select regedit from the list of results.
   

Before you clean your registry, it’s advised to back it up. Removing certain entries from the registry can cause various problems to appear, therefore be sure to back up your registry beforehand. To do that, you need to follow these steps:

1. Go to File > Export.
   
2. Now select All as Export range. Enter the desired file name, choose a safe location and click on Save.
   

If any issues occur after you modify your registry, you can simply run the file you just created in order to restore the registry to its original state.

The best way to do this is to search for registry entries of software that you have uninstalled. Using the left side navigation panel, go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER and then to Software.

Here, you will find a list of everything that is installed on your PC. Look for programs that you’ve uninstalled.

If you find any, simply select them and hit the Delete button on your keyboard. Also, you can use the Ctrl+F shortcut to search for a specific entry.

If you decide to go down this road, then you have to be very careful, as once you’ve deleted a registry entry, it’s gone.

There is no undo option here, so be very careful. If something does go wrong, you can back up the registry with the file that you created before you begin.

The Registry Editor is the Windows default tool for viewing and modifying the registry. However, this manual search is very time-consuming and filtering through the thousands of entries can be quite hard.

This is why we recommend using a third-party tool to clean the registry, as these will create a backup of the Windows registry before starting the cleaning process.

Why do we have to clean the registry

Registry entries are the footprints of everything you do on your computer. Every installed program, every webpage opened, every change you make creates a registry entry.

You can imagine how many of these registry entries exist if you consider that each and every operation you do on your computer makes its own registry entry.

While registry keys occupy next to nothing on hard drives, they do, however, make up for it in sheer numbers.

After some time of running Windows 10 and installing and uninstalling programs and apps, you end up with hundreds or thousands of registry entries that are completely useless.

The operating system still filters through all of them, even if they are not used anymore, and this process burdens it, as I’m sure every one of you has seen at one point when you open a folder that has hundreds of files, or when you copy multiple files.

We can clearly see that even with all the upgrades and improvements, Windows 10 can’t manage file systems that have a huge number of entries.

This is probably due more to hardware limitations than to the software, but even so, we can make it better.

Before you begin cleaning your Windows 10 registry

Make sure that there are no running programs on your computer. Close everything except the registry cleaning utility before you begin.

Active programs create and modify registry entries, so they might interfere with the scan, or they might even become damaged.

Also, while the scan or the repair process is running, don’t interfere in any way with the computer. Even a simple rename of a folder or a moved shortcut creates a registry entry and might compromise the entire process.

Some registry cleaning programs assess the risk of each registry and tell which of them are safe to modify or clean.

Keep in mind to select only those that the program says, and do not select any of the registry entries that are marked as risky to modify.

Also, if the registry utility that you use has an auto-delete feature, be sure to disable it. It is better that you have control over what entries should be deleted.

After the scan is complete, everything should be running smoothly, but if this isn’t the case, and certain software doesn’t work anymore, you should immediately restore the registry as it was before you modified it.

If the problem persists, you should use the restore point you created before starting to revert to the original state of the registry.

No more streaks: how to clean the windows properly

Sweep away the smudges of little fingers, eager snouts and that fly that wouldn’t give up

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Have you ever spent 10 minutes cleaning a window, only to find it has more smears than when you started? Despite our best efforts, those smudges can be tricky to avoid, so you’re not alone if you’re wondering how to clean windows without streaks. From what to use to clean windows to how to wash windows that are particularly greasy, our five-step guide with handy window-cleaning tips and tricks will have your windows brightened up in no time.

1. Get ready for cleaning windows

Cleaning the windows is one of those jobs that can be easily overlooked. But even a little bit of dirt can affect how much light gets into your home, so try to give them a thorough clean inside and out several times a year, and more if you live on a busy roadside.

First thing’s first: gather your helpers. The more hands the merrier. Next, gather your apparatus. Here’s what to use to clean windows:

• Dry brush
• Bucket of hot soapy water or window cleaning spray
• Large sponge
• Squeegee
• Chamois or microfibre cloth
• Plenty paper towels

Whether you’re wiping away greasy marks, rubbing or polishing, absorbent Plenty paper towels are ideal for the job – they’re even strong enough for wringing and scrubbing.

