Some people keep their laptops for a long time. Others upgrade regularly because they think that their laptops are outdated or too slow. In either case, it’s important to know how to keep your laptop running at optimal performance levels so that the decision to get a new laptop is done at the right time rather than out of necessity.

The tips below from Hack College are quick and easy, but act as an important reminder about the simple things we can do extend the existence and improve the performance of one of the most important gadgets in our lives.