W hether you are using your laptop often or you have tucked it away, lint, hair, and dust will always be a nuisance. These can attack various parts of your gizmo. Moreover, they will turn it from the shiny new device into a rugged one you might not be so proud of anymore. Worse yet, the buildup of this dirt and debris can pose a risk of overheating to best gaming laptops. This can lead to problems and even crashing of your computer in some cases.
There’s a catch though, all it takes is ensure you are using a clean laptop often to keep it on top form. You should clean it from the screen to the ports, inside and outside, the fans and the casing as well. Make sure to get to every crook and cranny when cleaning your device. In this guide, we will show you how to get this done easily. The gloves are coming on, it’s time to bring back the sparkle in your laptop, or is it?
What needs cleaning?
The first step to a clean laptop is to understand what you need to pay attention to. Most importantly, you need to know how to clean every part, since not all are the same. One of the parts that need great attention is the LCD screen. This is your connection to the laptop, and keeping it clean is always crucial. Also, give the due attention to your keyboard. In fact, the keyboard is usually the dirtiest part of your machine.
Not forgetting, the various ports also need special attention. Whether it’s the USB ports, the audio input, and output ports, as well as other connections, they all need cleaning. Make sure not to forget your touchpad as well. It is crucial to keep this rather sensitive part clean to keep it working perfectly. Above all, get in there and clean the heat sink and the fan. These are the two crucial temperature regulation parts of your laptop.
At the end of it all, you will have effectively cleaned your laptop. It’s wise to clean every part at the same time. Consider cleaning your laptop completely all the time. This goes a long way to help prevent dust from other parts getting into the ones you have already cleaned. The good thing is that you can always clean your laptop at home. Therefore, you don’t have to spend more cash to get someone to clean it for you. All that matters is to be sure you don’t damage any component. This means you won’t be going for repairs after cleaning, which can be a bit costly.
What you need to have with you
You will need an assortment of stuff to clean your laptop effectively. Different parts call for the use of different tools. So it’s best to have your arsenal well beefed up before starting on the journey to realizing a clean laptop. Here is the checklist you can turn to if you don’t want to leave any important thing behind.
First up, bring an isopropyl alcohol along. This type of alcohol is both effective and safe for use on electronics thanks to its ability to evaporate fast. Other types of cleaners as window cleaner or tap water can be a disaster to your electronics, keep those at bay.
Another important thing to use here is bottled water. However, you can as well have distilled water or purified one. These will not leave any spots from mineral on the surface of the machine as tap water would. A can of compressed air also comes in handy. You can always get this one at a store down the street. Then make sure you have your 100% lint-free cloth handy. Remember, facial tissue and abrasive cloth is a no-no. Consider going for some disinfecting wipes, just make sure they don’t have any bleach.
A spray bottle can be crucial for the water, just get any standard bottle that comes with a spray. If some Q-tips are all there is, then don’t worry, they will get the job done too. Get a squeeze blower, but keep off hair dryers or anything that is likely to send gush of hot air into your machine.
How to clean your laptop?
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Once you have everything set, it’s time to get things started. This is by far the trickiest part in attaining a clean laptop. You need to take good care not to spoil your machine as you try to maintain it. Always remember to turn it off completely before starting on the cleaning process.
Make sure it is not in sleep mode, but totally shut down. Also, unplug the device from the power source and anything that you might have plugged in its ports. Now you are ready to get into the real thing. The ideal strategy to follow is cleaning the shell with a damp cloth. Then proceed to clean the keyboard and the touchpad with the compressed air. After that, focus on the heat sink area, the fan and the ports. You can use the compressed air here as well.
1.Start With The Shell: It is always wise to start cleaning from the outside going inwards. Still, the outside of any laptop has a whole lot to clean before you even think of getting inside. One of those parts is the outer shell. Some laptops come with a plastic body, while others feature an aluminum one. The two have some difference, so it’s good to keep that in mind. First, shut your laptop’s lid and use a damp cloth to clean the outside.
You can dampen your cloth by spraying water lightly on it with the use of your spray bottle. Just several sprays will do, ensure it is not excessively wet to the point where it drips with water. When you start wiping the surface of your computer, do it in a circular motion. To avoid streaks, make sure not to wipe up or down or sideways.