2. Prepare the windows for cleaning

The best way to clean windows without streaks is to choose a cloudy day, as direct sunlight dries your windows too quickly, leaving smears behind. Prepare each window before you start by tying back curtains or taking down blinds, and removing any items from the windowsill. Then take a dry brush and sweep around the corners of the window frame and window furniture, removing all dust and loose dirt.

Use a piece of paper towel to wipe away any obvious greasy marks or fingerprints, before throwing it in the bin. Paper towel is preferable at this stage because it will avoid the transfer of grease to cloths or sponges (which can end up being spread to other areas of the window).

3. How to wash the windows

Next, clean the windowsill, before using a sponge and warm soapy water or window-cleaning spray to clear away any dirt from the windows. Remove the excess water with a squeegee, starting at the top of the window and working your way down in an ‘S’ shape for best results. Be sure to wipe the blade of the squeegee regularly with a paper towel to avoid returning dirt to the window.

4. Remove any remaining water

Using a damp cloth, remove the remaining cleaning solution from the window. Work in small circles or strokes from the top of the window downwards, until all of the glass is clean. Also wipe the frame and underneath the windowsill to catch any solution that may have dripped while you have been cleaning windows, before drying thoroughly with a paper towel.

If you’re looking for natural window cleaning tips, solutions such as vinegar and lemon juice can also really help to remove grease and streaks from windows. Add a little to some water, and dip your cloth into the solution, before wiping the window.

5. Buff to a high shine

The best way to clean windows without streaks is all in the buffing. Grab an extra pair of hands and some strong, fresh household towels, and see who can get the shiniest finish.

Now you know the how to clean windows without streaks, your windows will sparkle when the sun comes out, and your home should feel that little bit brighter.

How to Clean Your Computer Properly, Inside and Out

Reduce clutter, get rid of dust bunnies

Everything works better when it’s clean. Not to mention that clutter kills. That is why it’s important to clean your computer regularly and this spring is as good a time as any.

Just as a computer with an uncluttered hard drive runs better and faster, a computer with no dust build-up in it runs cooler, and thus better and faster. Add a clean monitor, keyboard, and mouse and the computer is just more pleasurable to use.

There’s a lot to doing a good cleaning, but it can go very quickly. Due to the number of steps and details, this article will be broken into 2 parts; physically cleaning your computer and cleaning out the ‘insides’ of the computer meaning Windows and your hard drive.

Let’s look at the best ways to physically clean your Windows computer.

Cleaning the Physical Parts of Your Computer

Do NOT do any of the physical cleaning of a computer that is turned on or has power still attached or in it. Unplug your computer or its components before cleaning them.

You’ll also want to drain any residual or static electricity from the computer or laptop. Following are the steps to take for a desktop PC and a laptop. Static electricity is a real threat to you and your computer. It can give you nasty shock or permanently damage your computer.

Draining Residual and Static Electricity from a Desktop PC

• Turn off the computer through your operating system, like you normally would.

• Unplug the computer from the wall.

• Drain off any static electricity by touching a metal part of the case, not any of the components inside.

• Drain residual electricity by pressing and holding in the power button for about 20 seconds.

Draining Residual and Static Electricity from a Laptop

• Turn off your laptop through your operating system, like you normally would.

• Unplug the power cable from the wall and unplug the power block or converter from your laptop.

• Remove the laptop battery if possible. For some new laptops this is not possible unless you open the case of your laptop. We do not advise doing that.

• Drain off any static electricity by touching a metal part of the case, not any of the components inside.

• Drain residual electricity by pressing and holding in the power button for about 20 seconds.

Liquids and Computers

Never apply liquid cleaners or water directly to any part of the computer. Always dampen the cloth, cotton swab, or magic eraser and use that to clean. It should only be damp enough to just know that it is not dry.

Water, or liquids, and electricity do NOT mix. Water and most liquids are excellent conductors of electricity, so even the smallest amount of it will conduct electricity.

