Key takeaways
- Shut down and unplug first, and never spray liquid directly on the laptop.
- Use a soft microfibre cloth, slightly damp, and wipe gently, with no pressure on the screen.
- Clear vents with short bursts of air while holding the fan still.
- Avoid bleach, ammonia, kitchen sprays, paper towels and vacuum cleaners.
Quick answer: the safe way to clean a laptop
- Shut the laptop down fully, unplug the charger and disconnect everything else.
- Dampen a clean microfibre cloth very slightly with water, or with 70 percent isopropyl alcohol for the body of the laptop only.
- Wipe gently. Never spray anything onto the laptop and never let liquid drip into openings.
- Dry with a second clean, dry cloth and let it air dry for a few minutes before you switch on.
The rest of this guide shows how to do each part, which products to avoid, and how often to do it.
What you need
- Two soft microfibre cloths, the kind used for glasses or camera lenses. Keep one for the screen only.
- Clean water, and optionally 70 percent isopropyl alcohol for the case and keyboard keys.
- A soft brush such as a clean paintbrush or makeup brush.
- A can of compressed air, or a small hand blower.
- Cotton buds and wooden or plastic toothpicks for corners and ports.
- A small torch so you can see dust.
You do not need special kits. If you buy a screen cleaner, choose one made for electronics, and still apply it to the cloth, not the screen.
Before you start: power off and prepare
Cleaning with the laptop on is risky. Moisture can short a connection, and you cannot see fingerprints and dust on a dark screen anyway.
- Save your work and shut down. Do not use Sleep.
- Unplug the charger and any cables, drives and adapters.
- If your laptop has a removable battery and you are confident removing it, take it out. Do not open the back of laptops with built-in batteries; that is for a technician.
- Work on a clean table, in good light, away from drinks.
How to clean a laptop screen without scratching it
Screens are the most delicate part. Coatings on many screens scratch or wear easily, and glossy and touchscreens react differently, but the method is the same.
- Remove dust first by wiping very lightly with a dry microfibre cloth, using straight strokes.
- For fingerprints, slightly dampen a clean microfibre cloth with water. It should be damp, not wet.
- Wipe in one direction without pressing. Pressing hard can damage the pixels and leave bright or dark patches.
- Dry with the dry side of the cloth, then leave it open for a minute to dry.
Stubborn marks may need a very small amount of a screen cleaner or a mild mix of half water and half isopropyl alcohol on the cloth. Check your laptop maker's advice first, since some screen coatings do not tolerate alcohol well. Test at a corner.
Do not use: window cleaner, bleach, ammonia, acetone, nail polish remover, kitchen spray, baby wipes with oils, tissue, paper towel or a rough cloth. They strip coatings, scratch, or leave smears and fibres.
If you see pressure marks, a crack or colour patches that do not wipe off, the damage is under the surface and cleaning will not remove it.
How to clean a laptop keyboard and touchpad
Remove loose dust and crumbs
- Turn the laptop upside down, hold it at an angle and gently tap the back to shake out crumbs.
- Use a soft brush between and around the keys.
- Use compressed air in short bursts, holding the can upright, from an angle, at least a few centimetres away. Tilting the can can spray liquid.
Clean the key tops and palm rest
Lightly dampen a cloth or cotton bud with 70 percent isopropyl alcohol or water and wipe each key and the palm rest. Squeeze out excess first. Wipe the touchpad the same way.
Do not pull off keys on a modern thin laptop. The clips and tiny hinges break easily, and a broken key can mean replacing the whole keyboard. If a key is sticky or not working after a spill, see a technician.
How to clean vents, fans and ports
Vents
Dust blocks the air vents, which makes the laptop hot, loud and slow. Look at the vents on the sides and back with a torch.
- Hold the fan still if you can see it, by gently pressing a toothpick against a blade. Compressed air can spin a fan faster than it is designed to go and damage it.
