January 1-31

National Clean Up Your Computer Month

Say goodbye to clutter and hello to a clean, organized digital life in honor of National Clean Up Your Computer Month! Get tips & tricks now.

Yearly Date

January 1

Observed in

United States

Introduction

Start off the new year by giving your computer some much-needed TLC on National Clean Up Your Computer Month, which takes place throughout the entire month of January! This holiday was first observed in 1988 as a way to encourage people to declutter their digital space and improve the performance of their devices. With our increasing reliance on technology, it's more important than ever to keep our computers organized and running smoothly. So grab your duster and get ready to tidy up those files – your computer (and your sanity) will thank you for it!

National Clean Up Your Computer Month Timeline

1988

National Clean Up Your Computer Month Begins

This holiday was first observed as a way to encourage digital decluttering and improve device performance.

1997

Increase in Personal Computer Use

As personal computers became more common, the importance of National Clean Up Your Computer Month grew.

2000

Millennium Bug Fear Highlights Importance

With Y2K fears, the importance of maintaining and cleaning up digital systems was highlighted on a global scale.

2008

Height of the Netbook Trend

Sales of netbooks spiked, widening the base of users who might benefit from National Clean Up Your Computer Month.

2014

Cyber Attacks Emphasize Digital Cleanup

High-profile cyber attacks increase the public's consciousness about maintaining and cleaning digital systems, including personal computers.

How to Celebrate National Clean Up Your Computer Month

1 Schedule a computer cleaning day

Pick a day in the month to dedicate to cleaning out your computer. Set aside a few hours and go through your files, delete unnecessary ones, and organize everything into folders.

2 Get rid of old programs and apps

Take some time to go through your computer and uninstall any programs or apps that you no longer use. This will free up space and make your computer run faster.

3 Back up important files

Make sure to back up all of your important files onto an external hard drive or cloud storage. This will ensure that you don't lose anything in case of a computer malfunction or crash.

4 Clean your keyboard and monitor

Use a can of compressed air to clean out any dust or debris from your keyboard. Wipe down your monitor with a soft, damp cloth to remove any smudges or fingerprints.

5 Upgrade your software

Check for any software updates and upgrades that are available for your computer. This will help improve performance and keep your computer running smoothly.

Why We Love National Clean Up Your Computer Month

It declutters your digital space

Over time, our computers can become cluttered with old files, programs, and documents that we no longer need. National Clean Up Your Computer Month gives us the perfect excuse to go through these items and clear up some much-needed space on our hard drives.

It boosts productivity and efficiency

A clean and organized computer makes it easier to find necessary files and programs, ultimately increasing our productivity. Plus, a decluttered computer runs smoother and faster, saving you time in the long run.

It helps protect your data

By regularly cleaning up your computer, you can prevent potential data loss from viruses or crashes. It's important to regularly back up your files and maintain a clean system to keep your important documents and memories safe.