Saving Your Laptop from Liquid Spills

Liquid spills can kill your laptop. When we're drinking water, coffee, soda, wine or juice while using our laptops, we seldom think of what a hazard these liquids can be. Just one spill can cause us to lose important data saved on our computers. Some liquids can be more harmful to our laptops than others. If you had to spill something on your laptop, water would be the best thing. Coffee, soda, wine, and some juices are acidic and can corrode the metal contacts in your laptop. These drinks can also become sticky as they dry, leaving another mess all together. Traditionally designed laptops with springs and exposed contacts are more prone to damage from spills than those with rubber membranes beneath the keys. This is something you should check our with the dealer prior to purchasing your laptop.

If you have an accidental spill while using your laptop, don't go into a complete panic--there are things you can do. Just follow these steps:

1. If your laptop is plugged in when the spill occurs, shut off the power in the circuit breaker immediately. It's hazardous to touch a wet wire carrying as many volts as your laptop carries.
If your laptop is running on battery power, shut it down normally. If you see sparks, smell something burning or hear odd noises, press the power button or remove the battery to shut it off immediately.

2. The next thing you want to do is ground yourself. You can do this by touching the center screw on the faceplate of the dry electrical outlet or by touching some other metal object that reaches the ground.

3. If you haven't already done so, remove your AC adapter and battery. Set these items aside.

4. Disconnect any external devices (a mouse, flashdrive, music device) you have connected to the computer's USB or other ports. Also remove any cards installed in the PC slot. Dry them off if they're wet. Check to see if any liquid has gotten into the slot and dry it out carefully with a cotton swab. Be careful not to leave any threads from the cotton swab in the internal connector.

5. Check your battery and AC adaptor for any liquid. If you find any carefully wipe it off with a dry towel. If liquid has soaked through your battery or AC adaptor you need to get a replacement. Your manufacturer may replace these items for free or at a discounted price if your laptop and accessories are under warranty.

6. Wipe off any liquid on the display. If the liquid is sticky, take a clean cloth dampened with water and wipe off the sticky residue. Make sure the cloth is damp and not wet. You don't want to do any further damage.

7. If you have the CD and DVD drives installed in plug-in bays remove them and set them aside. Dry them off if they are wet.

8. Open the memory module containers and remove the memory modules. Make note on their placement and set them aside.

9. Hand dry the keyboard surface with a lint-free cloth. If you spilled a sticky substance, check your manual for removal of the affected keys to clean the area properly. It may be a good idea to take a digital picture of the keyboard to remember where all of the keys go.

10. Clean the exposed area and the keys. Let the keys thoroughly dry before you replace them.

11. Leave the display open and place the computer on a sturdy surface supported by a couple of books or small boxes. This allows air to circulate all around the computer. Let the computer and all of the separate parts air dry for at least 24 hours. DO NOT use a hair dryer or fan to attempt to speed up the drying process.

12. Once the computer has had sufficient time to air dry (at least 24 hours), make sure there are no dried puddles of sticky acid left anywhere on computer. Reassemble all of the parts you removed. Be sure to ground yourself before touching any circuits or modules. Begin the power up process with the battery first and the AC adaptor second. If you're worried about the safety of these items or would just feel better replacing them, by all means do so. This would still be much cheaper than replacing your whole computer.

Spills don't have to be the end of your laptop. Just take care not to drink in the vicinity of your laptop. If you do drink around your laptop, try using a cup with a lid on it.