One spill of water is sometimes enough to short, fry and otherwise ruin your laptop. However, more than the actual spill, how you react in the minutes after a spill determines if your computer will survive. Follow the steps below for a water spill. (If you have spilled another liquid, such as a soda, household cleaner or other chemical, what you should do will vary based on what is actually in the spilled liquid. Do not handle any liquids that you normally wouldn’t touch while trying to save a laptop.) If a large amount of water has been spilled, there is a risk of shock. Be careful!
1. Turn off the system by it’s power button immediately.
2. Unplug the power cord from the wall.
3. Carefully unplug the power cord from the computer (if enough water has spilled, there is a risk of shock from the power in the battery. Show extreme caution! )
4. Remove the battery from the computer.
5. If the spill went onto or into the keyboard or 'top' of the computer, place a clean towel (paper or otherwise) on top of the keyboard. If the spill came from the side, such as across a table, move the computer to a safe place and place the towel underneath it.
6. Close the lid, and turn the computer upside down. Don't do this if the spill came from the side or bottom!
Finally, make sure it was just water. If anything else was in the water, such as salts (flavorings) or sugars (drink mixes), you will want to be sure of it. How a spill is handled from here is dependent on the contents of the liquid. Often, if handled quickly and appropriately, a water spill can dry itself with limited or no damage to the computer’s components.
How can we help? We are trained to disassemble, clean and reassemble your notebook, removing moisture and water that may remain in your computer. If you’ve spilled a drink or other liquid that is not water, we can assess the proper solvent to remove it safely from your computer and get it cleaned.
If you have spilled a potentially dangerous chemical, such as motor oil, gasoline or flammable liquids, we recommend having a nearby disaster recovery or restoration specialist immediately service your notebook PC. Do not attempt to handle any hazardous chemicals without proper protection or training.
