How to clean a laptop screen and keyboard without damaging them
About 6 minutes to read. Published . By the House & Hedge team.
A laptop screen collects fingerprints and smears from the hands that touch it, and a keyboard collects crumbs, dust and skin oils under the keys. Both are easy to clean badly. A screen can be scratched by paper towel, damaged by household sprays and marked by the wrong cleaner. Liquid can run into the keyboard and reach the electronics underneath. A careful, dry-first method gives a clear screen and a clean keyboard, and it keeps the machine in good condition for longer.
Before you start, turn the laptop off completely and unplug it from the mains. Let it cool if it has been in use.
What you need
- Two clean microfiber cloths, lint-free if possible
- Compressed air, for the keyboard and the vents
- Distilled water, for a lightly damp cloth
- 70 percent isopropyl alcohol, for the keyboard surface only, if the maker allows it
- A soft brush for the vents and the edges of the keyboard
- A cotton swab, for tight corners and around the trackpad
Cleaning the screen
The screen has a coating that is easily damaged, so the gentlest method is the right one.
- Wipe the screen with a dry microfiber cloth first. This removes dust and loose grit, which can scratch the surface if you rub it.
- For fingerprints and smears, dampen a clean microfiber cloth with distilled water. Wring it out so it is barely damp, and wipe the screen gently in one direction, then the other.
- Buff the screen dry with a second dry cloth.
- If marks remain, lightly dampen the cloth with 70 percent isopropyl alcohol, if your maker allows it for the screen, and wipe again. Do not use strong alcohol, and never soak the cloth.
Keep the cloth away from the edges of the screen, where liquid can seep into the frame. Do not spray any cleaner directly onto the display.
What to keep off the screen
Some products damage the anti-glare and fingerprint coatings, and they can leave permanent marks.
- Paper towels and tissues, which scratch the surface and leave lint.
- Window cleaners and glass cleaners, which often contain ammonia.
- Acetone, nail polish remover and other solvents, which dissolve the coating.
- Household sprays and wipes not labeled for electronics.
- Scouring powders and abrasive pads, which scratch the display.
Cleaning the keyboard
The keyboard collects more debris than any other part of the laptop, and the dust builds up under the keys.
- Turn the laptop upside down, or hold it at a steep angle, and tap the base gently so that loose crumbs fall out.
- Use compressed air in short bursts between the keys. Keep the can upright, and hold the nozzle about an inch from the keys. Tipping the can can spray liquid propellant onto the keys, so keep it level.
- Brush the gaps with a soft brush to lift the dust that the air has loosened.
- Wipe the key tops and the surround with a microfiber cloth that is barely damp. For fingerprints and oily marks, a cloth dampened with 70 percent isopropyl alcohol can be used if the maker allows it, but wring it out well.
- Clean the tight corners with a cotton swab, working carefully round the keys.
Do not pour liquid onto the keyboard, and do not let any liquid run into the gaps between the keys. Let the laptop air-dry completely before you switch it on.
Cleaning the trackpad and the palm rest
The trackpad and the palm rest pick up skin oil. Wipe them with a damp cloth, then dry them. Use the cotton swab around the edge of the trackpad, where grime collects and can make the pointer jump.
Cleaning the vents and the ports
Dust collects in the vents, and it can make the laptop run hot. Use a soft brush or short bursts of compressed air to clear the vents, holding the nozzle a short distance away. Keep the can upright. Steady the fan blades with a cotton swab or a finger while you blow, so the air does not spin the fan at speed, which can strain its bearings.
Clean the ports lightly with a dry cotton swab or compressed air. Do not put liquid into a port, and do not poke metal tools into the connections.
Sticky keys and spills
A key that sticks, or feels gritty after a spill, needs attention at once. Switch the laptop off, unplug it, and turn it upside down so the liquid drains out of the keyboard rather than soaking deeper. Leave it to dry for at least a day, somewhere ventilated. Do not use a hair dryer, and do not put the laptop near a heater, because heat can damage the battery and the display.
If a key still sticks once the laptop is dry, a cotton swab barely dampened with 70 percent isopropyl alcohol can clean the edge of the key and the gap around it. Work gently, and keep the swab off the rest of the keyboard. Some keys can be lifted with a keycap tool, but many laptops hold their keys with a fragile mechanism underneath, and a torn clip is harder to fix than the original stickiness. If the key still does not work after a careful clean, take the laptop to a repair service.
Checking the manufacturer’s guidance
Makers give specific advice on cleaning their products, and it changes from time to time. Some laptop makers have allowed certain wipes on some surfaces and forbidden others, and the rules have changed over the years. Look up your maker’s current support page before using alcohol or any other product on the screen or keyboard, and follow it. If the advice and this guide differ, the maker’s advice takes precedence.
Avoiding damage
- Turn the laptop off before you clean the screen, so you can see the marks and no liquid can reach live parts.
- Do not close the lid with objects on the keyboard, since the pressure can crack the screen.
- Do not drink or eat over the keyboard.
- Clean the screen with a dry cloth every few days, and deep clean once a month.
- Keep the laptop out of direct sun and off soft surfaces, which block the vents.
Speakers, the hinge and the lid
The speaker grilles on the sides or underneath collect dust and crumbs, which muffle the sound. Use a soft brush and a short burst of compressed air, and never put liquid into a grille. The hinge is where the weight of the lid meets the base. Wipe the gap around it with a dry cloth or a cotton swab, and check that no grit is trapped in the joint, because grit there can scratch both the lid and the base.
Wipe the outside of the lid with the same method you use for the screen. Check the edges of the lid for dust and skin oil, and clean them with a barely damp cloth. Keep the lid closed when the laptop is not in use, so less dust settles on the keyboard.
The charger and the case
Clean the charger with a dry cloth, after unplugging it. Check the plug and the cable for damage, and blow out the charging port with a short burst of compressed air. If you use a case or a sleeve, shake it out, wipe the inside with a dry cloth, and check the pockets for grit. A case that holds grit can scratch the lid every time the laptop goes in and out, so clean it as often as the laptop.
When to call a repair service
If liquid has got into the keyboard or the base, switch the laptop off straight away, unplug it, and take it to a repair service without turning it on again. Liquid that reaches the circuit board can cause corrosion, and running the laptop before it dries can damage it further. If the screen is cracked, or if the display has dark spots or lines, a repair service can check whether the panel needs replacing.
