Wiping the Screen

1.

1
Clear surface dust with a microfiber cloth. Fold the cloth and rub it gently across the
full width of your screen, back and forth. You may want to brace the screen with your
other hand so it doesn't move while you're cleaning it.[2]
 Don't press hard into the screen or try to scratch off stubborn spots –
you could damage your screen. Use only the lightest pressure to wipe
off surface dust.
 Remember to power off your laptop—and remove the battery if you can
—before you start cleaning. In addition to being safer, it'll be easier to
see dirt and dust when the screen is off.[3]
2.

2
Use a barely moist sponge to remove dirt and grime. Wet a clean sponge or soft
cloth, then squeeze it out until it is almost dry. Use purified or distilled water rather than
tap water, which can leave mineral streaks on your screen. Wipe your screen gently in a
circular motion, using light pressure – do not scrub.[4]
 Water can drip into your laptop and damage internal components, so
make extra sure you've squeezed all excess liquid out.
 For particularly stubborn spots, add just a drop of gentle dish soap to
the water. You could also make your own cleaner by mixing equal parts
of distilled water and white vinegar.[5]
 If you have a touchscreen, consult your owner's manual or the
manufacturer's website to determine what cleaning agents are safe for
the finish.
3.
 3
Invest in a screen-cleaning kit for dirtier screens. You can buy screen-cleaning kits
online or at any store that sells electronics. These kits include a cleaner specially
designed for laptop screens and usually come with their own microfiber cloth. Apply
just a little cleaner directly onto the cloth—not the screen, as liquid could drip or seep
into the hardware. Then, gently wipe down your laptop screen with the cloth.[6]
 Do not use regular glass cleaners, particularly those that contain
ammonia, on any laptop screen. They can damage the screen.
 If you have a touchscreen, check to make sure the kit is listed as safe for
touchscreens.

4.

4
Polish in a circular motion to remove streaks. After you're done cleaning, take your
microfiber cloth and gently rub your screen in a circular motion. This will eliminate any
streaks or particles the sponge left behind.[7]
 Start at a top corner and proceed in tight circles across the top of your
screen, then back and forth until you get to the bottom.
 Don't close your laptop until the screen is completely dry, or you could
trap moisture inside the machine. Also, triple-check to be sure it's dry
before you plug the laptop back in.[8]
Method 2
Cleaning the Keyboard
1.

1
Shake the loose dust out of your keyboard. Get a good grip on the sides of your
laptop and turn it upside down with the screen open. Shake the machine gently to
dislodge crumbs and larger particles. You may also want to tilt it to one side, then
another, to free debris stuck under keys.[9]
 If you haven't cleaned your laptop in a while, or if you regularly eat
while using your laptop, shake it over a trashcan to avoid making more
of a mess.
 If you've already cleaned your screen, you may want to give it another
wipe-down with your microfiber cloth after you do this. Dust from the
keyboard may end up on the screen.

2.

2
Use a handheld vacuum to suck dirt and dust out of the keyboard. If you have a
small handheld vacuum, use the smallest attachment to vacuum the debris from your
keyboard without harming your laptop. Move the attachment slowly across the
keyboard, going over each row from the top of the keyboard to the bottom.[10]
 Don't use a super-powerful household vacuum, especially if your
keyboard keys can pop off—the suction might cause you to lose a key!
 You can also use a can of compressed air. However, if you do, tilt your
keyboard at an angle so that you're forcing the dust out of your
keyboard. If you blow the compressed air directly into the keyboard,
you'll just blow the dust and debris further inside. This is especially true
for MacBook keyboards, which are open to the inside of the machine.
[11]

3.

3
Use a pencil eraser to remove grime from the keycaps. If you look at the keys from
an angle, you will be able to see where grime has built up on the keycaps from your
fingers. Take your pencil eraser and gently rub to get rid of this build-up.[12]
 After you use the pencil eraser, you may want to run the vacuum over
the keys again, just to get rid of the stubble the eraser left behind.
 If there's a lot of built-up grime on the keyboard tops, lightly moisten a
cotton ball with rubbing alcohol, then lightly scrub the tops of the keys.
Don't go in between the keys with the cotton ball, and don't press down
hard—if you do, moisture could drip underneath the keys into your
machine.[13]

4.

