It’s inevitable that gunk will appear. Here’s how to clean up your laptop’s act without harming it, from the top bezel to the bottom fan. (It’s simple, and you can make it with items you already have.)
If your laptop has dust, coffee stains, oil from your fingertips, food particles, or just plain filth, it’s time to clean and disinfect it. Your laptop may be made to seem brand new again with just a few cleaning products and 15 minutes of your time. This article covers all you need to know about cleaning your laptop, including how to clean the screen, keyboard, outer surfaces, vents, and ports. We teach you what to do and what to avoid, as well as some helpful hints for keeping your laptop clean all of the time—not just when you’re using it.
Get your cleaning supplies ready, for your marks.
The majority of the cleaning items you’ll require are likely already in your home. The first step is to get a good cleaning cloth. Use microfiber instead of cotton cloth or paper towels, which might leave dusty debris behind (some types are better than others). It’s easy to get at supermarkets, auto-supply, and dollar stores, as well as on major e-commerce sites like Amazon. The most affordable microfibre will suffice.
Then, buy a can of pressurized canned air, which can be bought online as well as in supermarkets and electronics stores. It works well for blasting debris from hard-to-reach places, with one important caveat that we’ll discuss shortly. You’ll also need a packet of plastic dental cleaners with tiny bristles, similar to little bottle cleaners.
Hairs, crumbs, and other tenacious material can be coaxed out of their hiding spots. (The leftovers are also good for teeth.)
Water from the faucet or distilled water can be used for almost any cleaning solution. Water, on the other hand, does not disinfect or eliminate oil or other pollutants very well. Dish soap and vinegar (a strong mix at first, diluted 50/50 with water) are suitable for any surface. Isopropyl alcohol and hydrogen peroxide can also be used to sanitize the keyboard. The alcohol also has the advantage of drying quickly.
Ammonia and bleach-based products should be avoided at all costs. Many surfaces, notably the screen, are too harsh for them.
If you want a specialist treatment for the laptop panel, electronics stores sell specialized screen cleaner solutions (typically in a pump-spray version). (CleanScreen is one such example.) When in doubt, stick to skin-friendly cosmetics.
Let’s get this party started. Before cleaning, switch off and unplug your notebook completely. When this may appear to be self-evident, you will be unwittingly pressing many keyboard keys while cleaning. You don’t want to delete an important document by accident or lose desktop shortcuts due to key-mashing.
If you’re using cleansers or compressed air, make sure you’re working in a well-ventilated location. Use a sturdy, flat surface for your venues, such as a table or desk.
Let’s get this party started. Before cleaning, switch off and unplug your notebook completely. When this may appear to be self-evident, you will be unwittingly pressing many keyboard keys while cleaning. You don’t want to delete an important document by accident or lose desktop shortcuts due to key-mashing.
If you’re using cleansers or compressed air, make sure you’re working in a well-ventilated location. Use a sturdy, flat surface for your venues, such as a table or desk. Set a clean towel (ideally microfiber) on the table, then place your notebook on top to provide some cushioning and scratch protection when you flip it over on the lid.
Finally, before you begin and after you finish, wash and dry your hands. Let us know in the comments if you clean your laptop regularly…
