OH NO I SPILLED MY COFFEE
More than ever, we work at home with our laptops. Although we were warned to be careful while eating and drinking around our electronic devices, it is hard to resist the temptation of sipping a hot cup of coffee, a glass of ice-cold water, or even worse, a can of soda while we are working.
Accidents do happen, what do we do if we spill liquid on our laptop?
1. Remove the power source and shut down the laptop.
The biggest danger at this moment is the device shorting out. Quickly shut down the laptop by pressing and holding the power button for five seconds. Remove the power cord, external cables, unplug any attached devices, and remove the battery.
2. Turn the laptop upside-down.
With the laptop facing away from you, tilt it from side to side and from front to back. A gentle rocking motion to help the liquid to escape from all four sides.
3. Remove excess liquid from the laptop.
After the laptop stopped dripping, turn it over. Blot up the excess liquid from the screen and keyboard using a soft lint-free cloth or paper towels.
Do not use a wiping motion as that just spreads the liquid further. Try your best to dry between the keys.
4. Use compressed air to dry the laptop.
Make sure that you have removed all excess liquid. Then, if you have one, use a can of compressed air to help dry the laptop. You can also use a hair dryer on its coldest setting. Keep the dryer moving all the time and hold it at least 6 inches above the laptop.
5. Leave the laptop to completely dry out.
Leave the laptop opened in an inverted “V” shape in a well-ventilated dry surface to completely dry out. Keep it away from direct sunlight or close to a radiator. Wait for 24 hours or longer, making sure the keyboard is completely dry before turning it on, reinstalling the battery, and connecting its peripherals.
6. If you must replace your laptop keyboard.
Bring your laptop to a reputable IT service and repair shop to be disassembled, cleaned, and dried out. This is not a do-it-yourself project. In fact, many modern laptops use security screws to prevent you from opening up the laptop’s case. Even if you can open it, doing so may void the remaining manufacturer’s warranty.
You can also use a USB or wireless keyboard with the laptop.
7. Be Prepared for Future Spills
If you happen to frequently have beverages near your computer, you should take precautions. You can buy a keyboard cover to protect your keyboard from spills.
