Sometimes, taking extreme precautions, or if we don’t, it happens that a few drops or the entire glass falls on the laptop, computer or keyboard, so find out what you can do.
What to do if your laptop gets wet
If despite all precautions or due to carelessness, you drop water, coffee or any other liquid on the laptop, keep a cool mind to act as soon as possible and effectively. That this has happened does not mean that all is lost.
The first thing you should do is a prior assessment of the damage, since if it is only a small splash you can solve the problem with a microfiber cloth or cloth and a specific cleaning product for computers. You just have to moisten the cloth and carefully pass it over the wet area, starting from the bottom up to prevent drops from falling on the keyboard. Review as many times as you consider necessary, and in complicated areas make small circles with your hand without rubbing in any case. If it is that more liquid or the entire cup has been spilled, we have to take other measures.
If your computer starts to make strange noises or expel smoke, it is most likely that there is no solution, so it is better that you follow the steps that we will tell you about and take it to the technical service as soon as possible, or simply follow all the steps with the mind of giving it up because it may no longer have a solution . Although yes You act quickly and especially if this does not happen, you could save the situation.
unplug
The first thing you have to do is unplug as soon as possible if you find connected to the electrical current at that moment. If it is not, or when we have already done so, we will have to turn it off and remove the battery. This is very important to ensure as much as possible that your computer will work properly when you have dried it. The faster you act the better to avoid further damage.
This is done to prevent the Electronic components They are affected when they get wet, since if you do not turn it on until it is completely dry and the humidity has not reached the components before, you will ensure that it works again at that time. So spend as much time as it takes to fix the problem before turning it back on and, of course, plugging it in.
Most suitable position
Put your laptop without battery (if you can remove it) and unplugged face down in position 180 degrees between the lid and the base. You can place the base on an absorbent cloth so you can remove fluid while. The best way to release liquid is where it has entered, and normally it is the keyboard, without trying to remove it through other holes since it could affect components that were not damaged.
You gonna let it dry out room temperature, in a place where it gets air, but not directly in the sun. As it dries, go to the next step if necessary, not insignificant. Do not rush, the most important thing is that it dries completely.
Take out all external devices and dry
The next thing you should do is remove all the USB external devices that are connected, and any devices that can be removed, if you were working with any. If not, you can skip this step. Although it may seem more important than the previous steps, it is best to focus on what is most important and until now it was saving the computer.
let’s let dries itself in the space and position indicated above. We must also withdraw with a soft cloth any remaining liquid on the keyboard surface, face down. You have to let it dry completely and do it at your own pace. It is better to wait a few hours than to damage the laptop in the rush. Never in any case try to use a hair dryer or stove or anything that speeds up the process because the computer or any of its components could be damaged. Nor should we put rice, as is advised in other devices with good results, since grains can remain in components and damage it.
If you have Doubts about whether it is completely dry, it is best that you take it to the technical service or to a person who has extensive knowledge, since if you turn it on before it dries it could be damaged.
What to do if liquid is spilled on the keyboard
If liquid is spilled on your keyboard, you should not use the dryer or resort to home remedies like those who have spoken to you, as is the case with rice. If it doesn’t work after you spill water, coffee, juice or any other liquid on it, don’t worry as you can still do something for it anyway. It is something that can happen to everyone at some time.
act quickly
The first thing you have to do is turn off the laptop, remove the battery if possible and unplug it if it is connected to electricity. Act quickly, but with a cool mind. Think that if the liquid ends up on the motherboard and the laptop is on, there could be a situation where there is no solution because there is a short circuit.
what liquid has fallen
You should also value what liquid has fallen on the keyboard, since water is not the same as other liquids. Keep in mind that liquids such as juice, sugary drinks or coffee can cause more damage since they can leave residue when they dry, which can cause some keys to end up not working well or appear stuck.
Keep in mind that in certain liquids other than water, even if you have to dry them first, the spilled liquid can leave many dry remains that would cause the keyboard to have to be replaced. If coffee or any liquid that can cause this damage has been spilled, after drying you can take it to the technical service to do a professional cleaning. You can try compressed air, although it does not work in many cases.
dry
The next step is to try to remove and dry all the liquid that has fallen flipping the keyboard so that most of it falls in the position indicated above and placing a lot of absorbent paper between the keyboard and the surface so that it absorbs the remains of liquid. Change this frequently. if you go back to switch on after completely dry and after a while it turns off by itself do not worry, since it could be due to a security measure to avoid short circuits that occurs in many computers.
If the entire keyboard has gotten wet, take the necessary measures, as in the case of the entire laptop. Remove excess water with a cotton cloth, and then put the blotting paper between the keys. If you think it is going to be unusable, or confirmed by a technician, you may have to change the keyboard. You could hire a professional to install it yourself, although it will cost more, or buy the keyboard if you have skill and knowledge and do it yourself. If this is the only thing that has been damaged, it is always better than buying a new laptop.
Wet desktop, what do I do?
If water or any other liquid falls on your computer, what you should do is, as in all other cases, try remove any remaining moisture that can be produced by completely drying all the liquids inside. Make sure all components are completely dry and free of corrosion before turning it back on.
Cases that may occur
If the computer before turning it off you see that works normally or you don’t see anything bad happening can be a good sign, even if you don’t trust yourself too much. If you have spilled liquid with the computer off because you casually passed by or it just happened, there are more chances of saving it.
If the computer turned off, you noticed a small explosion, you noticed sparks or even smoke came out, it is most likely that it has broken down and you have to consider buying something new, although before giving it up you can do the tests or even consult a technician if you wish.
Turn off the computer
The first step is to turn off the computer completely and unplug it. This is a step you need to do quickly, because if you don’t do it in time, current can flow through the circuitry and it could be damaged by water to the point that it could stop working. The important thing is not to let time pass since the accident occurs.
The next thing you should do, if possible, is turn off the power supply of the switch and remove the side cover. You will need to place your box diagonally, with the standing tower leaning towards the open lid and leaning against a wall. This position is designed so that the liquid does not fall inside and to clean more easily. Then you will have to wait for it to dry, letting the necessary time pass. Later you will be cleaning with a dry cloth the liquid that falls. It is important that you allow time to dry completely.
Disassemble and clean
The next thing you should do is disassemble all hardware in order to clean it and dry the pieces one by one. While you do it you will notice the pieces that you see that have gotten wet and you can clean and dry them better. You can take the opportunity to do a general cleaning of your computer.
If the motherboard has gotten wet, you must completely disassemble it, disconnect everything and dry it carefully using a dry fiber cloth. With ear swabs you can reach hard-to-reach areas. You could put this component in rice so that it absorbs the water, although with care and if you can avoid it better.
Reassemble and check
When you’re done, reassemble everything and check if it worksI should go if all goes well. If there is any damaged component or you do not think you will be able to recover it, it may be a better idea to change it for a new one, unless it is too expensive and not worth the investment, or the computer is too old. In case of Doubts or that it still does not work, or that you are not completely sure that you have dried everything before using it again, you can contact a technician.
As you can see, in all cases the most important thing is to know what to do, do it carefully and act quickly to avoid damage that could be avoided.