Your medical records, browser history, login info for your bank account, and past emails - your computer’s hard derive can hold traces of them all.Īnd it’s not enough to simply delete your old files. You may think that’s not a lot of stuff, but your old computers and laptops probably hold plenty of information, much of which you don’t want anyone to see. That means clearing out all the personal and financial information that your computer has collected. But there’s something you must do first - wipe your computer hard drive. There are plenty of cleaning products on the market, but these options can make up a well-rounded kit to keep your laptop clean.You’re ready to donate or recycle your old computer gear. Dampen the cleaning cloth as needed while you clean. Once the inside of the laptop is clean, finish everything off by closing the laptop and repeating the same circular motion on the lid and bottom chassis. Do the same on the palm rests and keycaps. Wipe down the touchpad with small circular motions to remove any oil from your fingers. If you'd rather not use alcohol, the same cleaning solution used on the screen can be used to good effect. As mentioned, isopropyl alcohol can be used here at your own discretion, especially if you're looking to disinfect. Use the same microfiber cloth used on the display, or, if it's particularly dirty, dampen a new cloth. The keyboard and screen are squeaky clean, and you can now turn your attention to the touchpad and chassis to remove oily fingerprints and smudges. Start with the keyboard, ports, and vents Before jumping into any of the cleaning and disinfecting techniques below, be sure to power off your laptop and unplug its AC adapter. Always spray first onto a microfiber cloth to avoid any liquids seeping into the internal hardware and causing damage. If your laptop has a fresh oleophobic coating, you'll likely want to stay away from anything more harsh than marketed laptop screen cleaner.Īs a definitive rule, never spray any cleaning solutions directly onto your laptop.
It is undeniably an effective way to clean and disinfect a device - which, again, is especially important with the threat of coronavirus - but I must offer a warning due to the ongoing argument. A best practice if you do want to test it out is to dilute 70% isopropyl alcohol at a 1:1 ratio with water (preferably distilled to prevent stains) before adding it to a microfiber cloth.
I've been using disposable alcohol wipes on my laptops (screen, keys, and body) for years and have never had any issues, but there are people who claim alcohol has damaged their laptop. Isopropyl alcohol is less harsh, but it still has people divided.
Don't really care because it's an old beater that likely has the finish worn off anyway? Go ahead and use your favorite disinfectant.Īvoid harsh cleaners when wiping down your laptop, especially if an oleophobic finish is involved. Products like Windex or Lysol are common and might seem like a good idea, but they're relatively harsh and can damage the display or finish on your laptop, especially if an oleophobic coating is involved. You don't want to do any permanent damage in the name of hygiene.
#HOW TO WIPE A LAPTOP CLEAN VISTA FREE#
Keeping your hardware clean and free of germs is always good practice (and quite satisfying), but it's becoming even more imperative when dealing with the threat of something like coronavirus (COVID-19). The palm rests and touchpad are often smudged from regular use, the keyboard can get crumbs and hair in it, and your screen might be spotted from the last sneeze. Our laptops have a tendency to become an extension of our bodies - similar to our phones - and they can get grimy in less time than you might think.
0 kommentar(er)