4
Get between keys with a dry cotton swab. You may find that grime has built up
between the keys as well. Use a dry cotton swab to sweep and scrub dirt and dust from
these crevices.[14]
 If the area between the keys is sticky or really dirty, gently scrub them
with a cotton swab lightly dampened with rubbing alcohol. Don't press
down too hard, and don't soak the swab—if liquid gets underneath the
keys, it could damage your laptop.
5.

5
Remove keys only if you know how to put them back on. Taking off the
keycaps may be the only way to remove all grime captured beneath the keys. This is
likely true if you've never cleaned your laptop, or if you frequently eat while using your
laptop. However, keycaps can be tricky to remove and replace, depending on the design
of your machine.[15]
  Check your owner's manual for instructions on removing the keys.
Keep in mind that you may need special tools to remove the keycaps
without damaging them.
 You may want to take a picture of your keyboard before you take the
keys off, just so you have a reference for where to put them back on.
Once all the keys are off, you may forget the order, especially for
function keys.
Method 3
Shining the Case
1.

1
Mix a gentle cleansing solution. Use purified or distilled water and a few drops of
gentle dish soap. You can also use a mix of equal parts rubbing alcohol and purified or
distilled water. Do not use regular household cleaners for your case, or any harsh
chemicals such as bleach or ammonia.[16]
 If you use rubbing alcohol, take care not to get any on your laptop's
screen. It can damage the anti-glare and scratch-resistant coatings on
the screen.
2.

2
Dip a sponge into your cleaning solution. Take a clean sponge and soak it in the
cleaning solution, then wring it out until it is nearly completely dry. Make sure it no
longer drips, even when you squeeze it. Rub the sponge gently over the outside surface
of your laptop.[17]
 You can use the same sponge and cleansing solution to clean your
laptop's touchpad.
  Don't clean inside ports or vents with the sponge – you risk getting
moisture inside your laptop and damaging its components.
Variation: A melamine scrub pad, such as a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser, can also be used to
clean your case. Use lighter pressure with these pads, since they are mildly abrasive and
may scratch the finish. These pads typically should be pre-moistened with water, but
don't need any additional cleaning solutions.
3.

3
Use cotton swabs to clean the gunk out of crevices. If your laptop case has seams and
crevices, they may collect dirt and grime. A cotton swab dipped in your cleaning
solution can get into these small areas.[18]
 As with the sponge, make sure the cotton swab is not too wet. Use light
pressure to avoid squeezing moisture into the machine.

4.

4
Dig out grime with a toothpick if necessary. If narrow crevices, ports, or vents are
clogged up with dirt, use a toothpick to gently scrape the case and pull the grime out.
Move the toothpick in an outward sweeping motion to avoid shoving grime further up
into your machine.[19]
 Be gentle with the toothpick to avoid scratching the surface of your
case. Hold it at an angle, like you would hold a pencil, rather than
bearing down with the point.
5.

5
Blow debris from ports with compressed air. Angle a can of compressed air so that it
is blowing into and out of the port or vent you want to clear. Turn your laptop and blow
from multiple angles to make sure you've cleaned thoroughly.[20]
 Never blow the compressed air directly into the port or vent. This will
loosen the debris and send it deep inside your machine, where it could
damage components.
6.

6
Use rubbing alcohol for sticky residue. If you have particularly sticky or grimy spots
on your case that can't be removed with gentle cleaning, use a cotton ball dipped in
rubbing alcohol directly on the spot.[21] Make sure the cotton ball isn't too wet – you
don't want rubbing alcohol running into your machine.[22]
 Use moderate pressure, rubbing repeatedly until the spot is gone.
 If you previously had stickers on your laptop case, you may have more
luck with an oil-based cleansing product, such as Goo Gone.

7.

7
Polish and dry the surface with a microfiber cloth. Once your case is clean, take
your microfiber cloth and wipe the entire case, using a circular motion. This will
remove any moisture as well as any streaks your cleaning may have left on the
finish of your case.[23]
 Once your laptop case is clean, you may notice spots of grime that you
didn't see before. Use a cotton swab or cotton ball dipped in rubbing
alcohol to finish these last spots.