10 Practical Maintenance Tasks to Keep Windows 10 PCs Functioning Longer

Updated 2 October 2023.

Content Links

Introduction
Make it a habit
Run Windows Update & Security
Back up essential files
Run Disk Cleanup and Total PC Cleaner
Run CHKDSK
Run DISM.exe
Run SFC /scannow
Run a manual virus and malware scan
Cool the PC down
Use only Microsoft apps and software to clean and update the PC
Keep my PCs clean inside and out
Conclusion
Helpful Links

Introduction

Daily routine

After I complete my morning routines and carefully sip my hot, freshly brewed coffee, I open my laptop and turn it on.

My laptop starts up. 🐹

When I no longer see the mouse pointer with its hourglass appearing, I right-click the Windows Start icon, click Settings, click Update & Security, and click Check for updates.

When the update’s downloading and installation is complete, and Windows Update says You’re up to date, I click Home, System, Sound, then Manage Sound Devices, click an Output device, test it, and close the Settings window.

I open my browser, click Settings, click Privacy and security, and run the Safety check. The browser checks for updates and checks the Password Manager, Safe Browsing, and Extensions. Then, I clear the previous day’s browsing history and delete third-party cookies my browser doesn’t need.

All the above incremental tech-related events have become my daily habit, like flossing and brushing my teeth, and my daily tech habit is a smooth process.

I love my tech habit because I love my laptop and desktop; they’re like good friends, and they serve me so well that I want to ensure they keep functioning longer.

10 practical tasks

I’ve put together ten useful maintenance tasks that have kept my devices functioning as they should.

These ten tasks stand out because they’re no-brainer common sense maintenance tasks that save my time and that a newcomer tech-savvy adult can complete.

If your personal computers (PCs) are like your favorite dog or cat, giving them care habitually is easy.

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Make it a habit

PCs are expensive, and most of us can only do with them. 🤗 They are handy for all-important activities most of us enjoy doing, like:

• Google how-tos
• Read information on an often-visited website like Wikipedia
• Write for our website(s)
• Create and watch YouTube videos
• Watch movies and TV shows on favorite subscription streaming services
• Play video games
• Attend meetings and class lectures on communication platforms
• Etc.

We must ensure our devices function as they should and last longer than expected.

We can help our precious Windows PCs last by regularly maintaining their operating software (OS) and hardware.

We must discipline ourselves to perform daily, weekly, or monthly maintenance tasks and turn these tasks into habits.

Below are the tasks I do habitually:

1. Run Windows Update & Security.*
2. Back up essential files.*
3. Run Disk Cleanup and Total PC Cleaner.
4. Run CHKDSK.
5. Run DISM.exe.*
6. Run SFC /scannow.
7. Run a manual virus and malware scan.
8. Cool the PC down.
9. Use only Microsoft apps and software to clean and update the PC.
10. Keep my PCs clean inside and out.

• These tasks need internet access.

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Thank you to Cookie the Pom on Unsplash whose photo inspired my above illustration. 🙏🏼🤩

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I do not fear computers. I fear the lack of them.

— Isaac Asimov

Run Windows Update & Security

Every day that I use my laptop or desktop after they complete their start-up process and when I no longer see the mouse pointer with its hourglass appearing, I:

1. Right click the Windows Start icon,
2. Click Settings,
3. Click Update & Security,
4. Click Check for updates,
5. I wait until Windows Update completes its downloading and installing.

I periodically run Windows Update & Security throughout the day to ensure that Windows Security is updated. And this is one of the last tasks I do before I shut down my laptop or desktop.

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Back up essential files

I back up important files like backup codes and personal, school, and work documents on Google Drive.

I’ve been using Google Drive for a while, and I like it. I get free 15 GB storage, which is more than enough, and the drive’s user interface looks simple and easy to navigate.

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Run Disk Cleanup and Total PC Cleaner

I run Microsoft’s built-in Disk Cleanup for (C:) and Total PC Cleaner for my laptop and desktop almost every week.

How to Disk Cleanup

1. Right-click the Windows Start icon.
2. Click Search.
3. In the search bar, type Disk Cleanup.
4. A Disk Cleanup for (C:) window pops up.
5. Click Clean up system files. The app’s small window will show that it’s calculating.
6. The Disk Cleanup for (C:) window pops up again, and the Disk Cleanup and More Options tabs show.
7. In the Disk Cleanup tab, tick (check mark) all boxes of the list in the Files to delete: box.
8. I don’t click anything in the More Options tab because those are occasional tasks that I haven’t used since my PCs were brand new.
9. Click OK.

How to Total PC Cleaner

The Total PC Cleaner is not a built-in but a free Microsoft app I downloaded from the Microsoft Store.

