You change the oil in your car and clean your gutters. Your computer deserves the same kind of annual attention.

Physical Cleaning

Dust is your computer's worst enemy, especially in Florida. Desktops should be opened and blown out with compressed air at least once a year. For laptops, blow compressed air into the vents. Wipe down your keyboard and clean your screen with a microfiber cloth.

Software Cleanup

Go through your installed programs and remove anything you no longer use. Run Disk Cleanup to clear temporary files, old update files, and Recycle Bin contents. On a computer that hasn't been cleaned in a while, this can free up several gigabytes.

Security Check

Make sure Windows Update is current and Defender is active. Run a full virus scan. Check that your backup is actually running by looking at the most recent backup date.

Review Your Accounts

Update weak or reused passwords. Enable two-factor authentication anywhere you haven't yet. Close old accounts you no longer use.