Water or other liquids spilling on your laptop is pretty common, given how much we use it in our daily lives, from homes to offices.
The severity of the damage varies depending on the type and concentration of the liquid, with water being the least damaging and alcohol and other liquids causing long-term damage to your device. If it ever happens to you, don’t panic—act quickly and you may be able to save your machine.
Unplug the power cable
The first step is to unplug the power cable, then hold down the power button for five to seven seconds until it’s totally off. Don’t waste the time properly shutting down. If the computer is left on, even for a few extra moments, you could cause a short circuit, leaving the components inside with permanent damage. The quicker you can turn off the machine, the better chance you have of saving the computer.
Remove the battery
Some laptops still have batteries that come out with a simple latch, while others make you unscrew the entire backplate to access the battery. If you’re comfortable to remove the battery, go ahead and open it up. Otherwise, leave it closed.
Remove any peripheral devices
Take out any devices that may be attached to the laptop such as USB dongles and SD cards. Also if you are able to remove the keyboard from the laptop, remove this and clean off any water.
Safety is important
Remove yourself from any potential shock hazard, especially if you’re standing in water or your clothes are wet. Try to unplug it from the wall, find the circuit breaker or switch for that source of power and switch it off from there. If you see or feel any heat, smoke, steam, bubbling, bulging or melting, avoid handling the device. Once the device is off, you’re ready to do some cleanup.
Wipe out all the liquid
Take a dry cloth and wipe up any excess liquid from the surface of the laptop, especially near the keyboard, vents or ports. You can use an absorbent towel or a lint-free absorbent fabric to wipe wet surfaces until they’re dry. Do not try to dry the computer with forced hot air from a heat gun or hair dryer.
Turn it upside down
As quickly as possible turn the laptop upside down to stop the water going further into the machine. Put it over a towel or something absorbent, and let the water drain out of it. You don’t have to open the laptop if you aren’t comfortable doing so, remove the backplate and wipe off the components with a lint free cloth before letting it sit to drain.
By opening the laptop out and sitting it on a flat surface as an upside-down V, you can prevent the computer or the screen from further water damage.
Let it air dry for at least 24 hours
It is advsable to leave it 24 hours. The longer you can let it sit, the better. But if you need to use your laptop for work, four hours can work.
Take your machine to a repair shop
Take advantage of the warranty if it’s still applicable or take your machine to a repair shop. If your brand has a designated repair store (like Apple), give them a call or bring it in. Otherwise, look for local repair stores that specialize in your laptop brand.