How to Clean a Notebook Computer
Notebook computers go everywhere. They are taken to the airport, to the coffee shop, to the deli and to the library. Along the way they tend to attractive dirt, grime and fingerprints. Occasionally taking the time to clean a notebook will keep it in top condition and ensure that performance is not affected by excess dust and dirt.
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Instructions
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Cleaning a Notebook Computer
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Slightly dampen a paper towel. Make sure that it is not wet enough to be dripping. With a dry paper towel at the ready, wipe the screen down with a soft left-to-right motion starting at the top of the screen. Continue to the bottom, then dry the screen by softly dabbing it with the dry paper towel. Begin drying from the bottom of the screen before proceeding towards the top.
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Use a second damp paper towel to remove fingerprints from any other gloss components on the laptop, such as the lid. Again, make sure to dry any area that is cleaned immediately to prevent the slim chance of water making its way inside the laptop. Do not use this method on the keyboard, however, as many laptop keyboards have holes that lead almost directly to the internals of the laptop.
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Force dirt out of the keyboard using a can of compressed air. The compressed air works best if a small extender attachment can be used to force the compressed air underneath the keyboard. Be sure not to tilt the compressed air can, and be aware that condensation could form on the can during extended use.
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Probe underneath the keyboard using a paperclip, Q-tip or other small, thin object. If there is a large foreign object underneath the keyboard that the compressed air is not able to move, this method will loosen the object so that it can be removed. Be careful not to use too much force, as it is possible to detach the keys.
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Use a vacuum's hose attachment to suck dust out from the fan vents on the notebook. Place the vacuum hose nozzle only as close as it needs to be to remove the dust, and avoid using any vacuum with extremely strong suction. Doing this will clear dust from the fan and the internal components, ensuring that heat is not trapped inside the laptop.
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Tips & Warnings
If a large foreign object is trapped under the keyboard and a probe does not remove it, consult the notebook's manual to see if there are instructions about how to remove the keys. Most notebook keyboards allow for keys to be taken off and reattached if the proper procedure is followed. Keyboards should never be cleaned with a damp cloth, but some of the fingerprints on a glossy keyboard can be removed using a dry rag.
Do not use compressed air on the fan vents. This will remove some of the dust in the notebook's vents, but it also may push some of the dust deeper inside.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit HP
