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Safely dry out your wet PC laptop or MacBook
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Accidental water spillage on laptops can be one of the most demoralizing experiences; all of your work can be decimated in a matter of seconds. Fortunately, sealing your laptop in a container with dry rice for 48 hours can minimize the chances of losing valuable data from water damage. These steps are intended to save laptops from water damage, not COFFEE, MILK, or JUICE . Sugary liquids often leave behind solid residue, which complicates the situation. If this is the case, you should still follow these steps to DRY the laptop. However, you should also seek professional assistance.
Things You Should Know
- Power down your computer as soon as it gets wet. If your laptop's battery is removable, remove it immediately.
- Immerse the laptop in dry uncooked rice in a sealed container or plastic bag.
- Allow the laptop to dry completely (for at least 48 hours) before turning it back on.
Steps
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Turn off your laptop immediately by holding the power button. -
Disconnect the power cable and all connected peripherals. If the power cable is attached to an outlet, unplug it right away.Advertisement -
Pull out the battery (if removable). -
Tilt the laptop at an angle to discourage liquid from reaching deeper parts of the laptop. For most spills, this may mean flipping the laptop upside down, but use your own judgment . -
Dry the computer with paper towels or microfiber cloth in all reachable wet areas. -
Use one of two methods that can be used to dry the computer’s internal parts.- One method is to immerse the computer in dry, uncooked rice in a sealed container or plastic bag.
- Another method is to place the computer in a dry location. The moisture should leave the computer naturally.
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Wait at least 48 hours. This time duration may seem excessive, but waiting for the allotted time can ensure that all of the water inside the computer has left. -
Reconnect the power cord carefully to the laptop. If the battery is removable, try doing this without inserting the battery first. -
Test to see if your computer turns on and is operational. -
Back up all your files immediately if your computer is operational. In some occasions, the computer will only function for a few hours before permanent failure. -
Seek professional assistance if your computer is still not functioning.
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Community Q&A
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QuestionMy son placed his wet keyboard upside down on a bed of rice overnight. Can I now cook the rice or might there be toxins?Community AnswerThere are likely some germs and toxins there, though probably not enough to harm you. It's up to you whether you want to take the risk. Most people would find the idea of eating that rice disgusting and throw it away.
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QuestionWhat if my parents' laptop is water-damaged, but I don't want them to find out because they'll blame me for it, even though it's not completely my fault?Jarod SmithCommunity AnswerIf the computer is toast, then its toast. There is nothing that you can do about it. Just explain to them what happened, and apologize.
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QuestionCan I use an external keyboard with my laptop?Community AnswerYes. You can plug an external keyboard into the USB jack and use as normal, or you can use a wireless or Bluetooth keyboard with the appropriate USB dongle (some notebooks have built-in Bluetooth, and would not require a dongle).
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Things You'll Need
- Paper towels
- Dry, uncooked rice. Preferably from an unopened 25 lb bag (optional)
- Sealed container or plastic bag to place laptop inside. A 5 gallon (18.9 L) Rubbermaid bin container should work. (optional)
About This Article
Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 206,895 times.
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