Buzz
Over time, all computers tend to accumulate dirt and dust. However, laptops, being portable devices, require more frequent cleaning due to their mobility. If you often carry your laptop around, it’s advisable to clean it at least once a month. Dust and grime, especially on the screen and keyboard, can affect the device’s performance. Always remember to turn off the laptop and unplug it before cleaning. If possible, remove the battery as well.
Steps
Clean the Screen
Gently wipe the screen’s surface with a soft cloth to remove dust. Fold the cloth and move it lightly across the screen in a horizontal motion. Use your other hand to hold the screen steady to prevent it from moving while cleaning.
- Avoid pressing too hard or scrubbing stubborn stains, as this could damage the screen. Use only gentle pressure to remove surface dust.
Use a damp sponge to remove dirt and grime. Soak the sponge in water and wring it out thoroughly. Use filtered or distilled water instead of tap water, as tap water can leave mineral deposits on the screen. Wipe the screen gently, applying only light pressure—avoid scrubbing hard.
- You can also use pre-moistened cleaning wipes. Ensure they don’t contain harsh chemicals like ammonia or bleach, which can damage the screen.
- Excess moisture can seep inside and harm internal components, so always ensure the cloth or sponge is barely damp before cleaning.
- For stubborn stains, add a drop of mild dish soap to the cleaning water. If you have a touchscreen, consult the user manual or manufacturer’s website to confirm which cleaning solutions are safe.
Invest in a screen cleaning kit for heavily soiled screens. These kits are available online or at electronics and computer stores. They typically include a specialized cleaning solution for screens and a soft microfiber cloth. If you have a touchscreen, verify that the kit is safe for touchscreen use.
- Avoid using regular glass cleaners, especially those containing ammonia, as they can damage the screen.
Polish in circular motions to remove water streaks. After cleaning the screen, use a soft microfiber cloth to gently buff the surface in circular motions. This helps eliminate streaks or spots left by the sponge.
- Start at the top of the screen and work your way down, overlapping circular motions to cover the entire surface evenly.
Clean the Keyboard
Shake out loose debris from the keyboard. Open the laptop, hold it firmly on both sides, and turn it upside down. Gently shake it to dislodge larger particles. You can also tilt it sideways to help remove dust trapped beneath the keys.
- If it’s been a while since your last cleaning or if you often eat near your laptop, shake it over a trash bin to catch falling debris.
- After shaking, wipe the screen again with a soft cloth, as dust from the keyboard may settle on it.
Use a vacuum to remove dust and hair from the keyboard. If you have a small handheld vacuum, use the smallest attachment to gently clean the keyboard without causing damage. Slowly move the vacuum head across each row of keys, working from top to bottom.
- Alternatively, you can use compressed air to blow away debris. However, tilt the keyboard at an angle to ensure dust is blown outward rather than deeper into the keys. This is especially important for MacBook keyboards, as they are connected to the internal components.
Tip: When using compressed air, tilt the laptop at a 75-degree angle or sideways. This helps blow debris out from under the keys without pushing it further inside.
Use a pencil eraser to clean grime off the keys. If you look at the keys from an angle, you’ll notice dirt and oils from your fingers accumulating. Gently rub the eraser over the keys to remove these residues.
- After using the eraser, vacuum the keyboard again to remove any eraser crumbs.
Clean between the keys with cotton swabs. Dust and grime often accumulate around the edges of the keys. Cotton swabs are perfect for reaching these tight spaces. For heavily soiled keyboards, dip the swabs in rubbing alcohol for a deeper clean.
- Avoid oversaturating the swabs, and don’t press too hard to prevent liquid from seeping under the keys.
- You can also use alcohol-dipped swabs to clean the tops of keys, especially for stubborn grime that the eraser can’t remove.
Wipe the keys with a damp cloth. Use a soft cloth lightly dampened with distilled water or a cleaning solution made from equal parts water and rubbing alcohol. Wring out excess moisture before gently wiping the key surfaces—avoid pressing the keys down.
