How to clean a laptop
Crumbs, pet hair, germs, oils, dust, dead skin cells: your trusty laptop is regularly exposed to pretty nasty things (not counting deep dives into the dark corners of the internet).
But your device deserves more routine care than the occasional quick swipe of the screen. In fact, cleaning your laptop regularly is a good idea for a number of reasons. First of all, who wants to type on a dirt-encrusted keyboard every day? And secondly, keeping your laptop clean will greatly improve its function, especially when it comes to integral parts like the fan that collects a lot of dust.
But before you grab a bottle of sanitizer and start spraying down your screen, remember there’s a right way to clean a laptop — and if you don’t follow a few simple steps, your delicate device could be damaged (or destroyed entirely) will. First off, experts recommend staying away from harsh chemicals and household cleaners based on bleach or ammonia, which can damage the screen, keyboard, and other delicate parts. And be careful never to spray detergent directly onto your machine: instead, spray it onto a microfiber cloth first (more on that below) and then very gently wipe your machine down.
You don’t have to spend a lot of money either: according to the computer pros at PCMag, a simple mixture of dish soap diluted 50/50 with water is sufficient. You can also add vinegar, isopropyl alcohol, or hydrogen peroxide as a sanitizer (and let’s face it, who doesn’t want their device sanitized these days?).
A few other necessary items: A cloth (microfiber is your friend: stay away from cotton and anything that generates lint), a can of compressed air, and maybe a brush or two. HP experts recommend cleaning your laptop every three to six months to ensure it is operating at peak capacity. Ready to start?
How to clean a laptop screen
All those Zoom sessions we’ve been through during the pandemic have been in the spotlight (and Not in a good way) on those greasy fingerprints, streaks, and other stray marks smeared across our laptop screens. Luckily, getting a clean screen is easy and fairly quick—again, avoid bleach-based cleaners. Here are some products to help make a clean screen a breeze.
Evo Premium screen cleaner
It’s a little pricey, but this all-natural screen cleaner comes with a microfiber cloth and has over 20,000 rave reviews. It is safe to use on all sensitive screens including LED, LRT and CRT, allowing you to clean multiple devices. It also removes static electricity – no more annoying zapping when cleaning your screen. And at 16 ounces, it’s going to last quite a while.
USANOOKS Microfiber Cleaning Cloths
Paired with the right cleaning product, these durable wipes will have your screen looking slick in no time. Made of ultra-absorbent microfiber, the handy black squares won’t scratch your screen, pills or dander, and they dry quickly too. Pro tip: If you tend to spill something — like your morning coffee on your keyboard — keep a few handy when you’re working on your laptop.
Pure Sky by Persik cleaning cloth
This popular cleaning towel doesn’t use any harsh chemicals – instead, its antibacterial fibers only need water for a nice, fresh clean. Reviews praise its ability to get glasses clean and streak-free, but it’s also great for laptops and is reusable (just toss in the wash when needed).
How to clean a laptop keyboard
Armed with a few essential items and less than 30 minutes to spare, you can easily clean your keyboard of crumbs, dust, and other debris. Turn off the laptop, unplug it, and get to work (gently again). Avoid the urge to simply wipe your microfiber cloth (or a paper towel — never!) across the keyboard, as this can cause the keys to pop off.
OXO Grips Sweeps Laptop Cleaner
Literally get a grip on your dirty keyboard with this low-tech device that’s well above its weight. The nifty, double-sided device features a microfiber pad on one end that’s perfect for wiping smudges off screens, while the soft brush on the other end keeps the keyboard clean of dust, crumbs, and dirt. And since the brush is retractable and the pad comes with a cover, keeping this tool clean is a breeze too. Many of the 13,300+ reviewers also love that it’s compact enough for travel: just pop it in your briefcase, backpack, or carry-on and take your good laptop cleaning habits with you wherever you go.
Zarami Compressed Air Duster/Keyboard Cleaner
Every nook and cranny of your keyboard — as well as USB ports and, just as important, the fan underneath your laptop — are magnets for dust, lint, and other particles that stubbornly lodge inside. A can of compressed air is just what you need to lure those unwelcome intruders out of hiding, and this is a big seller on Amazon. The price is a little steep, but remember you’ll save in the long run since you won’t have to shell out for disposable cans of compressed air. The handy air blower, praised by reviewers for being powerful and compact, also comes with multiple brushing tools, as well as a nifty light that lights up when used in any of its three speeds – a pleasant way to see all the dirt say goodbye.
Batianda keyboard protector
Just a drop of your morning coffee on your laptop keyboard can do damage that no cleaning can fix. Prevent such mishaps with a keyboard cover like this one, available in a range of fun colors that will add a touch of personality to your keys. It is made of an elastic silicone material that easily molds to your keyboard. As an added bonus, it also helps deaden some typing noise (hear that, aggressive slam-the-keyboard dudes?).