Don’t Drink & Type
Don’t drink and typeIf you're tempted to down a soda, water, coffee or other liquid while typing away at your keyboard, you may end up paying the ultimate price - liquid spilled into your computer from an accidental knock, a few drips or a dropped cup. If this happens, don't panic. Instead, follow these simple instructions as quickly as you can to try and salvage your computer.
Steps
Shut it off! Immediately remove the battery, the A/C adapter, and unplug the device after the spill. The biggest danger at first is the device shorting out.
Clean up any part of the spill you can get to. Use paper towels or any absorbent material that is lint-free.
Inspect the keyboard. Some keyboards are designed to protect the internals from liquids:
Pour out any liquid contained in a keyboard enclosure.
Remove and clean an easily removable keyboard.
Wipe up anything sticky. This may include the screen, the keys on the keyboard and any buttons. Use a clean, slightly dampened lint-free cloth.
Disconnect and remove any and all external devices.
Insulate yourself from static discharge. Static electricity can be a very high voltage. Static discharge from your hands and body can destroy even a dry computer. Learn how to Avoid Destroying a Computer With Electrostatic Discharge.
Disassemble the case. If you cannot get to the whole spill, it may be necessary to remove the laptop's case. Most spills will contain chemicals that can corrode internal circuit boards:
If you aren't comfortable taking your device apart, get it to someone who is as soon as possible.
Pull the hard drive to protect your data.
Remove any cards or drives you can.
Remove dry residue. Use a toothbrush or lint-free cloth to gently remove any dried residue from non-water stains such as cola or coffee. Blow the residue away with compressed air.
Rinse off the residue. If you spilled anything besides water on the laptop, rinsing it clean will be the most dramatic part. There are several ways to rinse your machine, depending on the kind of spill, and how much risk you are willing to endure:
Rinse with water. Take any components that have residue (a fresh spill or an old spill of cola) and rinse them under the tap. Most circuit boards and similar non-moving components handle water well, so long as they are not powered. Some internal components with moving parts may not handle water well, for example, fans and CD/DVD drives.
Rinse with deionized water. Many people prefer to rinse with deionized water. Regular water will leave behind deposits that can cause shorts, but deionized water will rinse clean, dry and leave nothing behind. behind.
Don't get too carried away rinsing your machine. Water and laptops do not mix, either. Rinse as much as you need too and not more. Carefully blot up excess water, if any.
Let it restLet it dry. Be completely sure the parts are dry before you proceed. As with rinsing there are different theories on drying:
Dry naturally. Prop the machine up off a surface so air can circulate in and around the entire unit. Leave the machine to dry for 24 to 48 hours.
Dry with light heat. Place your deck on a warm radiator, on top of a warm sill or shelf out of direct sunlight, or other source of warmth. Do not use heat, just warmth. Let it dry for 12 hours or so.
Never use a hair dryer, as this will cause static problems and fill your machine with more contaminants and dust.
Clean with a solvent. A second rinse with a solvent based cleaner is recommended by some and abhorred by others.
If you suspect that your first rinse did not remove all the residue, a chemical rinse of this kind may be worth the risk. The advantages of such a rinse are that there is only one substance to apply and remove, and typically that substance evaporates, so long drying times are not required. The disadvantage is that if you use the wrong solvents you can literally dissolve your computer.
Buy and use 99% (not 90%) isopropyl alcohol. Never, ever use gasoline or acetone to clean computer parts.
Using a Q-tip carefully rub or wipe each component of the board until it comes clean.
Try flux remover, a spray on can available in electronics stores, rather than isopropyl alcohol.
Tips
Some companies have a spill provision in the warranty - it wouldn't hurt to check before removing the case.
Removing the case on most laptops is not easy. Critically you must remove all screws. The screws are tiny and will be all over the place. Check for screws on the outside, of course, but also in any internal compartments, like behind the battery or under labels.
Never force the case off or you will break the plastic. If the case does not come off easily, looks for more screws.
Case screws may be star screws, in which case you will need the correct sized star screwdriver set.
When drying the computer allow air to circulate all around the machine by propping it up from a surface so air can get beneath.
Check a tropical fish store for tablets to deionize water.
Deionized water is used often in the semiconductor industry as tap water contains many ions or chemical impurities that may leave a residue on very sensitive electronic components.
Warnings
Water and electricity do not mix! Make sure all power is off.
Even "clean" tap water can destroy electronics. If you drop a laptop into tap water still be prepared for the DI water rinse.
If you choose to simply let the spill dry without cleaning, any acid will slowly eat the circuit boards until the device fails.
Opening the case will void the warranty. However spilling acidic liquid into the device probably already did that anyway as few warranties cover this kind of damage.
A heavily soaked AC adapter will need to be replaced.
Organic solvents can be dangerous and even explosive. Use only in a well ventilated environment with the correct equipment like gloves, and an organic solvent respirator.