That can cause a short circuit in your computer or make an electrical connection between you and the computer causing you pain and possibly severe injury. In the extreme case, it can even result in death.

Also allow your computer enough time to completely air dry before reconnecting power and turning it on. It shouldn’t take long if your cloth was only slightly damp, maybe 5 minutes or so. If you can wait longer, do so.

Using Canned or Compressed Air Safely with Computers

To remove loose dust and dirt, nothing beats canned or compressed air. But there are some safety concerns when using air under pressure, for you and your computer.

• Do NOT use an air compressor that is not specifically designed for use with computers. Ordinary air compressors can use too much pressure and dislodge small computer components. They also can have moisture and grease in the air stream which can cause a short circuit in your computer.

• Wear safety glasses and a dust mask. The glasses will help protect your eyes from any debris that may get blown into them. The dust mask is to prevent you from inhaling the dust. It’s just nasty. Plus, the dust can contain traces of heavy metals like mercury or lead. If you’re cleaning computers every day, these metals can build up in your system and damage your health.

• When using canned air, follow all the instructions on the can. Never spray it on yourself, and always keep the can upright when using it. The propellant can cause frostbite-like burns to your skin. Keeping the can upright also prevents the propellant from coming out as a burst of liquid, which could cause damage to your computer.

Now that you’re sufficiently prepared for safety, let’s get on to cleaning the physical parts of the computer.

What You’ll Need for Cleaning

• Two clean, dry microfiber clothes or soft lint-free cloth. One to dampen and one to keep clean and dry.

• Cotton swabs, like Q-tips. There is a kind that has very pointed ends which are great at getting into the bezel edge and other hard to reach places.

• Screen cleaning liquid. Do NOT use anything with ammonia or alcohol in it. You can buy screen cleaning fluid, or you can make a mix of about a half-cup of water and a half teaspoon of white vinegar or two drops of a gentle dish soap like original Dawn.

• For the rest of the computer, any cleaning solution meant for hard surfaces will work. Your screen cleaning solution will work too.

• Canned air.

• 97% rubbing alcohol. (Optional for deep cleaning around electronic parts. If you’re not comfortable with cleaning electrical contacts, skip this. Better safe than sorry.)

• Magic eraser if the keyboard or computer case is especially dirty.

How to Clean a Computer Screen or Monitor

The computer screen, or monitor, is your view into your computer’s world. What shows up there is ultimately why we use the computer in the first place. So why not keep it clean and clear? Easy to read and easy to see means easier to use.

Steps to Clean Your Screen

• Turn off your monitor and unplug it from the power if possible. If it’s a laptop, power off the laptop. This is to prevent damage or injury to you or the screen if some liquid should somehow make it to the electronics.

• Use the dry microfiber cloth to wipe down the entire screen, the bezel or outside edge, and the back of the screen. This will remove the loose dust and dirt.

• With the canned air, spray it into any tight spots that look like they have dust in them.

• Use the Q-tip to get into the tight corners where the bezel meets the screen to get any wedged in dust or dirt.

• Spray or wet the microfiber cloth with your screen cleaning solution. The cloth should be just slightly damp to the touch. You don’t want it wet enough that it might drip. Do NOT spray it on the screen or computer. Liquids and electronics do not mix. Wipe down the screen to remove any remaining dust, dirt, or fingerprints.

• Using the second dry microfiber cloth, dry off and polish your screen. Going in circles helps avoid leaving streaks.

• Leave the screen to completely air dry before turning it on again.

• Turn on the screen again and check for any missed spots. If you missed a spot or two, you can probably clean them up with the dry cloth. If it needs the wet cloth, unplug the monitor and try cleaning it again.

How to Clean a Keyboard and Mouse

Steps to Clean Your Keyboard

• Unplug your keyboard from the computer. If you have a laptop, ensure it is turned off, unplugged, battery removed, and follow the Draining Residual and Static Electricity steps above.

