This article tells you what to do if you accidentally spill water or any other liquid on your laptop to prevent it from getting damaged. Keep in mind that while the information below outlines what to do in the event of a laptop that gets wet, there is no way to guarantee that your laptop can be saved without further ado. Enlisting professional help is, as far as possible, always the best solution.
Steps
Step 1. Turn off the laptop and ensure that the laptop is no longer connected to any source of energy as soon as possible
To do that, all you need to do is hold down the laptop's power button. If the liquid comes into contact with the laptop's circuitry while they're still running, there's a good chance your laptop will short out, so it's important you act quickly.
To ensure that your laptop is no longer connected to the electricity network, you can simply remove the charging cable from the laptop. You can usually find the charging cable on the left or right outer side of the laptop
Step 2. Lift the laptop out of any remaining liquid
That way you ensure that your laptop is no longer exposed to even more liquid, and you reduce the risk of electric shock.
Step 3. Turn the laptop upside down and remove the battery if you can
You can usually do this by turning the laptop upside down, sliding a panel off the bottom of the laptop and gently pulling on the battery.
On a MacBook, you can't do this without first unscrewing the bottom of the laptop from the rest of the laptop's outer portion
Step 4. Remove and disconnect all external hardware
These include:
- USB devices (flash drives, wireless adapters, battery chargers, etc.)
- Memory Cards
- Control devices (such as the mouse)
- The battery of your laptop
Step 5. Lay a towel on a flat surface
You'll be leaving your laptop here for the next few days, so choose a warm, dry place where it can be undisturbed.
Step 6. Now open your laptop as far as possible and place it upside down on the towel
Depending on how flexible your laptop is, it now lies completely flat on the towel, or in the shape of a tent. To ensure that the laptop dries faster, you can place a fan next to it so that it blows against the liquid, so that the moisture evaporates faster.
Step 7. Wipe all areas where water can be seen dry
Places you can wipe dry include the front and back of the screen, the outside of the laptop, and the keyboard.
Continue to partially turn the laptop upside down so that excess liquid can continue to drip out
Step 8. Ground yourself before touching the inner parts of your computer
Grounding yourself removes all static electricity from your clothing or body. Static electricity can easily knock out an electrical circuit, so it's very important that you do this before coming into contact with the RAM cards or hard drive.
Step 9. Remove any hardware you can remove
If you don't like the idea of removing your computer's RAM, hard drive, and other detachable internal components yourself because you don't know much about it, consider having your laptop checked by a professional repair service.
- You can usually find manuals for your specific computer fairly easily that describe how to replace and remove the hardware. Just search for the make and model number of your computer, followed by "Remove RAM" (or any other part you want to remove).
- If you have a MacBook, you must first loosen the ten screws that hold the bottom of the case together.
Step 10. Dry all wet internal parts
You will need a microfiber cloth (or other lint-free cloth) for this.
- If water has entered the internal spaces of your laptop, you will have to drain it first.
- Be extremely careful with this.
Step 11. Remove dry dirt
Use a lint-free cloth to remove any dry debris, or use compressed air to blow out dust, grit, and other non-liquid debris.
Step 12. Let your laptop dry
You will have to leave him alone for at least one whole day.
- Store your laptop in a dry, warm place. An air dryer can help shorten drying time.
- Never use a hair dryer to speed up the drying process of your laptop. The heat that a hair dryer gives off is so strong and concentrated that it could damage the internal parts of your laptop.
Step 13. Reassemble the laptop and turn it on
If it does not start up, if you hear strange noises or if the screen does not light up normally, you will need to take it to a professional repair service (this could be the shop where you bought it, but you can also check www.pcservice.nl).
Step 14. If necessary, remove any remaining dirt
Even if your laptop works now, it may still have some sticky or greasy residue. You can remove this dirt by gently rubbing the dirty part with a damp, lint-free cloth, just like the cloth you used to dry the laptop.
Tips
- Just because your laptop works after drying doesn't mean it's fully repaired. You should always back up your data and have your laptop checked thoroughly.
- There are many comprehensive and advanced tutorials on how to take apart a broken laptop on YouTube.
- Some companies have a clause in their warranty about damage from contact with liquids; always check this before opening the outside of your laptop. If you have already tinkered with your laptop, the warranty is often no longer valid.
- If possible, try to film the entire disassembly process. This will make reassembling the laptop a lot easier.
- Many companies sell covers or membranes for your laptop keyboard. With such a cover, your laptop will react differently to the touch of the keys, but it will protect your laptop against direct damage caused by liquids.
- Consider paying for a "water damage" warranty if you know you regularly run the risk of your laptop getting wet. You may have to pay a few hundred euros extra for your laptop, but that is in any case still cheaper than buying a new one.
- It may also be helpful to hold a fan against the keyboard for a few hours to allow excess liquid to evaporate from the keys.
Warnings
- Water and electricity do not mix! Make sure all plugs, sockets, and other electrical contacts are completely dry before connecting your laptop to a power source.
- Do not turn on your laptop while it is still drying.