Before you pull out your computer to do some work over your holiday breaks, remember to keep your egg nog and all other holiday beverages far away from your computer. This seems obvious, but too often people bring their beverages around their laptops, promising themselves they will be careful. It only takes one accidental spill to spell disaster for your computer. The safest option is to keep your egg nog far away from your computer, but this is a rule not everyone follows so disaster still sometimes strikes.
If you do spill something on your computer or laptop, there are a few things you can do to save it as long as you act quickly. If you forgot to keep your egg nog away from your computer, here are a few things you can do to save it.
Don’t Panic
If you have just spilled something on your laptop, don’t panic. Act quickly, but don’t fret because panic will only lead to shaky hands and slower thought processes. When you panic, you don’t think as clearly so it is very important to make sure you act rationally, think quickly, think logically, and don’t panic.
Think about a time you may have lost your keys before work. They might have been in a normal place, but you had trouble finding them quickly because you might have been panicking about being late. The same philosophy applies when it comes to saving your laptop from spills.
Shut It Down
Turn your computer off using the power button to act as an immediate and hard shutdown. Don’t try to shut it down properly, this is what the emergency shut-off is for. Unplug any charging cables, USB cables, flash drives, or anything that is connected to your computer. These devices, though small, will still try to pull power from your computer which can cause something to short out.
Any work you may lose will not cost as much as a full-service computer repair, or in worst-case scenarios a whole new computer, so shut it down quickly and worry about recovering work later. This is also a great reason to have regular and automatic backups saved.
Turning the computer off will help prevent you from being burned or shocked. Don’t forget that liquid is touching an electrical device, so be extremely careful to avoid getting shocked. If you see steam or feel any excess heat, leave it be.
Get The Fluid Out
Soak up as much liquid as possible with a clean and dry cloth or towel. Open the laptop lid and turn your laptop upside down to allow as much of the excess liquid to drain. If you can let it sit for 24 hours to drain, that is ideal. If you don’t have that much time, let it air out and drain for at least a few hours. If you feel comfortable doing so, you can also remove the underside of your laptop. If you are familiar with and know how to remove it, it will help it air out faster and reduce overall damage.
If you can access the battery, remove it too. You can wipe these parts down with clean cloths to make sure they are dry and not sticky from when you forgot to keep your egg nog far away from your computer.
Call Computer CPR
Computer CPR is here for all your computer mishaps, including the time you forget to keep your egg nog far away from your computer. That’s what we are here for. Computers are great tools and resources, but they can easily get damaged. If you are experiencing troubles with your computer, call us at (817) 915-0111. You can also contact us at any time. Enjoy your holiday beverages this season, but remember to keep your egg nog far away from your computer.