As laptops and personal computer systems power a large part of the population worldwide because of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. However, as we stick to our electronic devices, it is important to know how to disinfect our gadgets to make us healthier in our homes, including laptops.
Notably, disinfecting and cleaning are two different things. According to Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), while cleaning refers to the “removal” of germs, dirt, and impurities from surfaces, disinfecting refers to using chemicals to “kill” germs on surfaces.
To disinfect your laptop or other gadgets, you should use an alcohol-based solution that consists of 30 per cent water and 70 per cent isopropyl alcohol. Follow the below-mentioned steps to make your laptop germ free
What to avoid and where to begin?
Before we go too deep, it’s good to know where to draw the line when cleaning and disinfecting your laptop. You don’t want to do any permanent damage in the name of hygiene.
A best practice if you do want to test it out is to dilute 70% isopropyl alcohol at a 1:1 ratio with water (preferably distilled to prevent stains) before adding it to a microfiber cloth. As a definitive rule, never spray any cleaning solutions directly onto your laptop. Always spray first onto a microfiber cloth to avoid any liquids seeping into the internal hardware and causing damage.
Start with the keyboard, ports, and vents
The most common way to clean a keyboard is to use compressed air, but all the detritus built up around your keys has to go somewhere. That’s why it’s recommended you start with keyboard to avoid mucking up any areas you’ve already cleaned. Begin by turning the laptop upside down and giving it a gentle shake to remove any of the larger chunks.
If your keyboard is seriously grimy, you might want to remove the key caps and get a bit deeper with the compressed air. Be sure to check your laptop manual before attempting to pry up any keys your keyboard might have fixed caps or might need a special touch to avoid damage. A careful touch with a toothpick or a specialized cleaning brush can also go a long way.
Wipe down the display
Now that you’ve finished blowing dust, crumbs, and food around with compressed air, it’s time to tackle that spotty, smeared display. If you’re not comfortable using a mix of water and isopropyl alcohol, you can pick up a quality combination of screen cleaning solution and microfiber cloth.
Finish up with the touchpad and chassis
The keyboard and screen are squeaky clean, and you can now turn your attention to the touchpad and chassis to remove oily fingerprints and smudges. Use the same microfiber cloth used on the display, or, if it’s particularly dirty, dampen a new cloth. As mentioned, isopropyl alcohol can be used here at your own discretion, especially if you’re looking to disinfect. If you’d rather not use alcohol, the same cleaning solution used on the screen can be used to good effect.
A clean computer is a happy computer.
Hi buddy,
Now, this is so important to clean up everything. Our home, kitchen, bathroom everywhere we just need clean and disinfect. Post you shared really helpful, thanks for sharing.