When Liquid Met Keyboard: Tips to Save Your Laptop from Liquid Damage

Courtesy of iqcomputerservices.com

You’ve been told, by your partner, friend, parent, and even yourself but it’s a habit, so once again you find your coffee or tea  mug right next to your computer. On this particular day though, it finally happens. You reach over, your hand misses the cup, and instead of grasping the mug, you tilt it over. What you have always feared finally happens; the tea or coffee or even milk spills all over your laptop. So, like any normal human you do the only thing you can in the ensuing seconds, you sit frozen in panic, convinced that it's the end of your computer. It isn’t. In your panic, here are several tips to try and salvage your laptop.  

1.       Turn off the laptop

You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to know that electricity and water are arch enemies. So to prevent your laptop from short-circuiting, immediately unplug the laptop from the wall, do this cautiously and make sure your hands are dry or you might get a nasty electric shock. Then remove the battery from your laptop and any other external drives; mouse, USB disk or hard drive. DO NOT TRY TO TURN ON YOUR LAPTOP.

2.       Flip it upside down

A dry laptop is a happy laptop. As a result, turn your laptop upside down so that the liquid won’t seep deeper into your keyboard.  Most probably, turning the laptop over will help in draining the liquid out of your laptop.

3.       Wipe any spilled liquid

Sticky keys are one of the unfortunate consequences of spilling liquid on a laptop. However, to reduce sticky keys, use an absorbent clothe and wipe away as much liquid as possible. Do this after the laptop after the laptop has been hanging upside down for at least 20 or more minutes.

4.       Don’t fix it yourself

Do yourself a favor and take your laptop to a computer repair shop. Do not try to fix it yourself, unless you are absolutely convinced you know what you are doing. The internet has a lot of solutions for you, but ultimately, sometimes just taking it to the repair shop is the best move.