The app has, as of writing this, 4.8 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ from 25,949 ratings, and its description says,

“Best FREE PC cleaner in 2021…It lets you clean your PC’s cache and big files. It has everything you need for a free computer cleaner. User comments, “This is the best PC cleaner in Microsoft store”…It scans your whole computer to clean up junk files, speed up your PC, and boost its performance…”

Find the app in the Microsoft Store for more information.

1. Open the Total PC Cleaner app.
2. Click Start Scan.
3. After the app scans, click Clean.

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Run CHKDSK

I run CHKDSK occasionally.

CHKDSK is a system tool that checks the hard drive for errors.

It can also fix some of the errors it finds.

CHKDSK is like a librarian who checks off the books to ensure they are all in order and that there are no errors. If the librarian finds a mistake, they can fix it.

How to CHKDSK

1. Right-click the Windows Start icon.
2. Click Command Prompt (Admin).
3. Choose Yes on the User Account Control window.
4. In the command-line interface (CLI) window, type chkdsk.
5. If there are errors, type chkdsk /f so that CHKDSK can correct logical disk errors.

Alternative method to running CHKDSK

Another way to access and run CHKDSK is to:

1. Right-click the Windows Start icon.
2. Click File Explorer.
3. Find and right-click **Local Disk (C:)**on the left side.
4. Click Properties
5. A Local Disk (C:) Properties window pops up.
6. Click the Tools tab.
7. In Error Checking click the Check button.
8. CHKDSK gives you a message quickly if it doesn’t find errors and will state, “You don’t need to scan this drive.”
9. Click the Cancel button.
10. Click OK.

Please read How to Use CHKDSK to Fix Hard Drive Problems on Windows 10 or Windows 11, a straightforward article on how to CHKDSK.

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Run DISM.exe

Almost every week, I run DISM.exe.

DISM is Deployment Image Servicing and Management, a command-line tool that can repair and service Windows system image files.

DISM can restore damaged or corrupt Windows files by downloading a fresh copy from the internet.

DISM.exe, an executable file, is in the C:\Windows\system32 folder.

And only as an Admin can you run DISM.exe.

Please read my article Get to know DISM.exe and SFC.exe before you run them to learn more about DISM.exe.

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Run SFC /scannow

Almost every week, I run SFC /scannow.

SFC /scannow will scan all protected system files and replace corrupted files with a cached copy from a compressed folder at %WinDir%\System32\dllcache.

The %WinDir% placeholder represents the Windows OS folder—for example, C:\Windows.

The /scannow command-line option immediately scans all protected system files, replaces the incorrect versions with correct Microsoft versions, and might access the Windows installation source files.

SFC /scannow doesn’t require internet access.

Please read my article Get to know DISM.exe and SFC.exe before you run them to learn more about SFC /scannow.

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Run a manual virus and malware scan

Microsoft built Windows Security (WS) into Windows 10, which protects if it’s updated regularly, automatically, or manually. I like updating manually for better control.

Updated regularly means you must check for updates habitually almost every 1 to 2 hours or when your intuition alerts you.

Also, I run manual scans when I experience unusual PC behavior while on the internet for long periods.

WS protects the PC in real-time. So, while using my PC, WS continuously scans for malicious software, security threats, and viruses.

1. Right-click the Windows Start icon.
2. Click Settings.
3. Click Update & Security.
4. Click Windows Security.
5. Click Virus & threat protection.
6. See Virus & threat protection settings and below this click Manage settings.
7. Switch on the following items:
   a. Real-time protection
   b. Cloud-delivered protection
   c. Automatic sample submission
   d. Tamper Protection

Run a quick scan

1. Right-click the Windows Start icon.
2. Click Settings.
3. Click Update & Security.
4. Click Windows Security.
5. Click Virus & threat protection.
6. Click the Quick scan button.

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Cool the PC down

A PC heating up increases its fans’ speed, and sped-up fans can sound annoying.

A PC heating up occasionally signals me to take a break from using my PC, especially when I’ve been using it for 4 hours.

We must help our PCs stay cool. 😎

The laptop must sit on a stable, firm, flat surface like a desk or table.

Don’t set the laptop on your lap or pillow. The vents underneath need to have air freely go through them! 🙄

Open a room window so cool natural air can come in and push the stale, warm indoor air out. Or turn on an indoor fan and set it on low or medium to circulate indoor air.

Use your laptop in a low-temperature room; the same goes for desktops. Please situate it in a cool room where air can move around it.

Please don’t turn your desktop (gaming) PCs on during hot summer days, but turn them on at night when it’s cool or wait until the Fall season arrives.

Use your desktop if you are okay with spending your dollars on home air conditioning.

I’ve turned off and unplugged my gaming desktop the entire summer and plugged and turned it on around the second week of October. My electric bill went way down, and I might’ve lengthened my desktop’s life. 🐢

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Use only Microsoft apps and software to clean and update the PC

It’s up to you if you prefer using third-party software.

I don’t see a reason to use them because Microsoft already provides theirs built-in for free use.