- After wiping with the damp cloth, use a dry cloth to remove any remaining moisture.
Remove the keys if you know how to reattach them. Sometimes, taking off the keycaps is the only way to thoroughly clean the dust and grime accumulated underneath. This is especially common if you’ve never cleaned your laptop or often eat while using it. However, removing and reattaching keycaps can be tricky, depending on the laptop’s design.
- Take a photo of the keyboard before removing the keys for reference during reassembly. It’s easy to forget the positions of the keys, especially function keys, once they’re all removed.
Clean the Laptop Exterior
Prepare a mild cleaning solution. Mix a few drops of gentle dish soap with filtered or distilled water. Alternatively, you can use a 50-50 mix of rubbing alcohol and filtered or distilled water. Avoid using regular household cleaners or harsh chemicals like bleach or ammonia on the laptop’s exterior.
- If using rubbing alcohol, ensure it doesn’t come into contact with the screen, as it can damage anti-glare and anti-scratch coatings.
Dip a sponge into the cleaning solution. Use a clean sponge, soak it in the solution, and wring it out thoroughly. Double-check to ensure no water drips from the sponge before gently wiping the laptop’s exterior.
- You can also use the same sponge and solution to clean the touchpad.
- Avoid cleaning inside ports or openings to prevent liquid from damaging internal components.
Alternative: You can also use a melamine sponge, such as Mr. Clean Magic Eraser, to clean the laptop’s exterior. Be gentle, as these sponges have mild abrasive properties and may scratch the surface. Typically, dampen them with water before use—no additional cleaning solution is needed.
Use cotton swabs to clean dust from crevices. If your laptop has seams or gaps, dust tends to accumulate there. Dip a cotton swab into your cleaning solution to gently clean these areas.
- As with the sponge, ensure the cotton swab isn’t too wet, and use light pressure to avoid pushing moisture into the device.
Remove stubborn debris with a toothpick if needed. For narrow slots, ports, or vents clogged with dust, use a toothpick to carefully scrape and pull out the debris. Move the toothpick in an outward motion to avoid pushing dirt further inside.
- Handle the toothpick gently to prevent scratching the laptop’s surface. Hold it at an angle, like a pencil, rather than pointing it straight down.
Blow away dust with compressed air. Hold a can of compressed air at an angle and spray it into the ports or vents you want to clean. Rotate the laptop and spray from different angles for a thorough cleaning.
- Avoid spraying compressed air directly into ports or vents, as this can push debris deeper inside and damage internal components.
Use rubbing alcohol to remove stubborn stains. For sticky or hard-to-remove grime, dip a cotton ball in rubbing alcohol and gently scrub the affected area. Ensure the cotton ball isn’t overly saturated to prevent alcohol from seeping inside.
- Apply moderate pressure and repeat until the stain is gone.
- For sticker residue, use an oil-based cleaner like Goo Gone.
Polish the exterior with a soft cloth. After cleaning, use a microfiber cloth to buff the laptop’s exterior in circular motions. This removes any remaining moisture or streaks.
- Once the exterior is clean, you might notice small spots you missed earlier. Use a cotton ball or swab dipped in rubbing alcohol to clean them.
Tips
- Use hand sanitizer before touching your laptop to minimize the transfer of dirt and oils to the keyboard.
Warnings
- Never spray cleaning solutions directly onto any part of the laptop. Always spray onto a cloth or sponge first, then use it to clean the device gently.
- Avoid leaving moisture on electronic components. After cleaning, ensure all parts of the laptop are completely dry before plugging it in or turning it on.
What You’ll Need
- Handheld vacuum
- Compressed air (optional)
- Microfiber cloth
- Clean sponge
- Cotton swabs/cotton balls
- Pencil eraser
- Toothpick
- Dish soap
- Rubbing alcohol
- Filtered or distilled water
