How to Clean a Laptop Properly

This is very important make sure that the cleaning solution does not contain any Ammonia as this may damage your screen and laptop. So be sure to check the ingredients if you are using any household product like a glass cleaner. You will find most Computer shops stock specialised cleaners. Most of these cleaners are made up of approximately 50% distilled water and 50% rubbing alcohol or isopropyl so you could make the solution up yourself.

Before starting any cleaning ensure it is turned off and unplugged for obvious reasons. If the laptop has excessive dust/dirt then give it a quick blast with the compressed air, do not shake the can of compressed air. Use you small brush or cotton bud to clean the larger particles between the keys. Just to dislodge them and then use the compressed air once again. Next use a damp cloth for the surface dirt on the keys and panel. Any ports or buttons maybe cleaned using the brush or cotton buds then use the compressed air to remove the remaining dirt. If you would like to clean the fan on your laptop, some fans cannot be seen, use the cotton bud to hold the fan steady as you clean and use the compressed air. The reason for this is because the power of the air may make the fan spin faster than it was designed to, it could cause permanent damage. If your laptop has a floppy drive, CD ROM/DVD ROM drive or card port then open then up and use the compressed air to clean them out. Be careful not to touch the lens within the CD/DVD as this could damage it. When cleaning the screen apply the cleaning fluid to the cloth and not directly on to the screen itself. Use slow smooth continuous motion to avoid leaving streaks. Use as much of your hand as you can while cleaning the screen as small pointed objects even your fingers can damage it. The case is cleaned the same as the screen and when completed you will have a laptop that looks as good as new.

If you are experiencing problems reading from your CD's or DVD's then you should purchase a CD/DVD cleaning disk. These can be obtained from most Electrical and Computer stores.

I have heard of people using a plastic card like a credit card wrapped in a cloth to clean between the keys.

Caution

Do not use any solutions that contain Ammonia as it could damage the laptop.

Do not shake the can of compressed air. The can has liquid within it and this will create a vapour that is not good for your laptop. So keep the can upright when spraying. Make short bursts (1 second) in the area you wish to clean. Do this 2 or 3 times and rest the can for at least 20 seconds to allow the liquid to settle and then repeat if necessary.