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Spilling water on your laptop doesn't mean you've wrecked your computer, nor does it necessarily force you to take it to a repair shop if you know what to do at that moment and execute all necessary actions quickly and efficiently.
1. What should you do if you accidentally spill water on your laptop?
Spilling water on laptop doesn't mean you've wrecked your computer, nor does it necessarily force you to take it to a repair shop if you know what to do at that moment and execute all necessary actions quickly and efficiently.
Besides, 'Safety is the first thing people often overlook when panicking,' says Kay-Kay Clapp, an iFixit repair specialist. 'But it's crucial to protect yourself from any potential electric shock, especially if you're standing in a wet environment or wearing wet clothes. In that case, instead of trying to unplug, find a circuit breaker or power switch and turn off the power there. If you see any heat, smoke, vapor, bubbles, swelling, or melting, avoid touching the device.'
After the device is off and your surroundings are safe, do a bit of cleanup.
Flip the machine upside down and let it dry
Take a dry cloth and wipe off any liquid on the laptop's surface, especially around the keyboard, fan, or connection ports, while opening the laptop lid to the maximum. Invert the laptop, place it on an absorbent material like a towel, and wait for the water to drain out. You don't necessarily have to disassemble, but if possible, remove the bottom cover and gently clean internal components with a soft cloth before performing the next steps.
'I usually advise people to leave the machine undisturbed for 24 hours if possible,' says Silverman. 'That's the ideal time. If you don't have that much time, at least give it 4 hours. Even if it looks dry, it has likely absorbed a considerable amount of water, so give it more time to evaporate or wick away all the liquid.' Remember, the longer, the better.
And despite many online guides suggesting placing the laptop in a rice container, both Clapp and Silverman discourage this and recommend letting the laptop air dry naturally. 'Rice doesn't help in resolving water spill situations,' warns Silverman. 'You might end up dealing with cleaning rice out of certain components, which can get into some parts. It truly doesn't do anything, and it may even cause harm to the system later on.'
Take the machine to the repair shop
After completing the aforementioned steps, plug in the power and try turning on the machine. In many cases, the machine will start normally. However, according to Clapp, it's advisable to take it to a repair shop for certainty!
'Seeing something work after it has dried doesn't mean the issue has been resolved,' she says. 'Once liquid has infiltrated, even if it has dried, it can leave behind conductive minerals to areas where they shouldn't be, causing component corrosion over time.' This is especially crucial if you've spilled something other than water - like soda or coffee, for example - as these are sure to leave residues after drying. Repair shops will clean components with strong solvents or specialized cleaning machines.
If you're tech-savvy and don't want to spend money on repair shops, you can clean the device yourself. Open the laptop, take a toothbrush dipped in isopropyl alcohol of 90 degrees or higher, then scrub any residues you see on the components. 'Pay attention while cleaning to avoid causing damage or inadvertently dislodging small components on the motherboard. Focus on the connection points and ends of the cables to prevent corrosion on their contact surfaces,' says Clapp. After the motherboard is clean and dry, you can check the cable ends for signs of corrosion and reassemble everything as usual.
