Laptop cleaning 101: Essential tips for a comprehensive maintenance routine

Keeping a laptop clean has long-term benefits. If you are someone who carries your notebook to work meetings, a dirty laptop can leave a poor impression. Keyboards and touchpads often accumulate dirt and grime. Hence, it becomes a breeding ground for bacteria and viruses. Keeping the laptop clean will prevent germs from spreading or causing rashes.

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If a lot of dirt accumulates in the area where fans and vents are, it will impact heat dissipation and cause the laptop to overheat. A neat and clean laptop not only looks good, but also performs better, and also offers a good resale value if you plan to sell it in the near future. Hence, it is advisable to clean your notebook at least once a week.

Essentials for cleaning a laptop

While some may believe that a slightly damp cloth suffices for laptop cleaning, a thorough approach requires the following essential items:

1. A microfiber cloth to dust and clean the laptop.

2. Cotton swabs for cleaning tight spaces.

3. Compressed air for displacing dust and reaching crevices.

4. Distilled water or screen cleaner for wiping off smudges from the screen.

5. Isopropyl alcohol (70 percent) for cleaning the keys and chassis of the laptop (not to be used for the display).

6. Soft-bristled brush for removing dust from the fan, vents, and keys.

How to clean your laptop

Here is a simple guide on how to clean your laptop:

1. Preparation

The first thing you need to do before you start cleaning a laptop is to shut it down and disconnect it from the power socket.

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Disconnect all the peripherals, such as the mouse, external storage, etc. from the ports of the laptop.

2. Cleaning the screen

You can use a microfiber cloth to clean the display of your laptop. If there are stubborn marks on the screen, you can dampen a corner of the microfiber cloth with distilled water or screen cleaner and try again. To dry the display, you can use the dry part of the same cloth.

3. Get ridding of the dirt off the keyboard

The keyboard can be one of the dirtiest parts of a laptop. If you haven’t cleaned up your laptop for some time, the keyboard may accumulate dust, hair, pet fur, food crumbs, skin cells, bacteria, germs, insects, debris, and more. Since the keys of the laptop keyboard are generally not removable, you need to use a soft-bristled brush to remove debris from the tight spaces and a cotton swab with isopropyl alcohol to clean the key. Ensure the cotton swab is not too wet, as it may cause the water droplets to seep inside the device.

4. Exterior cleaning

You can use a damp microfiber cloth with a small amount of isopropyl alcohol to clean the exterior of the notebook. Make sure the cloth is not too wet, so that water does not go inside the device. If there is stubborn grime on the laptop’s body, you can add a very small amount of diluted dish soap to the cloth.

5. Removing the dust from ports and vents

You can use the soft-bristled brush to remove dust from vents and ports. Additionally, you can use compressed air with caution around vents to avoid pushing dust further inside.

Additional tips:

Do not use ammonia-based glass cleaners or abrasive sponges on the display. When your laptop is not in use or when you are traveling, it is recommended to use a case or sleeve to prevent dust buildup. You can invest in a silicone keyboard protector, which can be simply placed over the keyboard, to minimise the amount of debris that gets accumulated between the keys.

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Regularly cleaning your laptop will not only keep it neat and clean but also extend its life. A comprehensive cleaning like the one mentioned above takes around 10 to 15 minutes. Hence, try your best to clean it every week. Last but not least, don’t forget to wash your hands thoroughly after cleaning the laptop.