- Blow air in short bursts into the exhaust vent, and brush loose dust away. Blow from the side that dust should leave, if you can tell.
- Do not use a vacuum cleaner on or close to the laptop. It can create static electricity and may pull on delicate parts.
This clears surface dust only. Dust that has built up on the fins inside needs the back cover removed. If the laptop still gets hot, shuts down or the fan is loud after this, an internal clean is needed.
Ports
Use a torch to look into USB, charging and headphone ports. Lint can gather in them and stop a charger fitting fully. Use short bursts of air, or gently scrape with a wooden or plastic toothpick. Never use metal pins or needles because they can short or bend the contacts, and do not push a cotton bud into a port where fibres can stay behind.
What to do if you spill something on the laptop
Speed matters more than neatness.
- Hold the power button to switch off immediately, and unplug the charger.
- Disconnect everything. Remove a removable battery.
- Turn the laptop upside down in a tent shape, so liquid runs out of the keyboard instead of deeper.
- Blot spilled liquid with a cloth. Do not use a hairdryer on high heat or rice.
- Leave it off. Do not switch it on to see if it still works. Take it to a technician the same day if possible.
Sweet drinks, tea, coffee, soft drinks and salty water do far more damage as they dry, because they leave residue that corrodes the board. Water is least bad but still risky. Cleaning inside after a spill is not a DIY job.
How often should you clean your laptop?
- Weekly: wipe the screen and palm rest lightly if the laptop is used daily.
- Monthly: clean the keyboard, ports and exterior, and check the vents with a torch.
- Every 6 to 12 months: a vent clean. In dusty places, or if the laptop is often used on a bed or sofa, check more often.
- Every 1 to 2 years: an internal clean by a technician, who can also renew the thermal paste if the laptop runs hot.
Good habits cut down cleaning. Use the laptop on a hard surface, do not eat or drink over it, wash hands before long sessions, and keep a cloth between the screen and keyboard when you carry it.
When to get help from a technician
See a technician if the laptop overheats or shuts down even after the vents are clear, the fan makes grinding or rattling noises, keys do not work after a spill, the screen has marks under the surface, or you need internal cleaning. Opening a laptop can void a warranty and breaks fragile cables, so unless you are experienced, let someone do it with the right tools.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use isopropyl alcohol to clean my laptop?
Yes, on the body, keyboard and touchpad, using 70 percent isopropyl alcohol on a cloth, never poured or sprayed on the laptop. For the screen, check your manufacturer's advice first, because some coatings are damaged by alcohol. Plain water on a microfibre cloth is the safest start.
Is it safe to use wet wipes on a laptop screen?
Usually not. Ordinary wet wipes can contain oils, perfume and chemicals that smear or strip coatings, and they can be too wet. Use a slightly damp microfibre cloth. Wipes made for electronics are safer, but wring out any excess first.
Can I use compressed air on my laptop fan?
Yes, in short bursts, with the can upright, and while holding the fan still with a toothpick. Letting the fan spin freely can overspeed it and damage the bearings. Keep a few centimetres away and never blow liquid propellant into the laptop.
How do I clean a sticky laptop keyboard?
Switch off, tap out debris, brush between the keys and wipe the key tops with a cloth lightly dampened with isopropyl alcohol. Do not flood the keyboard. If keys stay sticky after a sugary spill, residue is under the keys and a technician should clean or replace the keyboard.
Can I use a vacuum cleaner to clean my laptop?
It is best avoided. A vacuum can create static electricity and may pull on small parts or loosen keys. Use a soft brush and short bursts of compressed air instead, and have a technician clean the inside when dust has built up.
How do I clean a laptop screen with streaks?
Wipe with a clean, dry microfibre cloth first. If streaks remain, use another cloth that is slightly damp with water, wipe in one direction with very light pressure, then dry. Streaks usually come from oil, dirty cloths or too much liquid, and cleaning too hard can damage the screen.
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This guide is general advice. Every device and business is different, so if you are unsure, ask a technician before you act.
