How to Clean a MacBook Trackpad Button
The MacBook's trackpad allows users to manipulate and control windows and other aspects within Mac OS X, but as with any computer, components require regular maintenance to remain in peak operation condition. Grease and other grime can build up on a trackpad and cause it to become less responsive to user input. To clean it, you simply need to have some basic household supplies.
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Things You'll Need
- Water
- Paper towel, microfiber cloth or sheet of similar material
- Paper or similarly thin wedge
Instructions
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Lightly dampen a piece of cloth with some plain water.
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Wipe down your MacBook's trackpad with the cloth. Use broad strokes to ensure that you're catching as much grease and grime as possible.
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Continue wiping until no discernable grease can be seen on the trackpad.
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Take your paper or similarly thin wedge and work it gently into the perimeter of the MacBook's trackpad. If your MacBook doesn't feature a rubberized plastic bottom, run the wedge between the trackpad's mouse buttons. Newer MacBooks feature the same single trackpad-mouse button that's used on the MacBook Pro line of computers, but older models utilize a dedicated mouse button.
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Continue running this wedge around the perimeter of the MacBook's trackpad and in between the mouse buttons, if your model features them. Your goal is to dislodge any crumbs or grime that has collected between the computer and trackpad. Brush aside any removed dirt to finish the cleaning process.
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Tips & Warnings
Microfiber works well for computer cleaning, but in a pinch, alternate materials can be used for trackpad maintenance. Primarily, you don't want to use flimsy material -- toilet paper, for example -- that could break down during wiping.
Avoid using abrasive cleaning materials or cleaning solutions on the MacBook's trackpad, as this can damage exterior and interior components.
References
- Photo Credit Justin Sullivan/Getty Images News/Getty Images