Things You'll Need
Deionized water or Isopropyl Alcohol
Various small screwdrivers
Plastic bags to hold small parts and screws
Paper towels and Q-Tips
Steps
Shut it off! Immediately remove the battery, the A/C adapter, and unplug the device after the spill. The biggest danger at first is the device shorting out.
Clean up any part of the spill you can get to. Use paper towels or any absorbent material that is lint-free.
Inspect the keyboard. Some keyboards are designed to protect the internals from liquids:
Pour out any liquid contained in a keyboard enclosure.
Remove and clean an easily removable keyboard.
Wipe up anything sticky. This may include the screen, the keys on the keyboard and any buttons. Use a clean, slightly dampened lint-free cloth.
Disconnect and remove any and all external devices.
Insulate yourself from static discharge. Static electricity can be a very high voltage. Static discharge from your hands and body can destroy even a dry computer. Learn how to Avoid Destroying a Computer With Electrostatic Discharge.
Disassemble the case. If you cannot get to the whole spill, it may be necessary to remove the laptop's case. Most spills will contain chemicals that can corrode internal circuit boards:
If you aren't comfortable taking your device apart, get it to someone who is as soon as possible.
Pull the hard drive to protect your data.
Remove any cards or drives you can.
Remove dry residue. Use a toothbrush or lint-free cloth to gently remove any dried residue from non-water stains such as cola or coffee. Blow the residue away with compressed air.
Rinse off the residue. If you spilled anything besides water on the laptop, rinsing it clean will be the most dramatic part. There are several ways to rinse your machine, depending on the kind of spill, and how much risk you are willing to endure:
Rinse with water. Take any components that have residue (a fresh spill or an old spill of cola) and rinse them under the tap. Most circuit boards and similar non-moving components handle water well, so long as they are not powered. Some internal components with moving parts may not handle water well, for example, fans and CD/DVD drives.
Rinse with deionized water. Many people prefer to rinse with deionized water. Regular water will leave behind deposits that can cause shorts, but deionized water will rinse clean, dry and leave nothing behind. behind.
Don't get too carried away rinsing your machine. Water and laptops do not mix, either. Rinse as much as you need too and not more. Carefully blot up excess water, if any.
Let it restLet it dry. Be completely sure the parts are dry before you proceed. As with rinsing there are different theories on drying:
Dry naturally. Prop the machine up off a surface so air can circulate in and around the entire unit. Leave the machine to dry for 24 to 48 hours.
Dry with light heat. Place your deck on a warm radiator, on top of a warm sill or shelf out of direct sunlight, or other source of warmth. Do not use heat, just warmth. Let it dry for 12 hours or so.
Never use a hair dryer, as this will cause static problems and fill your machine with more contaminants and dust.
Clean with a solvent. A second rinse with a solvent based cleaner is recommended by some and abhorred by others.
If you suspect that your first rinse did not remove all the residue, a chemical rinse of this kind may be worth the risk. The advantages of such a rinse are that there is only one substance to apply and remove, and typically that substance evaporates, so long drying times are not required. The disadvantage is that if you use the wrong solvents you can literally dissolve your computer.
Buy and use 99% (not 90%) isopropyl alcohol. Never, ever use gasoline or acetone to clean computer parts.
Using a Q-tip carefully rub or wipe each component of the board until it comes clean.
Try flux remover, a spray on can available in electronics stores, rather than isopropyl alcohol.
Tips
Some companies have a spill provision in the warranty - it wouldn't hurt to check before removing the case.
Removing the case on most laptops is not easy. Critically you must remove all screws. The screws are tiny and will be all over the place. Check for screws on the outside, of course, but also in any internal compartments, like behind the battery or under labels.
Never force the case off or you will break the plastic. If the case does not come off easily, looks for more screws.
Case screws may be star screws, in which case you will need the correct sized star screwdriver set.
When drying the computer allow air to circulate all around the machine by propping it up from a surface so air can get beneath.
Check a tropical fish store for tablets to deionize water.
Deionized water is used often in the semiconductor industry as tap water contains many ions or chemical impurities that may leave a residue on very sensitive electronic components.
Warnings
Water and electricity do not mix! Make sure all power is off.
Even "clean" tap water can destroy electronics. If you drop a laptop into tap water still be prepared for the DI water rinse.
If you choose to simply let the spill dry without cleaning, any acid will slowly eat the circuit boards until the device fails.
Opening the case will void the warranty. However spilling acidic liquid into the device probably already did that anyway as few warranties cover this kind of damage.
A heavily soaked AC adapter will need to be replaced.
Organic solvents can be dangerous and even explosive. Use only in a well ventilated environment with the correct equipment like gloves, and an organic solvent respirator.
Things You'll Need
Deionized water or Isopropyl Alcohol
Various small screwdrivers
Plastic bags to hold small parts and screws
Paper towels and Q-Tips
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