How must I clean my laptop’s casing?

Thursday, April 9th, 2009 | laptops

The outer shell of a laptop is called the casing.  Cleaning the casing of the laptop is very simple – it is not much different from cleaning the outside of a microwave oven, a DVD player or a cell phone. 

The cleaning material you need is nothing special and could be found in your home.  The only equipment you need is a soft cloth – a piece of old T-shirt will do – and cotton swabs (ear buds) to get into the corners.  Water and a mild cleaning solution are the only cleaning products you require.

Use a damp cloth to wipe down all visible parts of the casing, removing all dust, fingerprints or other dirt that may stick to it.  Clean the cables and power supply in the same way.  A slightly damp cotton swab will help you to remove dust from grooves or spaces that are awkward to reach with a cloth.

Cleaning your laptop will be a safe operation if you keep a few simple rules in mind.

Always switch the laptop off before you clean it, and make sure that it is unplugged from an electrical outlet.

The cloth must not be too wet – it must only be damp.  To test that it is not too wet, it should not leave any droplets of water if you wipe any smooth surface with it.

Don’t use harsh cleaning agents, such as the liquid you use to clean the toilet or your oven.

Avoid using abrasive cleaning materials, such as steel wool or a rough cloth that could scratch the surface of the casing.

You should never spray any cleaning solution on the casing, since it may penetrate to the inside of the laptop – rather spray the solution on the cloth and use the cloth to wipe the area that needs to be cleaned.

Cleaning the casing of your laptop will ensure a continued good appearance.  More important, it will remove all dirt that may find its way over time into the delicate components under the shell.

Click here to find answers to more laptop related questions.

Tags: clean, laptops

5 Comments to How must I clean my laptop’s casing?

Adrian Marnewick
Thursday, 9 April, 2009

Would be nice to see something other than laptop tips for a change…

Pat
Thursday, 9 April, 2009

I enjoy your laptop series because you talk about things that people take for granted that you should know. Thanks for sharing.

kvanwyk
Thursday, 9 April, 2009

Adrian, for a seasoned computer user like you, the current series of posts may not be the most interesting. I will keep that in mind, and post on other issues as well over coming days.

The reason for the laptop posts (so far 50 done, and about as many to follow) is to prepare South African teachers for the promised laptops by the Education Department. Teachers have many fears and apprehensions, and this series is aimed at them. For a full catalogue on these questions click on “Laptops for Teachers” on the page bar at the top of this blog.

While the primary audience is the group of inexperienced teachers, others could benefit as well, as pointed out by Pat in her comment.

I am appealing to the experienced ones to add their wisdom by means of comments – it will make this information source only richer.

ThePython
Friday, 10 April, 2009

The best way to clean a keyboard is not to get it dirty. Avoid eating or drinking when using your computer. I keep a paintbrush handy to keep it and my screen dust free. I do this every two days or so. A slightly dampened cloth is good for removing marks.

It is also a good idea to keep the lid closed when you are not using it and to pack it away if and when visitors (especially those with small children) arrive.

My laptop is expensive and I make sure that I keep it in good condition.

Adrian Marnewick
Wednesday, 15 April, 2009

In the next edition of The Teacher’s Monthly I’ll be sure to link to the Laptops for Teachers page.