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how do you apply Isopropyl alcohol to clean a notebook's surface and keys? (lemmy.ml)

submitted 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago) by merompetehla@lemmy.ml to c/asklemmy@lemmy.ml

11 comments fedilink hide all child comments

after reading https://www.wikihow.com/Clean-a-Keyboard and other sources I used a 75% isopropyl alcohol solution to clean my black and grey plastic notebook's keys and surface.

I applied the alcohol to cotton pads. Each cotton pad I used came back black, completely black. This is the first time I use isopropyl alcohol to clean this notebook I bought it 8 years ago.

To clean the surface I sometimes pressed the pad with my nails, because I first thought the black residue on the cotton pads was simply dirt and oils accumulated during 8 years. Now, on second thoughts, it could be the isopropyl alcohol solved the upper layer of plastic and now the clearer lines I see where I pressed with my nails are how the notebook looked 8 years ago. Lines look like an anarchic groove, but don't feel different to the finger.

On other parts I can also see the circular motions I applied to clean those parts. Do I have to apply more alcohol or have I already damaged the plastic?

OTOH I cannot believe wikihow and other sources like https://www.howtogeek.com/65073/how-to-thoroughly-clean-your-keyboard-without-breaking-anything/ would include information that hurts the computer.

Am I doing this right?

all 12 comments

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[–] Bitrot@lemmy.sdf.org 11 points 5 months ago (4 children)

Isopropyl alcohol can damage plastics. I prefer distilled water for surface cleaning.

[–] Zorsith@lemmy.blahaj.zone 2 points 5 months ago

Yep, it can make keycaps start to disintegrate. Mechanical keycaps, the stem starts to split in half and fall off the switch.

[–] blackbrook@mander.xyz 1 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago)

note that this damage is not necessarily in the form of dissolving. it causes some plastics to develop fractures, as if you had dropped it. dont use iso on plastic unless you know it is a kind that it is safe for.

BTW, i just just want to plug for this fact: we are all totally brainwashed by marketing that we need special cleaners for each specific thing. dishsoap or some general purpose soap like Dr bronners and water works fine for just about everything.

[–] Extrasvhx9he 1 points 5 months ago

Oh that's a good call. I've been using some gentle lens cleaner spray

[–] 5wim@slrpnk.net 8 points 5 months ago (1 children)

I think it could very well be dissolving at least a coating. I would use more dilute IPA. 👍

[–] Akasazh@feddit.nl 2 points 5 months ago

Directions unclear: laptop now covered in a feisty hop-bomb from a local craft brewery.

[–] BaumGeist@lemmy.ml 3 points 5 months ago

Some plastics get gummy and start to disintegrate as thet age. You might be rubbing off the aged/oxidized plastic.

[–] Damage@feddit.it 2 points 5 months ago

I just use glass spray

[–] LarkinDePark@lemmygrad.ml 2 points 5 months ago (1 children)

I use baby wipes. Works great.

[–] merompetehla@lemmy.ml 2 points 5 months ago (1 children)

ain't that too much water for an electronic device?

I mean, baby wipes for the keys as well? doesn't it fall to they board beneath?

[–] LarkinDePark@lemmygrad.ml 2 points 5 months ago

I don't think they're that wet. Not the ones I use anyway. I just turn off the laptop and wipe it down, keys and all. If you wanted you could leave it to air out for a while. But if you've seen under a keyboard, it's all a lot of plastic and then the switches. You could even spill a drink on a laptop and it'll be fine if you let it dry.