How to clean a laptop: keyboard, screen, case and vents

Step by step: how to clean a laptop

Safety first. Shut the laptop down fully (not sleep) and unplug the charger and any cables before you clean. Never spray liquid onto the laptop; dampen the cloth instead, and keep moisture out of ports, vents and the gaps around the keys. Hold compressed air upright so it does not spit cold liquid propellant.

1. 1

   Shut down and unplug everything

   Save your work, shut the laptop down completely and unplug the charger, mouse and any drives. A sleeping laptop can wake when you press keys, and a powered keyboard is the one place you do not want moisture. Let it cool for a few minutes if it was running hard.

2. 2

   Shake out the keyboard

   Open the lid wide, turn the laptop upside down over a trash can or towel, and tap the bottom gently. Crumbs and grit fall out of the gaps between the keys. Do not shake it hard.

3. 3

   Blow out the keys and vents

   Hold the laptop at an angle and blow short bursts of compressed air across the keyboard, working row by row. Then blow short bursts into the side or rear vents, holding the can upright and a few inches away. If you can see the fan, keep it from spinning fast while you spray.

4. 4

   Brush and pick out what is left

   Run a soft, dry brush over the keyboard, the vent grilles and the hinge area. Use a toothpick wrapped in a thin layer of cloth to lift grime from the edges of the keys and the trackpad seam. Do not pry the keys up on a laptop; most are not designed to come off.

5. 5

   Wipe the case, keys and palm rest

   Dampen a lint-free cloth with water and wring it until it is barely damp. Wipe the lid, base, palm rest and trackpad, then the tops of the keys. Shiny, greasy patches on the palm rest usually lift with a second pass.

6. 6

   Disinfect hard surfaces with 70% alcohol

   For germs or stubborn smudges, wipe the keys, trackpad and case with a 70% isopropyl alcohol wipe, or a cloth moistened with it. Squeeze the wipe first so it is not dripping. Skip fabric, leather and any surface your maker says to avoid.

7. 7

   Clean the screen last

   Wipe the screen with a dry microfiber cloth, then with a second cloth dampened with water only for fingerprints. Use light pressure and do not press on the panel. Never spray anything onto the screen.

8. 8

   Dry the keyboard edge and close it carefully

   Let the laptop air dry with the lid open for 5 to 10 minutes. Before you close it, wipe the keyboard area and the screen bezel so oil from the keys does not print onto the display. Then plug it in and power on.

What do laptop makers say is safe to use?

Water on a soft, lint-free cloth is safe on every laptop, and most makers also allow 70% isopropyl alcohol on hard surfaces. The details differ, so check your manual.

• Apple’s cleaning guide for MacBook models says to shut down and unplug, use a damp, soft, lint-free cloth, keep moisture out of openings, and avoid aerosol sprays, solvents, abrasives and cleaners with hydrogen peroxide. Apple allows a cloth moistened with 70% isopropyl alcohol for hard-to-remove smudges on the display or enclosure. Nano-texture displays need Apple’s special cloth.
• Dell’s screen cleaning advice is to power down and unplug, dust with a dry microfiber cloth, and use a cloth lightly dampened with distilled water for smudges, avoiding household cleaners, paper towels and excess moisture. It lists canned air for dust in crevices and keyboards.
• Lenovo says to clean fan vents with the laptop off and unplugged, using compressed air on the vents and a soft brush, and to avoid liquid cleaners there.

What should you not use on a laptop?

Do not use window cleaner, bleach, ammonia, abrasive powders or paper towels. They can strip screen coatings, cloud plastics and scratch finishes.

What if you spilled something, or it is dusty inside?

After a spill, shut the laptop down at once, unplug it, turn it upside down in a tent shape to drain, and do not power it on until it has been checked. Apple notes that liquid damage is not covered by its standard warranty, and sticky drinks like soda or coffee often need a repair shop to clean the keyboard properly.

For heat and fan noise, the outside clean above usually helps. If dust is packed inside, follow our guide to cleaning a laptop fan, and only open the bottom panel if your manual shows how. For more on the display, see how to clean a laptop screen.

Mistakes to avoid

• Cleaning a laptop that is only asleep, so key presses wake it and type into open apps.
• Spraying cleaner straight onto the keyboard or screen.
• Using glass cleaner with ammonia on the display.
• Holding the compressed air can upside down, which sprays freezing liquid.
• Prying laptop keys off to clean under them and breaking the clips.
• Closing the lid on a damp keyboard, which leaves key marks on the screen.