Keeping your console in good condition can do a lot for your gaming life. Dust inside of your console can make PS2 chipping difficult and dust in your PS2's fan will cause your PS2 stop working. Moreover, the dust on the tray can scratch your discs. Keep in mind that this is not all end all console maintenance tips, however following these steps should keep your console in good shape and help your parts live a longer, happier life ;)

[[CLEANING]]: Before starting, I would just like to mention that you should only perform these steps if your console in connection is turned off, and Component/S/AV cables (Whatever you have) are pulled off from your machine and the AC/DC plug is and taken out from the wall. Cleaning your console while it is on or stand by mode could possibly cause harm to you. Also, there are several things that you should have handy if you intend on going through and cleaning your console components. This is not a comprehensive list, and you can substitute some of these materials for others. So you need:

1) Can of Compressed Air (very useful)
2) Lint free cotton cloth (available at any electronics store)
3) Glass cleaner
4) Phillips Screwdriver
5) Clean rag
6) Toothpick
7) Low watt vacuum cleaner

First, move your machine upside down, take the toothpick and low watt vacuum cleaner and start picking and vacuuming the dust in the fan grille near your AC/DC plug and front vent grille (This is only for PS2 v4 and v5) and USB part. After that, take the lint free cotton cloth, dumpen it with warm water and you can start rub cleaning the console case. After you are done, then take a dry cotton cloth and sweep it once again. With this you will not leave your console dumped.

Another alternative is to open up your console. Doing this you need a delicate work, also you should be aware that if it is under warranty, it will be automatically VOID. Do not practise this on carpet, preferable on table or desk! Okay now, move your machine upside down, remove the black plastic squares that cover the screws, take your phillips screw driver and unscrewed them, (WARNING: Static Electricity may cause harm to your parts). Thus, before taking out all the component, make sure you touch the ground. Doing this to avoid static electricity in your body especially if you live at home covered with carpet.

Take a can of compressed air and blow out any and all of the fan ports, console slot, components, air slots, etc. Do not forget to clean out the power supply fan grille as well by using a low watt vaccum cleaner. Take special care around the fan grilles to make sure there is not any dust hiding. Be careful not to touch any of the actual components with the damp cloth. If you do by accident, use the compressed air to clean the area and then let the system stand open for several hours until the part in question dries. If you do not wait, you could ruin a part of the console.

When it comes to cleaning a DVD drive, there are two things that generally need to be cleaned; the tray and the lens. Cleaning the tray is simple. Take some glass cleaner, apply it to a cloth, and rub the tray until it is clean. Leave it open for a moment until the tray has dried, and then you're done.

To clean the lens, you will have to go out and purchase a CD drive cleaning kit for tray-based CD players (they have different ones for caddy and auto feed drives - if you have one of those you will need a cleaning kit specifically for that type). Follow the directions on the box to clean the drive. Generally this involves applying some fluid to the bogus CD (which conveniently has a brush on it) and allowing the drive to spin up (Making this one of the few cleaning operations that needs to be done when the console is on). A better choice is a simple lense duster with no liquid applied which has small super soft bristles that cleans off the lens.

Cleaning PS2 can waste your times. But it is also worth doing it. If you want less work, just cover your machine after usage with a non-static towel or whatever. However, do not do it directly after you play for hours, because the heat inside hardly goes away.

[[USAGE]]: You can stand your PS2 up vertically without a vertical stand. If you ever notice, PS2 actually has 4 rubber pads on one end, which are designed to stabilize the unit if it is stood up that way. However, the vertical stand is there for more stability. Though it has been reported that people put PS2 vertically, there are problems that will happen eventually to almost anyone at least one time like discs flinging out or almost jamming or disc stracthing, because when you stand it, the laser tends to fall a bit, which hits the disc.

Fellas, keep this in mind; no knocking, kicking, pressing too hard, or getting angry at it. This sounds ridiculous, but when you lost your mind after losing the games, anything will be possible. So be nice to it and it will be nice to you. Also keep out of reach of pets or 2-5 years old little brother or sister. Lastly, shut the machine off when not in use for long time and do not forget using a surge protector when it is connected to the power supply. That's my two cents ;)