Your laptop can become dirty over time, collecting crumbs, germs, pet hair and dust that could negatively impact its performance. Cleaning it regularly will help avoid hardware issues.
Your cleaning tools include a microfiber cloth (lint-free), isopropyl alcohol, compressed air can and cotton swabs. Before beginning, shut off and unplug your laptop before wiping down its screen and keyboard.
1. Use a Microfiber Cloth
As part of your efforts to keep your laptop looking its best, a microfiber cloth is your go-to solution for cleaning. Not only does this type of cloth not generate lint but its soft surface won’t scratch either your screen or keyboard!
Before beginning to clean your laptop, first turn it off and unplug its power cord in order to avoid an electrical surge during the cleaning process.
Start by dampening one side of your microfiber cloth with distilled water (rather than tap, which contains minerals that could damage the screen) and wringing it well to get just slightly moist. Avoid spraying cleaning solutions directly onto the laptop as this could cause it to overflow into ports or sensitive areas and oversaturate.
2. Use Isopropyl Alcohol
isopropyl alcohol is an ideal cleaning product to use when dealing with delicate electronics, leaving no trace of residue behind when applied directly. Plus, its effective at eliminating stubborn blemishes like fingerprints or smudges.
Simply make sure to follow the directions on your particular product carefully. Most LCD-safe cleaners require dampening a cloth first before wiping over both surfaces and edges of the screen.
Cleaning solutions designed for keyboards and chassis may also be used on keyboards and chassis to remove dust, grease or any stains from them. Be wary when using canned air as sudden blasts of cold liquid could damage sensitive internal components.
3. Use a Can of Compressed Air
Canister air is often used to clean electronics, including laptops. HP suggests it may even be more suitable than spray cleaners because it won’t leak into delicate internal hardware and drip.
Hold the can upright and use short bursts of air from it to aim short blasts at cooling vents, ports, or any other openings on your case. Avoid taking action to remove or disable fans as that would require advanced knowledge of computer hardware – doing so could potentially damage it irreparably.
Isopropyl alcohol is an ideal way to tackle stubborn keyboard stains, while compressed air works just as effectively on other surfaces – particularly for cleaning in-between keys on laptop keyboards.
4. Use a Cotton Swabs
Your laptop attracts all sorts of grime: food crumbs, natural oils from your hands and dust particles are among its major culprits – this makes it unattractive, encourages bacteria colonies to thrive and can even reduce its lifespan!
Before beginning, power down and remove your laptop battery (if applicable). Mix a few drops of dishwashing liquid in some cups of water, dip a lint-free microfiber cloth in it, wring it out, and wipe down all surfaces on both the lid and bottom panel of your computer. Rinse, wring out, and dry off with a fresh cloth to avoid water streaks before moving on to keyboard and trackpad areas where heavy stains may form.
5. Use a Brush
Your laptop can become exposed to dust and dirt as it travels from place to place, potentially leading to numerous issues from dirty keyboards and screens to blocked ports and vents.
To properly clean a laptop, switch it off and unplug its battery (if applicable). Use a dampened lint-free cloth dampened with water to wipe down its surfaces. For extra thorough cleaning of LCD screens, there are various specialist cleaners available in tech stores or online.
6. Use an Air Blower
Laptops endure more wear and tear than any other electronic device, making them susceptible to dirt and germs. Regular cleaning not only ensures sanitization of the device but can also extend its lifespan while making it run more smoothly.
Before beginning to clean your laptop screen, make sure that it has been completely shut off and unplugged from its source. Otherwise, any attempt at cleaning could potentially result in irreparable damage to its components.
Once again, use an air blower to clean out your laptop’s vents and ports with care. Overlooking this task is often detrimental, as dust builds up can prevent proper functioning and lead to overheating. Gently spray each port while being sure not to get it wet!