How to Clean a Laptop Spill

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How to Clean a Laptop Spill

Step1

Shut down the computer immediately.

Step2

Wipe up any liquid. Tilt the computer to the side to drain any liquids.

Step3

Remove any removable parts from the laptop, including the power cord, printer and mouse cables, the floppy drive, CD drive, modem cards and battery. Do not disassemble the laptop body to remove internal parts.

Step4

Once the parts are removed, gently lift the computer and turn it to the side and upside down to drain any liquid. Tilt the computer in a variety of directions to verify that there are no pools of liquid lurking, but be careful not to shake it or handle it roughly.

Step5

Repeat with the floppy drive and other removable parts.

Step6

Use a hair dryer on a cool setting to dry the laptop and its parts if you can.

Step7

Allow the computer and its removable parts to dry for 24 hours before you reassemble it and turn it back on. (If you are under a tight deadline, let the laptop dry for at least an hour before you reassemble it.)

Step8

If the computer does not work properly or does not turn on, bring it to a computer repair professional, although the damage might be irreparable. Spills are one of the leading causes of laptop deaths.

Post Construction Cleaning/Water Damage

Prevent damage to your home from a frozen water pipe by flipping off the breaker to your water pump when you leave for a length of time. Over the last several years, I have been hired to do post-construction cleaning due to frozen water pipes in which the homes were damaged from $10,000 to $150,000. In one case, the homeowner was consumed in a fight of over two years with the insurance company to pay for the damage. In the meantime, the house was unlivable with the homeowner in limbo, renting, with most of their belongings in storage.

The obvious damage of water is to your flooring but sheetrock wicks the moisture, it can also condense in the vents, damage ceilings and, in some states’ re-construction codes, require replacement of electrical wiring in the entire structure. In the home above, water flowed out under four patio doors, trapping moisture under the sills, swelling the doors and forcing their replacement at the cost of over $10,000.

Keeping detailed records in any insurance claim is a must. Photograph everything. Any meeting with an insurance rep ~ by phone or in person ~ should be followed with a certified letter to the company documenting it. You have up to two years (Minnesota) to make additional claims under the file for newly discovered damage. For example, water damage does not make itself evident on the finish of furniture as the wood takes its time to dry and contract.