The thicker the fabric is, the better. Ideally, the fabric will be able to remain intact when faced with glass, jagged metal, and other broken parts. A solid wool or cotton throw will work well, while you should stay away from linen.

Sledgehammers come in various sizes and weights. If you are nervous about holding a 10-pound (160 oz) hammer, you can likely find a 3-5 pound (48-80 oz) one at your local hardware store.

If you have one thin blanket and one thick, place the thicker one on top. A thin blanket or towel may unravel if it is hit directly with a sledgehammer.

Most municipal sites have information regarding disposal practices. You can also contact your city or county’s waste management department for disposal instructions.

Transferring and deleting your files is the easiest way to wipe your hard drive, and requires no outside help. It is not the most secure method of removal. Reformatting your hard drive can be done by going into Windows Disk Management, right-click on the volume that you want to format, and choose Format. {“smallUrl”:“https://www. wikihow. com/images/thumb/1/15/Formattig. png/460px-Formattig. png”,“bigUrl”:"/images/thumb/1/15/Formattig. png/713px-Formattig. png",“smallWidth”:460,“smallHeight”:361,“bigWidth”:713,“bigHeight”:560,“licensing”:"<div class="mw-parser-output">

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\n</p></div>"} Using File Shredder is the DIY way to overwrite and format a disk. Make sure to do it on a different computer, as it will also delete system files, basically like if you just got a new drive. Overwriting your hard drive is typically done by a computer professional or some helpful third-party software for a fee. If your computer has a lot of personal or financial information, this may be the safest option.

Most computers are held together with small screws. Remove these screws, and separate the bottom panel from your computer. To locate your hard drive, look for what appears to be a small, circular disk, much like a CD.

Most computer repair stores also have the ability to wipe hard drives. You can also contact your computer’s manufacturer for more information on how to wipe your hard drive effectively, or a technician who can do it for you.

Check your local recycling center for needs and requirements. If you do decide to go the reuse route, you may be able to make a bit of money selling spare parts.