How to Fix a Wet Keyboard

    

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     Laptops are at a disadvantage when it comes to laptop replacement parts because they aren’t designed to be as robustly upgradeable as desktops. This fact is practically a given when talking about integral system components like CPUs, hard drives, and video cards; but this is just as applicable with “outer” laptop parts like batteries, LCD screens, and keyboards. While the outer parts are relatively easier to come by than the inner laptop components, they could still cost you a pretty penny, being that every single laptop part is more often than not custom-made by the computer manufacturer to fit in its laptop and its laptop alone.

     The three aforementioned outer parts are the most commonly reported laptop components which are damaged, as it turns out. Because of the reasons mentioned above, most people would rather just buy a new laptop than have to go through all the trouble of acquiring their required parts through specialized means. Fortunately, there are ways to fix these parts without having to spend a dime. For this article, let’s talk about fixing a wet keyboard.

     The first thing you should do is to turn off your laptop. I know that it sounds silly for me to have to mention it, but believe me when I say that there are a lot of people who neglect this simple step, whether they do it intentionally or otherwise. If neglected, it could pose the problem of having the spilled liquid come into contact with exposed laptop parts and short your computer out.

     After turning your computer off, wipe away the liquid using a small towel. Afterwards, put the towel down on a flat surface (a tabletop, preferably). Lift the laptop up, and ever so gently tilt it to the side to allow the excess water inside the gadget to run off and drain out. Do not do this with violent, jerky motions because doing so could make the liquid inside slosh around further and contact even more laptop parts. Just tilt the computer at an angle and let the liquid pour out onto the towel. Rotate your laptop slowly if need be to really get all that liquid to come out.

     Next, dry off the excess liquid with a hair dryer. Make sure to let the air get in those tight spaces between the keys. Also, make sure to set your hair dryer on “cool,” as a higher temperature could possibly melt all those delicate plastic and silicon components.

     Finally (and this is the hardest part), make sure to wait for a couple of days or so before you start using your laptop again. This is to ensure that every last bit of fluid has dried up by the time you turn on your machine again. This is especially imperative if the liquid spilled on your keyboard is viscous like starchy soups or sugary drinks. After waiting, your laptop should be good to go.

And there you have it: A few simple steps to follow when trying to fix a wet keyboard. Not only were you able to fix your laptop, but you also learned something new, and saved half a hundred bucks to boot.