A laptop, like any personal computer, needs to be cleaned periodically, as its internals are very compact and the main cause of overheating and freezing is dust. Printeria service center manager Ilya Karpuk said in an interview with socialbites.ca that it is recommended to carry out preventive cleaning of the device once a year to prevent laptops from overheating.
“It is recommended to entrust the work to professionals, as they can properly disassemble the laptop, clean the inside, replace the grease on the cooling fans and the thermal paste on the processor and video card. But if you really want to take it to the service or if you don’t have the opportunity, you can try to clean it yourself,” said the expert.
First of all, you need to turn off the laptop by turning off the power and removing the removable battery. You can then wipe the screen and camera with lint-free wipes and special liquids – such kits can be purchased at office supply stores. According to the expert, the screen of laptops is very “sensitive”, so it must be carefully wiped and not pressed, otherwise the matrix may be damaged.
“The keyboard can be wiped with the same lint-free washcloth. The key is not to get it too wet so that liquid doesn’t accidentally leak between the keys. It is also not recommended to press hard while wiping. If crumbs get under the keys, you can try blowing with a can of compressed air, ”Karpuk shared.
Next, you need to remove the back cover of the laptop by unscrewing all the bolts. On some models, the cover may also consist of compartments for quick access to the hard drive and RAM – in this case, you must first remove them.
“Once you have all access in front of the motherboard, you first need to clear out any dust deposits from clogged radiators, corners, pipe outlets. It should be wiped without pressure with a dry cloth, trying not to hang the elements on the board, so as not to tear something. You can then blow it with compressed air. I especially recommend blowing it on the cooling fan, as it collects a lot of dust, ”says the expert.
Karpuk recommends using a cotton swab when cleaning hard-to-reach places. Also, the expert does not advise inexperienced users to change the thermal paste and coolant oil on their own because there is a risk of damaging the device. In addition, you should not use a household vacuum cleaner when cleaning a laptop – it is powerful enough and can rip off any item on the board or “swallow” a button. Also, it is safer for the technology to blow the dust out.
“If cleaning didn’t help and the laptop continues to freeze and overheat, I suggest you contact a specialist service center,” said the expert.
Former expert Sitnov said About the dangers of alcohol and other life hacks while cleaning the computer.