Easy ways to make home theatre setups last

If you love entertaining at home or simply kicking back with a classic film, it's in your best interest to keep these home theatre maintenance tips in mind.

• Keep your equipment cool by giving it enough space to breathe and by adding ventilation holes if it is kept in a cabinet. The hotter it runs, the shorter its operational life; plus there's an increased risk of fire. Turn down the bright and garish default settings on your TV — these will cause it to run hot.
• Position your TV so that it is not exposed to extremes of temperature (such as above a radiator) and sources of dust and water. Keep it away from strong magnets (such as those in speakers).
• Close the front flap of your TV once you have finished using the controls beneath. These covers are often flimsy and can snap off if bumped.
• Disconnect the antenna and power supply from your TV or system if a thunderstorm is expected — a lightning strike can damage your equipment. Consider buying a surge protector; many of these units also contain circuits that cut electronic "noise" to give you a cleaner picture on your TV.
• Buy the best quality blank DVDs if you record TV programs on a DVD recorder — they will have a much longer useful life than budget-priced alternatives.

A dirty disk is the most common cause of slow loading. Try cleaning the disk with a dry microfibre cloth; wipe gently from the inner hole out to the edge, not around its circumference. If this doesn't work, moisten the cloth with a little window-cleaning fluid and wipe as above. Allow the disk to dry before inserting it into the DVD player.

• Buy a cleaning disk from an electronics shop; insert it into the DVD player and follow the on-screen instructions to clean the player's lens. This is particularly important if your DVD player is used in a room where people smoke.

Today's LCD and plasma TVs have screens faced with plastic that is easily marked by abrasive cloths and chemicals, so try this low-tech cleaning method.

• First, switch off the TV, then wipe the screen with a microfibre cloth, which won't leave behind traces of lint. Don't press too hard. If marks remain on the screen, moisten the microfibre cloth with a 1:1 mixture of white vinegar and water and lightly rub any spots. Dry the screen immediately with a clean microfibre cloth to avoid smudge marks.