Q&A for How to Clean a Laptop

Good cleaners contain isopropyl alcohol, which makes them safe to use on the different types of surfaces laptops have.

Opening up your laptop should only be done in a static-free environment. If you open the case at home, you risk damaging your laptop's components. Unless you have experience working with computer hardware, take your computer to a computer repair store for a deep cleaning.

If your USB or HDMI ports show rust, get a small paintbrush, a can of rust remover (such as Rust-Oleum), a can of compressed air, and an emery board. Use the emery board to gently scrub off the rust. Use compressed air to blow away any dust or metal filings. Then spray the rust remover on the tip of the paintbrush and lightly "paint" the area where you scrubbed. Make sure it's completely dry before you turn your computer back on.

Take your laptop to your manufacturer's support. Some glass cleaners can damage a laptop.

It depends on where you get it, but it's usually not above $30; I get mine from my local hardware store.

Try to use a cloth. If it doesn't come off, take a wet cloth that is soaked with milk, and dry it until it is just dry enough for no water to come out but wet enough that it is still wet. Afterward, you should wipe it a bit, and it should come off.

No, you shouldn't use vinegar to clean your laptop. It could damage the internal components.

Fingernail polish remover is the easiest, cheapest option.

Yes, you can. Make sure it is a clean cloth, and that you are not to rough with it.

You can find isopropyl alcohol (aka rubbing alcohol) in the pharmacy section of a supermarket or at a drugstore.

Yes, you can also use alcohol wipes. You can clean the sides, top, and bottom, as well as the keyboard and trackpad with them. Just make sure that whatever you are using only contains alcohol and distilled water. Those will not leave residue or conduct electricity, unlike some other chemicals.

No, don't use anything like that. Use some Windex in a paper towel and then wipe it down clean. Don't use any harsh solvents to clean your laptop. However, you can also use Clorox wipes to rid your keyboard of germs and viruses and make it fresh and minty.

Get an old rag T-shirt and spray a little squirt of WD-40 on to the T-shirt and apply that and clean the sticky stuff off your laptop. Then you need to remove the oils, so use paper towels and Dawn dish soap to remove the excessive oils. (Try a small spot first, than to be all over the laptop).

Dirt, dust, and grime can accumulate under the keys and prevent them from registering. Use a soft cloth and a mild cleaning solution to wipe down the calculator. If a key is stuck, it won't register. Try pressing the key repeatedly to see if it loosens up. Some HP financial calculators have a reset button or a battery reset procedure. Check your user manual or online documentation for instructions. Weak or old batteries can cause key registration issues. Try replacing them with fresh ones. If none of the above steps resolve the issue, you may need to contact HP support for further assistance or repair options.

Bleach should definitely be avoided, this could potentially react with the plastics and make the screen clouded and unusable. Gasoline should also be avoided. Whilst gasoline does share the evaporative properties of isopropyl alcohol, it evaporates more slowly than alcohol. Any gasoline that can make contact with an electrical board has a very good chance of igniting. I would advise to not use these substances.

Some areas of your keyboard are safe to clean with damp cloths or wet wipes that contain alcohol. Your screen and the tops of your keys, for instance, can be wiped down. But it's very important that you use wipes that don't contain ammonia or bleach. Both of which can seriously damage your laptop's screen and inner workings. Check the packaging on the wipes to make sure they don't contain any bleach or ammonia. If they don't they're safe to use to gently wipe down your screen and the tops of your keys.

Sometimes a laptop can get so grimy that it needs a real deep cleaning to restore it back to new. Start by gently wiping the screen with a microfiber cloth. Then, wet a clean sponge, and squeeze it out until it is almost dry. Use purified or distilled water rather than tap water, which can leave mineral streaks on your screen. Wipe your screen gently, using light pressure. Don't scrub your screen or you could damage it. You can also use a pre-moistened cleaning wipe, but make sure it doesn't contain harsh cleansing agents such as ammonia or bleach, which may damage your screen. If there are really stubborn spots on your laptop, add a drop of gentle dish soap to the water to help loosen them. Try removing loose dust and debris by holding your laptop upside down and shaking it. Then, take a handheld vacuum cleaner and run it over the keys to suck up any dirt and debris still lodged in it.

There are a few things you can do to clean your laptop without risking any damage. Start by folding a microfiber cloth and rubbing it gently across the width of your screen, back and forth to pick up dust. Don't press to had on the screen or you could damage it. You can also use a screen-cleaning kit that includes a cleaner specially designed for laptop screens. They also usually come with their own microfiber cloth as well. Don't use regular glass cleaners, especially those with ammonia, which can damage the screen. After you're done cleaning, take your microfiber cloth and gently rub your screen in a circular motion to eliminate any streaks or particles the left behind. For the keyboard, use a small handheld vacuum to suck up debris without harming it your laptop. Move the attachment slowly across the keyboard, going over each row from the top of the keyboard to the bottom.

Do the same as for the laptop information provided above. Follow its grooves as best you can. Using a sponge will help versus using just cloth.

Pouring liquids on it is a big no-no. You can use a microfiber cloth with a small bit of rubbing alcohol or water on it, but you should never pour liquids on a computer.

Apple assembles their products with proprietary screws. Taking it to an authorized repair shop would be the best choice.

You could use "Eucalyptus oil" for hard stains such as glue sticker. Add some drops Eucalyptus Oil to your microfiber cloth/facial tissue, start rubbing it. Repeat if necessary. Wash your hands well after.

Yes, but it's not recommended. Since Magic Sponges are not that soft, use the Magic Sponge only for front of the laptop and the keyboard panel and don't try rubbing it too hard. A microfiber cloth is always recommended for cleaning sensitive things like screens.