Microsoft’s cleanup software is adequate. The cleanup increases my PC’s storage space, and my PC’s processing time noticeably speeds up.

Microsoft developed the cleanup software for Windows OS, so I trust it more, even though it’s not error-free, and I don’t worry about downloading unknown bloatware that can come with third-party software.

Third-party software is okay 😐 if the source is reliable and confirmed to work well with Microsoft’s OS. But still, I recommend not downloading it.

Microsoft already has a built-in updater for the PC’s OS, Windows Security, and Disk Cleanup, and you can update Total PC Cleaner through the Microsoft Store.

I learned that most free third-party cleaning and update software will only provide full benefits of the software once you buy it or pay a subscription to use it, an unnecessary expense.

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Keep my PCs clean inside and out

The following are tools I use to keep my PC’s clean:

1. Clean white 100% cotton cleaning cloth
2. Cotton swabs
3. 1-inch soft natural bristle flat paint brush for lightly brushing off dust while using the vacuum cleaner
4. Several drops of clean water to dampen part of the cleaning cloth to wipe off small splatter that can come from food or sneezes
5. Unscented Swiffer duster, the one with the short handle
6. Portable high-powered vacuum cleaner

I don’t use chemicals or products with chemicals to clean my PCs.

The products listed below are damaging to electronic devices:

1. Polishes that buff out scratches, like polishes for plastic and highly abrasive toothpaste like:
   • Colgate Tartar Control
   • Pepsodent
   • Tom’s of Maine
2. Products to abrade other products like:
   • Scotch-Brite scouring pads and other generic kitchen scrubbing pads
   • Hard bristle dish brushes
3. Compressed air can
   These products are also known as canned air, dusting gas, air duster, gas duster. Why do some people use these products? 😠
   Buying extremely flammable gas to clean electronic devices doesn’t make sense. 😬 Canned air is like a portable gas-powered blower that landscapers use.
   Canned air doesn’t have oxygen or nitrogen in it.
   The main ingredient in canned air is difluoroethane, which is an extremely flammable gas (The United States Environmental Protection Agency considers this propellant a greenhouse gas) and this can make the user high. 😵
   All explosive portable cans do is move dust away from the device. So, the dust is still there and not taken away from the device.
   Canned air blows dust around the user, and blown dust covers other things in the room, and the user’s desktop or laptop surfaces are dusty again and back in the devices. 🤬
   Also, if the user doesn’t angle the canned air upright, liquid in the can splatters on their computer’s insides, and worse, while they’re spraying the dust away, frosty particles get on their skin, and they’re inhaling toxins.
   Please STOP using canned air! 🤬
4. Cloth wipes like:
   • Windex Electronics Wipes
   • Lysol Disinfecting wipes
   • Clorox Disinfecting Wipes
     Most wipes contain chemicals that wear out the oleophobic (anti-smudge) coating on devices with interactive touch glass, like touchscreen laptops, tablet PCs, and smartphones.
5. Acetone
   Acetone is a highly active chemical solvent that dissolves nail polish or paint in seconds.
   Some users like using this chemical to clean because it evaporates, but it damages plastic. So please STOP using acetone! 🤬
6. Any glass cleaner like:
   • Koala Eco Glass Cleaner
   • Windex Glass & Window Spray
   • Invisible Glass Cleaner
7. Any dish soap. Duh! 🙄
   Dish soap leaves a residue; you need to rinse it off and not leave it on.
8. Facial tissues, paper towels, toilet paper
   Paper manufacturers make facial tissues, paper towels, and toilet paper out of virgin wood pulp (high-quality paper) and recycled versions of the raw material.
   Wood is rough on human skin. Though human skin isn’t comparable to a PC’s glass and surface, the mentioned paper products can cause tiny scratches on the PC’s glass and surface.
   Facial tissues and toilet paper leave lint behind, which can go into the open parts of the keyboard.
9. Cleaning products like vinegar, bleach, ammonia
   They’re great for cleaning the kitchen and bathroom but not for electronic devices because ammonia is corrosive to metal, bleach discolors, and vinegar corrodes and makes your device smell like vinegar 🤢

Don’t feed your PCs

If you like eating and operating your PC, keep your food and drinks away so food and liquids don’t get on the device.

I do a general PC dust and wipe about every three months. But when I see dirt or dust on my PC, I immediately clean them off.

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Conclusion

Now that you know about my ten practical maintenance tasks, I recommend making it a habit to maintain your PCs often.

Your good habits will increase the chance that your PCs will function like they should longer.

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Helpful Links

How to Take Care of Your New Laptop and Ensure Its Longevity

Tips to maintain Windows 11/10 in good running condition

Is it Safe to Use a Third-Party PC Cleaning Software on Windows

Cut Your Dirty Canned Air Habit with These Three Alternatives

10 Cleaning Products You Should Never Use to Clean Your Computer

Personal computer

How to Keep Windows 10 in Tip-Top Shape

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