Spilling a drink onto a computer keyboard while in use is no longer a rare accident.
Note: Electricity and water are never the same.
Please turn off the power immediately!
This is advice for those who just skipped the introduction of the article, turn off the laptop and unplug the charger immediately.
If the device has a removable battery, remove it too, and if necessary, dry it and store it somewhere safe.
Most computer hardware can survive even being submerged in water, as long as the computer is powered off.
But remember that in addition to the keyboard, there are still many different components attached to the keyboard that can be damaged when exposed to water, including speakers and trackpads.
Then what to do?
What to do next will depend on the laptop you are using, its age, and whether you dare to open the base of the device to `dig` into the internal components.
If the device is still under warranty, removing the case will void the warranty.
The manufacturer may `examine` the device for free, but you will have to bear the entire cost of the repair, if any.
If the warranty has expired (or you simply don’t care), the next steps will be done by you.
Go online and refer to the repair instructions along with the laptop model name you are using.
Option 1: self-correct
Once you decide to repair the device yourself, you will be the one to directly assess the damage you cause.
First, you have to remove a few components in the machine so that the water can evaporate.
Next is the step of drying the components in the machine with a dry, non-fluff cloth or towel (paper towel is also fine).
Then leave the computer and the components you just removed earlier in a cool, dry place for at least 48 hours.
Once everything is dry, you can reassemble the machine and use it normally.
Option 2: take it to a mechanic
You can bring your device to a computer repair shop to see if you need to replace any components. The cleaning and drying step will also be performed by a technician.
If you are using an Apple laptop, you can bring a new one to the company’s warranty centers.
Option 3: turn off the device and leave it as it is
If you spilled just a little water or you think not much water has reached the bottom of the laptop, be patient and take some time to dry your computer.
Keep the device in that position in a cool, dry place for the next 48 hours before turning on the device for testing.
Fix stuck/sticky key button issue
The best way to fix this problem is to clean each key on the keyboard.
But remember to turn off the device, unplug it from the power source and remove the battery before doing this.
Spray or drop a little isopropyl alcohol on the stuck key and then continuously press that key so the alcohol can enter and clean deep into the base of the key.
Continue repeating the above process until there are no more stuck keys.
In case your laptop keyboard is completely broken, the only thing you can do is take it to a store to have a new keyboard replaced.
Don’t use rice
Unlike what we often think, rice is not the best thing to dry electronic components.
Is there any way to limit water spillage into laptops in the future?
Of course yes, just don’t drink water or coffee while using your laptop.
But if you `often` spill water on your keyboard, don’t be stubborn, try buying a keyboard protector to use.
Another option is to place your laptop on a stand and then connect an external mouse and keyboard.
There are laptop models, Lenovo’s ThinkPad line is an example, that come with the ability to withstand water spills on the keyboard.
