What to Do When a Drink Is Spilled on a Laptop?

Unplug your laptop immediately should it come in contact with water.

Under the pressure of work, many people find themselves eating lunch at their desks or working from home during dinner. A simple slip of the hand can cause a drink to spill on your laptop.

Immediate Action

After spilling any liquid on your laptop, immediately remove the power cable from the laptop and open the battery latch to remove the battery. Identify if the battery or the power adapter are wet. These accessories can be replaced for less than the cost of purchasing a new laptop. Remove all cords from USB ports and other add-ons. Wipe down any visible spillage and let the components air dry. Let your laptop sit upside down to dry.

Type of Liquid

Water, while damaging, does not represent the most dangerous liquid to spill on your laptop. Liquids such as coffee and soda contain ingredients that cause irreparable damage to electronics. If you spilled soda or coffee on your monitor, moisten a soft cloth with water. Avoid petroleum-based solvents, as they damage the anti-glare coat on your laptop's screen surface.

Patience

Let your laptop dry for at least two days. Do not attempt to speed up the drying process by subjecting your laptop to the heat of a blow dryer. Heat damage could cause more problems than the initial spill.

Warranty

Check your laptop paperwork to determine if your laptop is still under warranty.

References

• Dell Support: Monitor Troubleshooter
• Dell Support: How Do I Clean My Monitor Screen