Help me clean my laptop

April 6, 2009 11:43 AM

Help me clean my laptop!

I understand about the software (OS + files) aspects of laptop computer maintenance, but what about the physical? Other than blowing compressed air over my keyboard, and trying to avoid getting crumbs in the corners of the touchpad, what maintenance can I (or someone else) do to keep the real-life gunk under control? I am going to keep using the thing, so keeping it on a pedestal is out of the question. I just want to know if I should get someone to open the sucker up and hoover all my dog's hair out of it, or if I should be cleaning the optical drive somehow on a regular basis? (BTW, my DVD drive is starting to sound like a lawnmower). Tips and tricks for management, whether DIY or not, much appreciated.

posted by tamarack to computers & internet (9 comments total)

Honestly, there is no good way to try to thoroughly clean a laptop keyboard, sort of just hitting it with a dust gun and hoping for the best. The keys sure do come off easy; they do not go back on so easily. I just bought a new keyboard for a laptop I am refurbishing for a friend, since it was so amazingly nasty under there.
posted by adipocere at 11:47 AM on April 6

Microfiber cloth for most of the surfaces works very well for me. Also works decently on the screen (just be sure there are not sand particles on the screen or you'll get scratches for sure), unless you got it greased up and need some sort of LCD-screen cleaning solution.

I usually vacuum the computer carefully through all openings (be sure to open the valve on the vacuum-cleaner so it sucks with reduced power). This also works well on the keyboard, if you got one of those vacuums which can blow.
posted by kampken at 12:00 PM on April 6

Is your dog's hair pretty long? I opened my laptop case (for a unrelated repair) and found the long hairs from my golden/lab mix were twisted around the fan. It hadn't stopped the fan from working, but it explained why the damn thing was so noisy - it was straining to spin smoothly. I found no hairs from the other shorter-hair dog - they seemed to come out ok with the occasional vacuum.

I wouldn't open up the case for random vacuuming unless you notice something amiss for another reason.
posted by SuperSquirrel at 12:14 PM on April 6

for AN unrelated repair...sorry, Sister Bernice!
posted by SuperSquirrel at 12:15 PM on April 6

Carefully turn your laptop upside down (while open). You'll probably get some crumbs and stuff that will fall out from between the keys. If you have someone helping, you can have them blow the canned air into the keyboard while it's in this position.
posted by IndigoRain at 12:26 PM on April 6

I use an iSkin and I couldn't recommend it more highly. The rest of my laptop is beat up to bits but the keyboard works and looks brand new. I just wash it with dish soap and water every few months if it gets sticky or oily.
posted by bcwinters at 12:31 PM on April 6

It's OK to remove the keyboard of a laptop, and pretty easy to do. Usually the screws on the bottom of the case are marked (IBM/Lenovo uses a 'K'; Dell has a small icon). Loosen them, and if the keyboard doesn't just fall off you can pry it up from the palm rest side using a small screwdriver.

Be careful with the ribbon cable, but you don't have to detach the cable to blow out/clean out any junk that has gotten in there. There, much better!

to clean the keys themselves I use alcohol to wipe them off.
posted by TDIpod at 1:30 PM on April 6

In a pinch, a sticky-note makes a handy keyboard cleaner - just fold it so both sides have the sticky stuff facing out, then run it beneath a row of keys to help dig out all that dog hair that compressed air didn't get.
posted by DingoMutt at 3:56 PM on April 6

Definitely vacuum, don't use a can of air. Blowing air into it tends to also blow the dirt further in. Once a month should be fine unless you're snacking a lot. Use an old toothbrush to clean out the groves around the trackpad, etc.

Every laptop I've known had an easy to remove keyboard but there's always one trick to it. One hidden screw, one little tab that you have to pry out of the way. You can muck around with it pretty safely if you're familiar dissembling electronics an/or don't mind a couple small scuffs on the case. Otherwise see if you can find a repair manual for your made and model of laptop.

Pet hair is the destroyer of worl-- uh, computers. Don't use it sitting on the floor at all. Don't use it on on a blanket or even on your lap without at least a tray/board/book/3-ring binder whatever as a barrier to keep from sucking up hair. Once it's inside it's almost impossible to get out without taking it apart, and you don't usually know until it's too late. When you're not using it keep it closed and in a case.
posted by Ookseer at 7:01 PM on April 6