• Turn your keyboard upside-down and shake it out. If it’s not a laptop keyboard, you can try gently tapping it on a hard surface while it’s upside-down. Be prepared to be a little grossed out. Even if you never eat around your computer, stuff will fall out that just looks a bit nasty. Clean that off with your cloth before proceeding.

• Use the canned air to blow off any remaining dust or debris.

• Gently wipe your soft, dry, lint-free cloth across the keys to get the very last bits.

• If possible, use a damp cotton swab to clean just under the keys and the crevices of the keyboard.

• Dampen your cloth with your cleaning solution and wipe down the keyboard, then clean each key individually. If there’s a build-up of dirt on some keys, you may need to scrub a little bit harder or use a slightly damp magic eraser.

• Use the dampened cloth to clean the entire length of the keyboard cable. Pay attention to whether it snags or not. If it snags, there is likely damage to the cable which can cause problems. It is safest to replace the keyboard.

Steps to Clean Your Mouse or Touchpad

• Unplug your mouse from the computer. If you have a laptop, ensure it is turned off, unplugged, battery removed, and the power drained.

• Use the canned air to blow off any loose dust or debris.

• Gently wipe your soft, dry, lint-free cloth across the entire mouse or touchpad surface.

• If needed, use a damp cotton swab to clean in the crevices of the mouse or touchpad.

• Dampen your cloth with your cleaning solution and wipe down the mouse or touchpad. If there’s a buildup of dirt, you may need to scrub a little bit harder or use a slightly damp magic eraser.

• Use the dampened cloth to clean the entire length of the mouse cable. Pay attention to whether it snags or not. If it snags, there is likely damage to the cable which can cause problems. Again, your safest option is to replace the mouse.

Steps to Clean Your Computer or Laptop in General

Turn off your computer or laptop and follow the Draining Residual and Static Electricity steps above.

Remove all cables from the computer.

Use the canned air to blow out any vents or ports on the computer. Be prepared for large puffs of dust. Do this until no more visible dust comes out.

If you’re working on a PC that you can take the cover off, do that and blow out all dust inside. This is a good change to visually inspect your computer components for any damage or degradation. Then go back to cleaning the outside of the computer.

If you’re working on a laptop, there may be panels that can be removed for access to your hard drive or RAM. If you’re comfortable with doing this, remove the panels and use the canned air to blow out any dust.

• Use a cotton swab dampened with cleaning fluid to work dirt out of any crevices or vents.

• Use a cotton swab dampened with rubbing alcohol to work dirt out of any ports.

• Use your dry cloth to wipe off any loose dust or debris.

• Dampen your cloth with your cleaner and wipe down the exterior of the PC or laptop.

• If necessary, use the magic eraser to get any tough marks off it.

• With your damp cloth, clean the entire length of any cables connected to the computer; power, monitor, USB, whatever. Check the cables and ends for any sort of damage and repair or replace them. This also gives you an opportunity to organize your cables so there’s less clutter around you.

• A cotton swab dampened with rubbing alcohol can be used to clean the contacts in the ends of the cables, if you feel it’s necessary. Once you have, let the cables sit and air dry for at least 5 minutes before reconnecting them. Inspect them to make sure they are completely dry.

• Replace the cables making sure they are fully seated and secured and go back to enjoy using your computer.

All Clean

Your computer is now almost as clean as when it came out of the box. And I bet you feel better about it too. I guarantee your computer feels better too. Now air can properly flow through the computer keeping it cool and running fast.

The contacts on your cables are now clean and well-seated allowing the components of your computer to talk to each other better. If you’ve tidied up the cables, you probably have more room on your desktop and less tripping hazards around you.

If you found damaged cables and repaired or replaced them, your computer will run better AND safer. This whole process took you about a half an hour.

Was that 30 minutes’ worth it to you? Stay tuned for part 2 of this article on how to clean out the ‘insides’ of your computer by tuning up Windows and your hard drive.

Guy has been published online and in print newspapers, nominated for writing awards, and cited in scholarly papers due to his ability to speak tech to anyone, but still prefers analog watches. Read Guy’s Full Bio