As you use your laptop, it will accumulate dust, dirt, and fingerprints. This not only makes it look less attractive, but also encourages bacteria and other microorganisms to settle on it, reducing its lifespan.
It’s easy to clean your laptop regularly, just like you would your car or bathroom. If you don’t have the supplies, they can be purchased cheaply.
We also recommend that you look for online instructions from your laptop’s manufacturer. There may be specific dos and don’ts applicable to the laptop you are using.
Be sure to save and back up all your data before you start. Then, turn off and unplug your laptop. You won’t lose the last three hours or damage the power adapter if you do this.
Clean the keyboard and chassis
Start by placing some paper towels down on a surface. Turn your laptop slowly upside down over them, and gently shake it. You can probably get rid of quite a bit of debris by eating at your desk.
You can remove keys from some laptops to clean under them. Be sure to check the documentation of your laptop to ensure that it’s safe to do so. If it is, then test it on one key to be sure that you understand how to remove and reattach it.
Most manufacturer guides recommend using a microfiber towel to clean your keyboard, the chassis and the lid of your laptop. Apple even sells their own.
Add a few drops of water or a cleaning product (I will define this in a minute) to the towel to help remove stubborn dirt. Do not spray directly on the laptop, instead use the cloth. You don’t want any moisture to enter the laptop through vents or openings.
Apple warns to avoid aerosol sprays and other products that contain hydrogen peroxide. You can use a 70 percent solution of isopropyl ethanol sparingly. In general, however, you should stick with plain water or cleaning products designed for laptops. Its instructions will tell you which way to go, but it’s best to err on caution.
As per HP you can use cotton buds and compressed air to remove grime. But don’t go overboard. You’re working with delicate electronics, so be careful.
You can use the same microfiber cloth, compressed air can and cotton buds to clean your laptop if it has fans or larger vents. Use the tools that are most convenient for you, depending on the size, shape and accessibility of the fans and vents. When using compressed air to clean your laptop, make sure you angle the can in a way that it blows dust out and not into it.When using compressed air to clean your keyboard or vents you should angle the can in order to prevent dust from being blown into the machine.
You might be able, depending on the laptop model you have and how confident you are with disguising tech, to remove the back panel of your laptop, and clean the vents and fan. You could gain better access to the fans and vents, and be able to clean them thoroughly. Do not touch the wiring or other electronic components inside the case.
You should only do this after consulting the manual that came with your computer. Many laptops were not designed to be opened in the same manner as desktop PC cases. As explained to Sony by opening your laptop, you may be voiding any warranty that is on it. A cotton swap is lying next to the ports on a laptop.
How to clean your laptop screen
When it comes to cleaning your laptop’s screen, many of the same guidelines apply. You can follow the recommendations from Dell or others and use a soft, clean microfiber cloth. If necessary, dampen it with a little water.
If you want to remove dirt more effectively, you can use the 70 percent solution of isopropyl ethanol that was previously mentioned.
Buy a solution that is specifically designed for this purpose. (And preferably one with good reviews, if you can). You should avoid cleaning solutions that contain ammonia, alcohol, phosphates and acetone.
As before, you should apply any cleaning products or water to the cloth, not directly to the screen. Apple mentions that spraying directly on the screen can lead to drips or damage within the display.
Apply any water or cleaning products to the cloth, not directly on the screen
To avoid streaks on your screen, it is best to use circular and slow motions. You can see the dirtiest areas of the screen when the laptop is switched off. Working methodically and not rushing the task is the best way to avoid a cluttered screen.
You may want a second cloth to dry the screen if you use water or a cleaning product that is safe. Simply dab it to dry. You can then assess your progress.
You should have a clean computer after following these steps. Cleaning your laptop should only be done every few months, but you can do it more often if the grime builds up quickly.
