TECH NOW: Spring clean your gross gadgets

• Power down your gadget before you start to clean it
• There%27s no need for pricey cleaners%2C but be sure what you use is safe
• Be gentle%2C and use a microfiber cloth

When it comes to germs, our gadgets are a hot mess. Keyboards can be five times dirtier than a toilet seat. And many people admit they use cell phones in the bathroom. No surprise then that phones are repositories for germs.

Grossed out yet? Here are five easy steps to help you get the gunk out of your grimy gadgets.

1. Power down

Before you start to clean, be sure to turn the gadget off and unplug it from any chargers. It's best for you, and your devices, not to mess around with anything with an electrical charge, even if it's mild.

2. Use safe cleaners

There's no need for expensive cleaners. What's always worked best for me, even on my myriad of Mac devices, is a homemade solution of half rubbing alcohol and half water, mixed together in a spray bottle. If you don't have those on hand, plain vodka or white vinegar works well too.

Don't use common household cleaners, such as bleach or anything with abrasives. They can scratch the delicate coatings on many gadgets, including iPads, LCD screens, and most smartphones.

3. Be gentle

Don't spray gadgets directly – always spray it onto a microfiber cloth (most devices come with one) first. You don't want to get anything wet or spray directly into the openings.

You can use a Q-tip for hard to reach places, but be sure not to use anything paper-based, like paper towel, Kleenex, or toilet paper, since it can scratch up your monitor and leave residue behind.

Go slow and don't press too hard, especially on screens, where you can damage pixels. (I can still hear my editor from years ago, Jim, telling me for the 100th time not to touch his computer screen.)

4. Use compressed air

One cleaner worth spending a few dollars on is a can of compressed air. It's great for getting all of the little crumbs out of your keyboard, from between the buttons on remote controls, and out of other small areas in your electronics.

Another store-bought cleaner many experts rave about, especially for greasy keyboards, is Mr. Clean Magic Eraser. If you use it, just be sure not to rub or push too hard, because it can "shed."

5. Don't overdo it
How often to clean your gadgets depends on how often you wash your hands, who you share your gadgets with, and in general, how grimy they are (your gadgets and your friends). When I wear makeup to do TV segments, my smartphone always ends up wearing some of it too, so there are times I do a quick wipe-down daily.
Otherwise, I usually do a quick clean to my laptop, tablet, and smartphone about once a week, and a deep clean (q-tips, etc) just a few times a year. You can do it as much as you want, just be careful with getting it damp, wet, or rubbing it so hard that you wear away a finish.

Whatever you do, do NOT vacuum anything electronic. The suction can create an electrical charge, causing your devices to crash, for good.

I scoured the world over for advice on cleaning gadgets, and these are the most recommended methods, plus the ones I've been using regularly for years. Still, it's good to check cleaning directions in your gadget manual or on the device website. What are some of your tips, tricks, or questions for keeping your gadgets clean? Be sure to share them in the comments section below.

Jennifer Jolly is an Emmy award-winning consumer tech contributor and host of USA TODAY's digital video show TECH NOW. Email her at techcomments@usatoday.com. Follow her on Twitter: @JenniferJolly.