All computers require cleaning, and laptops require more cleaning than desktops. This is because you end up handling a laptop more than you do with a normal computer. Here’s how to clean your notebook’s case, screen, and keyboard.
How to clean the laptop screen?
Let’s face it, our life revolves around computers. Many of us cannot imagine operating without a computer. Thanks to them, we communicate with friends, make purchases or learn different things.
The laptops and mobile devices They are the answer to our growing demand for contact with the world from anywhere. We can take them everywhere: hotels, restaurants, reading rooms, parks, the city, etc. The more we use them and the more we carry them with us, the more they get dirty. And it is more visible on the screen. That is why you have to take care of them so that they are always clean and shiny. Being constantly connected also means that the screen gets dirty more often.
The following tips apply not only to laptop screens, but also to desktop and notebook computers.
How to clean the notebook screen?
Turn off the notebook, monitor, or laptop. When the screen is black, it will be easier to see dirty or greasy areas.
Start with a spray. With its help you will remove dirt from the screen. Use it carefully, sweep the dust from the screen from side to side, starting from the top and working your way down.
Make your own screen cleaner. No need to buy screen cleaners and bother because they don’t work. All you need is pure vinegar and distilled water. Mix ½ cup of distilled water with one cup of vinegar. Mix very well. Pour into a spray bottle and use as needed.
Laptop screen cleaner
Once the previous steps have been completed, you can start cleaning. Take a T-shirt or cloth that you don’t use (make sure it’s clean) and pour over the mixture of vinegar and water that you prepared before to keep it moist, if you use a lot of liquid, you should squeeze it so that it does not release a drop. Begin cleaning the screen in circular motions.
You will now need a second shirt or cloth to dry the screen. The result will be excellent: a clean and bright monitor.
Notebook screen cleaner
IF it is a Notebook screen, you can finish cleaning with a cotton swab. Clean the edges of the screen with it. Dip a cotton swab in distilled water made up of vinegar and wipe the edges of the screen. When you’re done, do it again with a dry cotton swab. It is very useful for the more delicate edges of the Notebook.
How do I clean the case of my laptop?
To clean the case, just moisten a cloth with water. If the dirt is not very attached to the surface, gently wiping with a damp cloth should remove any stain, if the dirt continues you can try adding a small amount of alcohol to the liquid before wetting the cloth. It is not advisable to use strong chemicals and if you decide to use a spray before wiping it, check that it does not contain ammonia and other chemicals that can damage the equipment.
Remember:
– Before cleaning the screen, turn off the computer and unplug it.
– Clean the screen regularly. The longer you wait, the more difficult it will be to clean.
– Never use tissues, paper towels, toilet paper, etc. for cleaning. They can scratch the screen.
Clean the briefcase
To maintain your laptop bag you will need a sponge, dishwasher detergent, water, a lint-free cloth and cotton swabs. Gather them together and follow these steps:
- Turn off the laptop.
- Unplug the laptop. Remember that electric current and liquid do not mix.
- Mix the cleaning liquid, one part dishwashing detergent with five parts water.
- Soak the sponge in the cleaning liquid.
- Wring out the sponge until it is dry.
- Gently clean your laptop bag. The laptop bag is out. We’ll get to the keyboard and screen later. However, you can use the sponge and swabs to clean the touch pad.
- You can use the standard Q-tip, but the medical swabs are best made and wrapped a little tighter. Do not insert the swab into any port, socket, or hole on the laptop.
- Finish the job by wiping the case again with a lint-free cloth and use the cloth to absorb excess moisture.
- Never spill liquid inside the laptop!
- Isopropyl alcohol, or “rubbing” alcohol, is a good cleaning fluid. Do not use it to clean the monitor.
- Avoid using any detergent that contains harsh chemicals, such as ammonia or bleach.
