Water Spilled on Your Laptop? How to Fix It Step by Step

You may have bought a new laptop, and water may have been spilled on it when you least expected it. In a moment like that you may not know what to do, so we will create a guide for you. If you are asking what to do when water is spilled on your laptop, follow the steps in our guide:

What Should You Do If Water Is Spilled on Your Laptop? (2023)

• First, remove all components that can be easily detached. Unplug your mouse and all cables, and take out all flash drives and DVDs. Leave your laptop empty.
• Dry the outside of your machine. Open your laptop all the way, hold it upside down so the accumulated liquid can drain out, and wipe the wet surfaces with an absorbent towel or lint-free absorbent cloth until they are dry. Do NOT try to dry the computer with pressurized hot air from a heat gun or hair dryer.
• If you spilled something more corrosive than water, we recommend taking it to a repair shop or, ideally, using your warranty to get a new one.
• However, if you spilled water on your laptop, you can try this: put the laptop in a warm (not hot) and dry place and leave it there for 24-48 hours. Ideally, open it up as much as you can by opening the lid and removing unnecessary panels. However, you may need to run a dehumidifier in the area or room where the laptop is.
• If you try to turn on your PC before it is ready, you may cause a major short circuit in your system and damage your laptop further, so it is best to wait at least one day.

Take Your Laptop Apart

• Remove the battery as far as your laptop allows. Removing the battery is usually done by pressing a switch or button on the bottom of your computer.
• If you are worried about liquid leaking into the entire system, into components such as your memory and storage drive, you can remove those as well.
• Inspect every component you removed to check for any moisture. You should try to dry all wet parts, but if the liquid is not water, you need to wipe them using a clean toothbrush dipped in 99% isopropyl alcohol.
• Leave everything to air dry in a warm, dry area for 2-3 days. Once you are sure the parts are completely dry, you can reassemble the parts in your computer.