How do I clean a laptop safely?

Cleaning screen, keyboard and vents without damaging coatings or forcing dust further in.

Difficulty: beginner
Time: 25 min
Read: 2 min
Safety: caution

Short answer

Power off and unplug. Wipe the screen with a dry microfibre cloth, or one barely dampened with water. Clean the keyboard with compressed air held upright, and clear the vents — a dust-blocked vent is why laptops get hot and slow.

Modern screens have anti-reflective coatings that household cleaners strip permanently. Keyboards and vents mostly need dust removed rather than anything applied. Almost all laptop cleaning damage comes from using the wrong liquid or too much of it.

Safety

Shut the laptop down and unplug it before cleaning. Never spray liquid directly onto a keyboard or screen, and never open a laptop case unless you are confident — internal components and batteries are easily damaged and lithium batteries are a fire risk if punctured.

What you'll need

Microfibre cloth
Compressed air can
Isopropyl alcohol (optional)
Cotton buds (optional)

Step by step

Shut down completely and unplug the charger.Not sleep. A powered machine can register stray key presses and liquid on a live board is a real risk.
Wipe the screen with a dry microfibre cloth first.Most marks come off dry. Work in small circles with light pressure — pressing hard can damage the panel.
For stubborn screen marks, dampen the cloth very slightly with water.Damp, not wet. Never spray anything at the screen; liquid runs down into the bezel and the machine.
Never use glass cleaner, kitchen spray or alcohol on the screen.Ammonia and solvents strip anti-glare coatings permanently, leaving a cloudy patch that cannot be repaired.
Clean the keyboard with compressed air.Hold the can upright and use short bursts at an angle so debris moves out rather than deeper in. Tilting the can sprays liquid propellant.
Wipe the keys with a cloth lightly dampened with isopropyl alcohol.Alcohol is safe on keys and evaporates fast. Apply it to the cloth, never to the keyboard.
Clear the vents — this is the part that actually matters.Short bursts of air through the vents. Blocked vents cause overheating, which causes throttling, fan noise and shortened component life.
Wipe the case and let everything dry fully before powering on.Give it ten minutes. Any residual moisture should evaporate before the machine is live.

Tips

Cleaning the vents every six months has a real effect on temperature and fan noise, more than anything else on this list.
If liquid is spilled on a laptop, power it off immediately, unplug it, turn it upside down and do not switch it on. Get it looked at rather than testing it.
A keyboard cover keeps crumbs out but traps heat on thin laptops. Use one only if the machine does not run hot.

Common mistakes

Spraying cleaner directly onto the screen or keyboard — Liquid runs into the bezel and under the keys, and reaches the board where it does permanent damage.
Using glass cleaner on a laptop screen — Ammonia strips the anti-reflective coating and leaves permanent cloudy patches.
Tilting a compressed air can while spraying — It releases liquid propellant, which is extremely cold and can damage components on contact.

Questions people ask

What can I use to clean a laptop screen?

A dry microfibre cloth for most marks, or one barely dampened with plain water for stubborn ones. Never glass cleaner, kitchen spray, or anything containing ammonia or solvents.

How do I stop my laptop overheating?

Clear the vents with compressed air, use it on a hard surface rather than a bed or lap, and check nothing is blocking the intake underneath. Dust in the vents is the usual cause.