Cleaning a DIRTY MacBook! (How To Safely Clean Your Laptop), by Created Tech on YouTube. 7 min 12 s.
- Video length
- 7 min 12 s
- Time to do it
- 20 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Turn the laptop off and unplug the charger. Close the lid and let the machine cool down before you start cleaning.
Wipe the lid and body with a microfibre cloth lightly dampened with isopropyl alcohol. Work around the ports and vents, not into them.
Dampen a clean microfibre cloth with screen cleaner. Never spray liquid directly on the display.
Wipe the screen in gentle side to side strokes. Use a dry corner of the cloth to remove streaks and let it air dry.
Clean the keyboard with a soft brush or cotton swab and a little isopropyl alcohol. Blow dust out with short bursts of compressed air.
Hold the can upright and give the vents short bursts of compressed air to push dust out. Keep the fan from spinning fast with a finger or brush.
If dust is heavy, remove the bottom panel with a screwdriver and blow out the fan and heatsink. Keep track of the screws.
Refit the bottom panel, check that all keys and ports are dry, then power the laptop on.
Tips and common mistakes
Never spray cleaner or alcohol straight onto the screen or keyboard, since liquid can run inside.
Keep the compressed air can upright so it does not spit cold liquid onto the parts.
Use only a microfibre cloth on the screen, as paper towels can scratch the coating.
Unplug the battery or power before opening the bottom panel, and avoid touching the fan blades with bare fingers.
Questions
Can I use water to clean my laptop screen?
Plain water can leave streaks and may drip into the edges. Use a screen cleaner or a cloth lightly dampened with distilled water instead.
Is isopropyl alcohol safe on a laptop?
Yes, 70 percent or higher isopropyl alcohol is fine on the body and keyboard when used sparingly on a cloth. Keep it away from the screen coating and open ports.
How often should I clean the inside of my laptop?
Once or twice a year is enough for most people. Clean the fan sooner if the laptop runs hot or the fan sounds loud.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
