I spilled coffee on my macbook, what should I do?

In this text we will answer the question: “I spilled coffee on my macbook, what should I do?”. In addition, we will give you some tips on how to proceed if you spill coffee or any other liquid on your macbook. Furthermore, we will give you some advice on how to disassemble the computer in case you don’t want to send it in for warranty.

I spilled coffee on my macbook, what should I do?

In case you spilled coffee on your macbook, turn off the computer, unplug it, and also disconnect all other peripheral devices – external hard drive, mouse and headphones, for example. Be quick in this process because every second counts.

You need to turn the laptop over to prevent the liquid from going any deeper and drying up the excess.

Apple’s warranty terms and conditions exclude damage due to spilled liquids, among a few other things.

This means that you will have to bear the repair costs. This also means that if you’ve had a spill accident in the past, even if your Mac is working perfectly fine after the spill, but has to be repaired for some other reason later down the line – Apple has the right to refuse the warranty.

The best thing to do is to leave the Mac turned off for a few hours open and face down, so that it doesn’t cause any more problems, as there may still be liquid inside it.

Then you should contact Apple Official Support or the nearest Authorized Service Center at http://locate.apple.com/ so that the equipment can be evaluated and provide you with information about the need for repair.

There are a bunch of things you can do, assuming the motherboard hasn’t been damaged and you don’t want to send your computer in for warranty service.

Disassemble it

Remove the parts that you can and that you know how to remove, such as the battery. To do this, follow the instructions in the user manual – do not force any part of the computer, as you may damage the equipment.

Remove sticky remains of liquid with a cotton swab and rubbing alcohol.

You can very carefully remove the keys from your computer and wash them with soap and water, or use isopropyl alcohol to clean the keys. Remember that if the sugar is sweetened it is worse because the sugar can make the keys sticky.

Dry the internals (if you can)

Let the computer dry naturally, 24 to 48 hours – and with the screen raised, to facilitate air circulation or dry with warm air using a dehumidifying device.

Attention: do not use the hair dryer, as the temperature used can be too high and damage some components.

After that, replace the fundamental pieces that you took out of the laptop. Turn on the computer to see if the computer is working again.

Additional advices 

Some liquids can damage your computer more than others. Water is bad for the equipment but coffee and sugary drinks are worse.

Even if someone comes up with this idea, don’t use acetone to clean the disaster – this substance can damage plastic components.

If you can’t disassemble it, a trick that some users are already using is to put the device in a bag full of raw rice. But it is safest to leave it in a warm, dry place until you can take the equipment in for repairs.

And it’s always good to remember: trying to disassemble the computer can make the situation worse so the best thing to do is send it in for warranty.

If you decide to do it on your own and take the risks, do all the processes calmly.

This will require a lot of care and patience!

  • Disassemble with all the necessary safety (see manuals that came with the device or the manufacturer, forums specific to your equipment), in short, be careful
  • Start checking the internal plates and, if liquid is visible, try to remove and dry
  • Don’t use traditional cleaning products, avoid it! They may be harmful to your machine
  • For cleaning use only isopropyl alcohol, it can be used to clean electronic components. It is the most suitable for this purpose, as the percentage of water is less than 1% and, therefore, the chance of oxidation of the parts is almost null. Be careful, it is a flammable product; read more here: isopropyl alcohol

The bottom line

Yes, I know that inevitably, you will spill some liquid on your computer. To err is human and we cannot prepare for some distractions. However, with these tips that we have, the probability of your computer failing is infinitely lower. A good practice is to avoid eating or drinking while using any electronics.

In case of meals, make them in your own room, such as in the kitchen or in a dedicated space.

Other FAQs about Coffee that you may be interested in.

How to store coffee cake?

How to use coffee as a laxative?

How to use coffee creamer?

Conclusion

In this text we answered the question: “I spilled coffee on my macbook, what should I do?”. In addition, we gave you some tips on how to proceed if you spill coffee or any other liquid on your macbook. Furthermore, we gave you some advice on how to disassemble the computer in case you don’t want to send it in for warranty.

Citations

https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/how-to-deal-with-liquid-spills-on-your-mac-laptop/

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