- Take a look at Video 341 for a demonstration of cleaning a laptop bag:
Wash the screen
When you feel like cleaning your laptop screen, you have three options:
Use a lint-free cloth to dry clean the screen. All laptops use LCD monitors. These monitors are very fussy about liquids. A lint-free cloth removes dust and stains from your fingers.
Use a damp sponge to clean the screen. Use only water to moisten the sponge. Wring all moisture off the sponge before cleaning the screen. Rub gently, lovingly.
Obtain a cleaning kit for the LCD monitor. Obtaining a cleaning kit, perhaps the best option, you receive a lint-free cloth, as well as a package containing a wet wipe moistened with the official LCD monitor cleaning solution.
Turn off and unplug the laptop before cleaning the monitor. After cleaning the screen, let it dry before closing the lid or using the notebook again.
- Never use alcohol or ammonia cleaners on an LCD screen. They can damage the LCD screen so that the image becomes unreadable. Also, if you have a Tablet PC, the screen’s ability to detect inputs is greatly diminished by the use of harsh chemicals.
- See Video 342 to view laptop monitor cleaning:
Clean the keyboard
To clean the laptop keyboard, use a small portable vacuum cleaner. Using the smallest attachment on the vacuum cleaner, gently suck hair, crumbs and dirt from between the laptop’s keys.
To clean the key caps, turn off the laptop and then use a pencil eraser to remove dirt and buildup. Then use the vacuum cleaner again to clean up any rubber stubble between the keys.
- Some people use canned compressed air to clean a keyboard. While air can remove debris, it can also blow deeper into the laptop. After the grime is in, there is no way to clean it up.
- Watch Video 343 to witness how the author cleverly cleans a laptop keyboard.
Best way to clean the aluminum MacBook case
Macbooks spark a lot of debate, but at the design level there is little doubt: Apple’s portable range has one of the best designs out there, and the anodized aluminum finish outperforms most computers with a plastic cover. But that difference also implies special care when cleaning the MacBook .
And as in many other fields, the simple fact of not verifying anything generates many urban legends about what is the best method to clean the aluminum case of MacBooks. So we are going to review what to do and what to avoid to clean them, so that over time the cleaning itself does not cause some other defect.
Zero rush: turn off and unplug everything
The first thing and before doing anything: if you want to clean the MacBook, turn it off and unplug it from the power . Prevention first. Also unplug all accessories that are wired to the computer. It has to be unplugged, turned off and “loose.”
To clean the case you have to use a cloth that does not leave threads and has a soft texture. Under no circumstances use paper towels or tissues , as they can scratch the material and leave residues that with bad luck can get inside the computer and cause problems.
Water is your ally
Another very obvious thing: nothing to use liquids or aerosols, or any abrasive product . And completely discard hydrogen peroxide. Okay, the MacBook is a durable material, but aluminum can also show wear and tear if we are not careful with the products we use. It’s best to use microfiber cloths like these .
So what liquid do I use to clean the MacBook and MacBook Pro case? Well easy: water , or at most a liquid that is specially designed to clean MacBooks. In some authorized dealers you can find it for sale in packs where suitable cloths are also included, although they focus on the screen and not on the case.Be careful and remember that Apple does not cover water damage to your MacBook
Do not pour or sprinkle the water directly on the MacBook case , and avoid as much as you want any drops or traces of moisture to reach the keyboard. The Apple warranty does not cover water damage, and changing the motherboard of your MacBook can cost you hundreds of dollars.
The best thing to do is to lightly dampen (not wet) the cloth and rub the case in circles to remove any dirt that the MacBook may have picked up. If there is a lot of dirt, be patient: repeat this cleaning several times until the computer is clean. In this way you will guarantee that you do not mistreat the case at any time.
How to clean the computer inside and out: safety instructions, what you need and procedure
With the passage of time and use, it is common for computer equipment to end up storing dust, hair, stains, drops and dirt. For this reason, it is advisable to periodically clean the computer and its components. How to clean a desktop computer or laptop? In this article we review the procedure, the safety instructions and what elements are necessary for a deep cleaning of the computer.