This movement also ensures you don’t subject the edges to unnecessary pressure. Another thing you need to avoid here is exerting pressure on the device with your hand. You may end up damaging the body this way, so the best way is to use your fingers when cleaning. Ensure you do the same on the bottom as well as the side of the laptop too. All the while, make sure to avoid its ports to avoid dampening these areas.
2.The Keyboard: The keyboard is mostly the part where you are likely to find the most dirt. From crumb to grime, bacteria and dust usually settle here. If you don’t know how to get them out, the keys might become stuck with time. This can make them difficult and frustrating to use. You should thus consider using disinfectant here to ensure it is perfectly clean. Start by using your squeeze blower if the keyboard is wide enough.
It can help in blowing out most of the dust and chaff that has settled beneath the icons. Ensure you slant the blower in a certain direction and maintain that to the end. Next, take your microfiber cloth and clear any dust settling on the top of the keys. Once done, you can now use the disinfectant to wipe it clean. Change the wipes occasionally for the best results. Grab your microfiber cloth again, damped it with a little water and clean your keys gently. Do the same for the touchpad, and remember to take it easy on this part too.
3.The Fan: Using a clean laptop can bring on board a new experience. But it becomes more essential if you don’t want your device overheating all the time. The fans are prone to clogging with lint, hair, and dust among other tiny particles. This will compromise the fan’s ability to cool the laptop down. And this is where the overheating problem sets in. You may consider using compressed air, although vacuuming proves handy too. Be careful with the compressed air not to push the debris into the computer instead of removing it.
Some laptops can open at the bottom, while others don’t. If yours can open, then you can take advantage of that design and clean it with ease. Just use compressed air to clear the dust. But be careful not to push the straw tip further inside to avoid damaging some of the parts. Also, make sure not to touch those fans, only blow directing the air towards the exhaust vent area.
If your machine doesn’t open, no need to worry yet. You only need to direct your compressed air can tip to the exhaust vent, and let it do the job. Make sure not to force it in, but take it as far as it can go.
4.The Screen: You can never say you are using a clean laptop without taking some time on the screen. Fortunately, this part doesn’t necessitate any special attention either. Start by flipping the device on its back on a flat and stable surface. The back of the screen should be lying down on the surface. Therefore, the keyboard has to be on the air. As with any other part, remember to go easy on the pressure.
Starting with you dust microfiber, wipe away any dust that might be resting on the surface of the screen. Take it to every edge of the screen. To do this, you can fold it and rest its corner against the surface. One mistake most people do here is sticking fingers into the microfiber. Then they proceed to rub it against the edge of the screen. This is not a good idea; you can use a cotton swab instead.
You can then use a damp cloth here as you would with the other parts. However, be sure to avoid paper towels since it can scratch your screen quite easily. Besides, you need to keep the pressure you apply in check. Make it even and gentle, with slow and continuous movement to prevent any streaks. Remember to reach as far as possible on all edges. A good microfiber cleaning can be handy for a clean screen. These help clear any dust and smudges to prevent grime buildup on the screen. What’s more, they are usually small enough so you can tuck them in your laptop case.
5.How to Clean The Ports: The ports on your device can as well clog with some dust and other particles. To clean them, condensed air can be helpful. Only make sure you are gentle with the air to avoid lodging the debris further into the device. Some dry cotton swabs might be useful here too. But take note, never use anything wet on the ports. Also, make sure you don’t apply any significant pressure here. These parts are quite fragile. The tiny pins on the ports can bend under the slightest pressure, so be gentle with it. If you decide to go with the compressed air, maintaining an angle is always your best bet.
Enjoy your clean laptop
All done, you can now turn your device back on and plug any other devices you had connected to it. Enjoy your clean laptop for several more months. Remember, the need to repeat this process depends on how often your laptop gets dirty. Nevertheless, the best way is to keep your laptop as clean as possible rather than trying to clean it occasionally. What you need to consider is keeping the pressure at the minimum.
So do not go overboard with the scrubbing of your laptop. No one wants to leave streaks on the surface of the screen or the cover of the device. Even worse, you don’t want to damage any components within the device that might cost you on repairs. Most importantly, ensure you don’t use a cloth that is too wet to avoid damaging different parts of the device. Then give more attention to the sensitive parts as the screen, touchpad as well as the ports and fans. Getting a clean laptop at home is not an intimidating task. Any or all of these tips will help you bring back the lost sparkle on your laptop.