This wear and tear can take a toll, especially since one PC is often also used by kids for homework, spouses to maintain work records or digital photo albums, and the entire household for email and Internet.

To help minimize the effects of constant use and make sure the home computer is in working order, follow the tips below from BluePhone(TM) (www.bluephone.com), an online computer support company and "At-Home Help Desk." Everyday BluePhone helps consumers get maximum value from their tech gear by eliminating hassles, fears and runarounds to quickly and effectively resolve problems with computers, peripherals and digital devices.

1. Remove any unwanted programs

Often times, computer users don't know they have certain programs installed. Users can have MSN(R) Messenger or AIM(R), for example, despite the fact that they never IM (Instant Message); multiple, competing toolbars that all do basically the same thing; or duplicate, redundant anti-spyware applications that run simultaneously.

All these "extra" programs can take up considerable amounts of PC resources. Moreover, since many programs run continually (but silently) in the background, the superfluous installations can dramatically slow a PC down.

To prevent a computer from being bogged down, remove unwanted programs by going to the computer's Control Panel and selecting "Add/Remove Programs" (or "Uninstall Program").

2. Organize files and documents

The home computer should be just as organized as the work one -- perhaps more so since the average home computer is used by multiple people. Keep profiles separate, create folders by topic, and categorize files through the computer's My Documents.

Getting and staying organized will keep Junior's homework separate from the company presentation and will ensure files are easily found in the future. If you do lose track of a document or folder, use Windows Search to help locate it. Windows Vista(R) users already have the program installed; Windows(R) XP or new Windows 7 users may need to download it from Microsoft(R): http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/default.aspx.

3. Sync contacts, calendar and email to a phone

Make work life easier by syncing contacts, calendar and email with a mobile device.