Before you start: what you need to clean a computer
Cleaning a computer, be it a desktop or a laptop, is a relatively simple procedure that will take us approximately a couple of hours and that we must perform periodically. How often? It will depend on the environment in which we find ourselves and its location, since it is not the same to have a tower at ground level in a house with pets than to have it on the table in a laboratory.
Although a good approximation may be once a year, the reality is that there are unmistakable signs such as the overheating, excessive ventilation, or a noisy fan.
To clean a computer we will need a series of elements. We have consulted expert editors such as Juan Carlos López, Javier Pastor and Javier Penalva to detail their cleaning tricks.
To begin, we will need a precision screwdriver kit (8.21 euros). There will be cases in which just one will suffice, but it is advisable to have a kit at home.
In the market we find a large number of kits of different prices, although taking into account that it is a purchase “for life”, it is worthwhile to buy them. decent quality, ergonomic and with a magnetized tip. What are not magnetized? We can do it ourselves by sliding a magnet from the metal base to the tip, repeating the movement several times in the same direction.
We will also need a compressed air spray (5.79 euros), to remove embedded dirt in hard-to-reach places. A vacuum cleaner could also be used for this task, using it carefully in areas with small and delicate parts. Another element to clean dust is a small brush (8.55 euros) or even a shaving brush with soft bristles to remove dust without damaging the components.
To clean internal surfaces and components We will require a microfiber cloth (7.99 euros) and for the exterior, we can use the same cloth or a dust-catching chamois. Some swabs – ear buds – will also be needed for smaller areas.
We have consulted the experts at Engadget about the liquid used to clean a computer and their general recommendation is to leave the specific cleaners aside and make our own highly efficient and affordable cleaning fluid. Juan Carlos López gives us the recipe:
- 80% distilled water.
- 20% isopropyl alcohol (9.90 euros)
- A few drops of dehumidifier (photo stores).
Isopropyl alcohol is used to clean electronic devices without damaging them, which we will apply in solution. For its part, the dehumidifier will make the liquid evaporate in a short time.
Safety issues when cleaning a computer
Before starting the cleaning of the equipment and its peripherals, we will disconnect them from the electrical current to avoid discharges both to us and to the circuits that comprise it. We will also provide special attention to static electricity.
And it is that the components of electronic circuits can suffer damage due to the static electricity that we generate naturally. In this sense, it is advisable to handle them with latex gloves (11.04 euros), which will also protect us from dust and with an antistatic wristband (7.49 euros).
Electrostatic bracelets are bracelets that are fixed on the wrist with a cable terminated in a clamp, which we will connect to an earth connection, the chassis or the metal tower serves us. Another option to get rid of static electricity is touch a metal surface with the fingers of the hands.
If we suffer respiratory problems or we are allergic, it is highly recommended to use a dust mask (19.52 euros) when handling and cleaning the interior of a computer, taking into account the amount of dust that accumulates.
How to clean the tower inside and out
The first thing we will do is place the computer in a uncluttered, spacious table with sufficient lighting and ventilation and with something underneath, it can be cardboard or plastic rubber, which collects dirt and prevents contact.
We turn off the equipment and disconnect it from the power. To clean its exterior we will use a microfiber cloth moistened with the cleaning liquid. For the ports and slots, better to use the brush or a few puffs of compressed air spray.
It’s time to open the computer. In the case of a tower, it is common to find exterior screws that, after removing them, allow one side to be removed to access the interior. In the case of a laptop, we will turn it over and unscrew. Although the interior of the notebooks are essentially similar, the distribution and accesses vary from one brand to another and even between different models.
A good way to not lose the screws and remember where they came from is to mark a circumference on a paper and place the screws inside, writing their name underneath. Thus, we could write “casing” and leave inside the screws used to fix said piece.
Once we have accessed the interior, we apply small puffs of compressed air to the interior fans, affecting the blades and the shaft. During the application, we must have special be careful in areas where components are like the motherboard, the RAM or the processor, throwing the blows at a certain distance.
