It's late and you're struggling to stay awake at your desk, so you decide to make yourself a cup of coffee. A few more hours of work ahead and the coffee will perk you up. Then, oops, there it is, all over your laptop, ruining your evening. The coffee has drained into the machine. The damage could be irreparable.
 And worse: you may actually be in danger of being electrocuted. Since data travels between the laptop's components via an electrical current, if any liquid comes into contact with the components while the power is on, it will short out the traces between the circuits. Everything can be affected — keyboard, motherboard, memory and processor.
So what should you do if the worst happens?
Don't panic. By acting promptly, you can usually prevent significant damage. If your laptop is running on battery power and isn't connected to an AC outlet, quickly press the power button to shut the machine down. Then remove the battery.
If the machine is connected to a power outlet, unplug it. Important: you must do this immediately once the spill has occurred. If the power is removed quickly enough, the electronics inside will be undamaged. Then remove the battery.
Now you aren't in any immediate danger, so you can start clearing up the mess. Blot up as much liquid as you can with a soft cloth. Next, remove all cables, USB components, cards and any other external devices. Tilt the laptop gently from side to side to drain it (without madly shaking it around) and place it upside down so the liquid can drain out. Removing the outer casing might affect your warranty; if you choose to do so, don't touch the circuitry inside.
Now all you can do is wait. Leave the laptop open so air can circulate, for at least 24 hours.
As long as your laptop hasn't started to smoke or emitted any strange buzzing noises, it should now work normally, but it may look rather smeared and dirty.
Use a soft, damp cloth to clean the casing — nothing abrasive — or a special cleaning agent, one without any ammonia. Spray this onto the cloth, not directly onto the laptop. Cotton swabs are useful for cleaning around and between the keys.
If you want to clean the display, turn the laptop off first so can see the dirt more clearly. Use a soft cloth to wipe it, but never any paper products like tissues, as they can scratch the surface and leave behind lint that can get into the LCD. You can also buy special spray solutions for cleaning monitors.
By following these steps, you should be able to limit the damage. But of course, the best advice is the most boring: don't drink while you work!
Recommendations in this article should only be applied to devices that you own or manage yourself.
reprinted with permission from the HP Small Business Center |
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