Are you familiar with your monitor's menu and screen control functions? You should be! When you first set up a new monitor, make sure you run through the entire gamut of monitor calibration and adjustment settings. That way, you'll have the sharpest clarity and the deepest colors on your screen and the least strain on your eyes. The Iiyama menu is fast and simple to use.

After that, make sure you run through these adjustments again once a month. That's right, once a month. Monitors "drift" during use, so you'll likely find that your brightness, contrast, and other controls need resetting after a few weeks of use.

Have you ever noticed how often we touch computer screens? Sometimes we're pointing something out to a friend, family member, or colleague, and sometimes we are adjusting the position of the monitor on the desk. In any case, this touching makes cleaning a computer monitor more of a regular activity than, say, cleaning a television screen.

What should you use to clean your monitor's screen? First, follow the manufacturer's instructions for cleaning, particularly if you suspect your display is made from unusual materials. You could go out and purchase special, monitor-safe cleaning products. However, in most cases, glass cleaner and paper towels or soft cotton cloths should work fine. Just make sure you spray the cleaner directly onto your paper towel or cloth, not onto the screen. That way, the cleaner fluid won't run down the front of your tube and get inside the monitor casing.

Are you planning to study that detailed spreadsheet first thing in the morning? You may want to make another plan. Monitors need to warm up. Just after they power on, monitors may not display the proper image position, black level, and contrast. So you should postpone fine-detail viewing for a good 15 to 20 minutes after you turn your monitor on.

Do you stack paper, books, or equipment on top of your computer monitor? You could be shortening its life. Most monitors have vents on top, which circulate the air and cool the inner components. Junk on top of your monitor may prevent the airflow your tube requires.

While you're there, you might as well vacuum out the vents with the low suction setting on your vacuum. These vents sometimes get clogged with dust.