Spilled coffee on your laptop? Don’t panic! Here’s how you can mitigate the damage, quickly
In today’s world, laptops hold our most important information, both personal and professional. Often, the data inside is worth far more than the laptop price. Most HP laptops are built to last with reinforced casing and are especially designed for travel and productivity. However, no matter how well-designed your laptop is, the threat of accidental spills remains a real risk. It could happen if you’re sipping coffee during a meeting, using a beauty product for a tutorial, travelling, or simply working with a bottle of water near you. Quick action is key to saving your machine. You don’t need fancy tools here, just presence of mind. Here’s a simple guide on how to rescue your laptop if disaster strikes in the form of a spill or a splash.
Step one: Power off your laptop immediately
Act fast and do this the moment water touches your laptop. Most HP laptops allow you to shut down using your mouse, too. Do not press any keys. This is to ensure that no electrical charge meets the water, which can cause serious internal damage.
Step two: Do not touch the keyboard of the laptop
Before you get to the keyboard, ensure no more water from the surrounding table area or desk area seeps in. Clean the nearby area before you get to the laptop.
Step three: Flip the laptop and drain it
Now is a good time to turn your laptop upside down with care and gently shake it to drain any liquid left under the keyboard. This will help prevent it from spreading inside and damaging other parts.
Step four: Dry the keyboard and ports of the laptop
Once all of the external liquid is out, use a dry cloth or, better yet, use paper towels to wipe the keyboard. You can slowly do the same to the side ports, headphone jacks, and charging area. HP laptops are designed with tightly sealed ports, but it’s best to make sure there isn’t any more moisture caught inside.
Step five: Give the rice trick a try
A phone can be dumped into a sack of rice, but for a laptop, you will need to pour rice over the keyboard generously, making sure you get all the gaps. After that, you need to close the laptop and leave it in a dry area for at least a day or two to absorb any residual moisture.
Step six: Test the keys of the laptop
Once you have waited it out, try powering on the laptop. Hopefully, it does! Try testing every key. You can even open a document and type out a few letters to test it. Do check if the screen is working properly, as well as the speakers and the ports. Your laptop should be ready to go.
Step seven: Call authorised personnel
Hopefully, your laptop will be up and running, but it’s always a good idea to get a professional opinion. Try to opt for insurance plans like Croma’s ZipCare Protect – Accidental and Liquid Damage (ADLD) Protection Plan when purchasing your laptop. This protective plan can provide insurance against unwanted drops, scratches, and spills.
Accidents can happen when we least expect them to, but it doesn’t mean you have to hit the panic button. A few simple steps, along with some quick thinking, can help rescue your laptop. So, next time you spill, don’t fret, do the above, and within a day or two, you should be back at your keyboard.
