It is the time of the year when the weather begins to warm, bears return from hibernation, birds fly north, and dreary winter scenes transform into colorful springtime sights. Of course, while Mother Nature goes through her own annual rejuvenation, the rest of us celebrate spring's arrival by rejuvenating our floors, walls, windows and reorganizing our closets, garages,  and basements.  Before declaring the spring-cleaning  ritual officially complete, the memory and storage experts at Crucial.com suggest it is also the perfect time to give your computer a seasonal refresh. Here are a few spring-cleaning technology tips that will infuse your computer with new life, and give you one less thing  to worry about this year.

Back Up Your Data
A crash or system error will happen when you least expect it, so be  prepared for the inevitable by backing up photos, files and important data. Most Mac® and Windows® operating systems have a built-in back-up mode that will  automatically sync computer data to an external storage drive or to an online  storage service when the function is turned on.  It's an easy process that will save you a lot  of stress and aggravation when your computer's hard drive fails. While you're  at it, you may also want to  consider upgrading your current hard drive with a more efficient and reliable  solid state drive (SSD). Its durability, faster performance, and light weight,  have made SSDs an increasingly popular alternative to traditional hard drives.

Declutter and Update
Make sure both your operating system and applications are all up to date   with the most current available versions.  Also, make sure to remove unused programs by utilizing  the add/remove programs tool located in the control panel of Windows operating  systems, or on a Mac computer by dragging the application to the trash.

Enhance Your Security
Ensure your antivirus software is up to date with the most recent virus definitions. Consider running spyware software as well. Take the time to do a  password audit on all of your online accounts and ensure that the passwords are  unique and secure for each one. Also, while you are at it, consider using a  password management app for your smartphone.

Upgrade the Memory
There are a number of simple hardware upgrades that can sometimes make a   system perform better than when it was new. For example, adding more internal  memory (RAM) is one of the most cost-effective ways to improve a computer's  performance. When a computer does not have enough internal memory to properly  run programs, it becomes slow and unresponsive as it struggles with limited  resources. Installing computer memory is a fairly  simple process that requires no special tools or skills.  Just go to Crucial.com and run the free System Scanner tool or use the Crucial Memory Advisor™ tool to find the  right memory upgrade for your system.

Hardware Wash
For some, the keyboard and mouse double as napkins for collecting  crumbs, skin oils, and of course, germs. Clean the keyboard and mouse with a  disinfectant wipe.  Dip a soft rag into a  mild soap and water solution and wipe down the monitor's LCD screen.  Do not use a household glass cleaner as the  harsh chemicals could damage the LCD screen.   Never spray anything directly onto any part of the computer, and always make sure to unplug the computer before beginning the cleaning process.

Blow It Out
Over time, the inside of your computer will accumulate a "blanket" of dust, which may result in a temperature rise inside your computer case. Open  your computer case and blow out the dust using a canister of compressed air. Be  sure to blow air through all fans in order to thoroughly clean them.

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