PSP Hacks: Tips & Tools for Your Mobile Gaming and Entertainment Handheld

Hack 7. Keep Your PSP Clean

Tired of seeing smudges, dust, dirt, and grime on that gorgeous PSP screen? Here are some tips to alleviate the dirt and the glare.

In both "Watch UMD Movies" [Hack #21] and "Troubleshoot Your PSP" [Hack #6], I touch upon how the PSP, as a portable gaming console, would seem to be some sort of magical dirt and smudge magnet. This brief hack will cover some basic ways you can help cut down on the filth and get rid of any built-up grime.

1.8.1. Prevention

When dealing with dirt, the best offense is a good defense. As clichéd as this bit of advice sounds, it's the most overlooked bit of common sense. If you don't want your PSP to get dirty, keep it in a dirt-free environment. Don't leave it lying around your home. Whenever you aren't using the PSP, either put it away in a case [Hack #12] or in the sleeve that came with your PSP. If you want to keep the PSP itself clean, make sure that you keep all of the PSP peripherals clean as well. Keep your UMD disks in cases [Hack #13] and only use clean USB cables to connect your PSP to your computer. If you find an old USB cable sitting in the corner of a drawer that, for some unknown reason, had cookie crumbs all over the bottom, take the time to make sure any dust or bits of cookie that were in the drawer are carefully cleaned from the connectors before shoving it into your PSP.

In addition to keeping the PSP and all of the PSP's peripherals clean, make sure you keep yourself clean. If you find yourself regularly complaining about greasy smudges all over your PSP's screen and controls, you have to look no further than your own greasy hands for the culprit. Wash your hands. Make sure they are clean, dry, and grease-free when you want to play. If you don't want smudges on the screen, don't touch the screen.

1.8.2. Cleaning

Use the soft cloth that came with your PSP to wipe off the screen whenever it becomes smudged. If you ever get more than basic smudging on your PSP, unplug the PSP and turn it off. Use a damp cloth to clean off the casing. Do not use any cleaning products, since they could harm the PSP.

If anything sticky gets on the PSP, try putting a small amount of cooking oil on a soft cloth and use this to rub it free. To remove the oil, use a damp cloth with a light amount of soap.

If anything gets in the different ports of the PSP, such as the headphone jack, the USB jack, or the power jack, try gently rubbing the open ports with a soft dry cloth. If anything gets in the Memory Stick compartment or the UMD compartment, you can try using a compressed air can to clean out these areas. If the lens inside the PSP that reads the UMD disks appears to be dirty, you can try putting a small bit of the solution from a DVD/CD cleaning kit on the end of a Q-Tip and reaching carefully inside the PSP to clean off the lens, but I'd wait for someone to offer a UMD disk-based PSP cleaning kit before trying this one.

1.8.3. Keep the Screen Smudge-Free

The simplest way to keep the screen on the PSP smudge-free is to avoid touching it with your fingers, keep your hands as clean and grease-free as possible, and keep a soft cloth handy to wipe smudges away. However, if these methods aren't working for you, there are some alternatives.

One option is a commercially available plastic screen overlay from JAVOedge (http://www.javoedge.com/simtrix/productMtce/jsp/productListScreen_PSP.jsp; $12.95 USD). The PSP JAVOScreen comes in both an anti-glare and an ultra-clear version. The anti-glare version works very well, as I have one that I've used, but I usually end up using it only while playing video games. The matte finish tends to make the picture quality of movies look a bit fuzzy. I haven't yet tried the ultra-clear version, as it has just recently been announced.

The JAVOScreen is just a thin piece of plastic, and $12.95 is a little expensive for such a thing. You can find inexpensive cellophane at your local craft store that will most likely work just as well.

Overall, remember that the best way to keep your PSP clean is to prevent it from getting dirty in the first place.