It’s time to clean the motherboard and components. As far as possible and in our knowledge to return everything as it was, try to remove the cables and some components such as the RAM memory or the hard disk. The clearer the area, the better we can clean.
Apply the bristle brush gently, as well as the swabs or microfiber cloth, depending on the operating space you have. Be careful because the cleaning liquid must not come into contact with the motherboard, the PC cards or any other delicate electronic element since moisture could damage them.
For improve processor cooling It is advisable to renew the thermal paste (6.48 euros). For this purpose, we will remove the old paste with isopropyl alcohol and apply a thermal paste with the specific characteristics recommended by the manufacturer.
The more components you remove and clean, the better the result will be. However, even if you stick to a superficial cleaning inside, the improvement is noticeable.
How to clean the monitor
Dust, splashes and fingerprints make computer screens dirty over time. However, it is quite easy to leave them clean.
Of course, we will pay special attention to the liquid used in cleaning: no glass cleaner or alcohol, since can damage the anti-glare shields on the panels.
According to Juan Carlos López, our editor specialized in image and sound, it is best not to complicate with cleaning kits and use a cloth moistened with liquid to clean screens (5.60 euros) or do it ourselves as we have explained above.
With the cleaning liquid ready, we can now clean the monitor, regardless of panel type or matt or gloss finishes.
First we unplug it from the power. In case of being a laptop, we will disconnect the equipment. We moisten a microfiber cloth with the cleaning liquid. It is important that let’s not apply the liquid directly on the screen.
We rub gently in circles, both the panel and the frame, so that the passes are not marked. The alcohol and dehumidifier evaporate the water quickly so that no residue remains.
Cleaning the keyboard
Between the keys and under them we find dust, food, liquids and other particles that can cause this does not work properly when pressing certain keys.
To clean a keyboard, the first thing we will do is disconnect the cable – if it has it – that connects it to the computer. If it is a laptop, we will turn it off and disconnect it from the electrical current. In the case that it uses a PS / 2 port, we will have to disconnect the keyboard with the equipment turned off.
Then we turn it upside down and gently shake it to try to get the dirt out. To remove the remains located between the keys that have not come out after putting it upside down, we will use a spray of compressed air. Another alternative is to use a vacuum cleaner, yes, having be careful with the suction power and the state of the keys.
Once we have removed the embedded dirt, we will clean the surface of the keys from the finger grease and other substances. To do this, we will moisten a cotton cloth and ear buds with the cleaning liquid, gently rubbing the keys and the divisions between them. It is important do not pour the cleaning liquid directly on the keyboard.
When the keyboard is clean and dry, we will reconnect it to the computer.
Cleaning the mouse
There are two types of mice on the market, those of optical type and mechanics. Each is cleaned in essentially the same way, although mechanics require a bit more dedication to have moving parts.
In the case of optical mice, internal cleaning is not necessary since they lack moving parts, although their movement can deteriorate over time due to the storage of dust in the light emitter.
Mechanical mice are especially sensitive to dust and particles, accumulating them inside and thus making it difficult for them to move.
To clean the mouse, the first thing we will do is disconnect it from the computer, in case it has a cable. If you have a PS / 2 port, we will first shut down the computer. If it is a wireless mouse, we will remove the batteries.
Next, we will moisten a clean cloth with the cleaning liquid or, failing that, isopropyl alcohol, and clean the exterior. As with the keyboard, we will have be careful not to introduce liquids inside.
If our mouse is mechanical, remove the ball by first removing its stopper, turning clockwise, so that we can clean both the interior and the ball with the same cloth or dry paper.
When it is completely dry, we will reassemble the parts and connect it to the equipment. In case it is a mouse with a PS / 2 port, we will do it with the computer turned off.
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Note: some of the links posted here are from affiliates. Despite this, none of the articles mentioned have been proposed by either the brands or the stores, their introduction being a unique decision of the team of editors.
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