Laptop 911: how to save your computer from a coffee spill

PHOTO: CAROLE NICKERSON)
It’s a really important question: what to do when you spill coffee on your laptop (other than curse like a sailor and panic)?

Lucky for me when I spilled half a cup of molten coffee over my 12” powerbook this morning the computer savvy whizzes in my office came to the rescue. And fast. But why not ward off undue risk and read about it before disaster strikes. Seriously, we all flirt with this disaster each and every day. Just look at the number of women who entered our ”She’s Such a Geek” photo contest with photos of their laptops in potential splash zones.

Plus, I’d like to point out that a lower computer mortality rate is better for the planet (Related: ”Apple’s Beryllium Cremation Damages Environment?” May 1, 2007).

1. Cut the power! Pull out the power cord. Pull out the battery. It’s cruel but worth it.

(Saving your laptop after a spill by dummies.com suggests you “ground yourself by touching the center screw on the faceplate of a dry electrical outlet or by touching some other metal object that reaches to ground.” This sounds awkward and unrealistic to me. For example, how could I have possible grounded myself while cleaning the mess up? Craziness.)

2. Unplug the power cord from the wall… !

3. Disconnect any external devices. In my case a hardy set of USB headphone and an ipod charger.

(now here is where I parted ways from the dummies.com advice. They suggest you dismantle your computer part by part and dry each component. Getting me to do that is inviting major pain and breakage)

4. Mop up any residual spill. I for one was struck with an overwhelming urge to do something like that snake bite first aid thing where you suck up all the tainted blood from the wound. But that’s gross. And a roll of paper towels will do the trick.

5. Let your computer hang to dry. There are several recommended positions for this. I started off with my computer open and inverted like an upside down “V” but this position was fast replaced with another one I dubbed the “hangover.” Open your laptop so that the keyboard and screen are at right angles to each other. Then turn it upside down and hang it over the ledge of your desk. This way the keyboard part is resting upside down flat on the surface of your desk while the screen hangs over the edge.

6. Now here comes the hardest part. Next you have to wait while everything dries - to become sticky sticky sticky. I think this period of time varies with the spill hazard. Me? I walked down the street, bought more coffee (because I’m dumb like that), bought some apple strudel, came back, wrung my hands, drank the coffee, ate the strudel, and picked up some knitting (See our related blog category: The End is Nigh). Two long hours later I pressed the on button to discover that joy of all joys my computer was alive and well. Now that I have a new lease on it’s life we’re back in the throes of love with renewed vigor.

For some further happy stories of coffee spills check out this stream of comments over at lifehacker.

Posted by Anne Casselman on November 23, 2007 at 1:56 PM in the end is nigh

11 Comments

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Comments

Erm. At least you didn’t pour it on yourself this time, right? And you learned something. Learning is good.

Posted on November 25, 2007 at 10:23 PM by

Alas. Coffee catastrophes can happen on either side of the pond. Early yesterday morning, Jon (my bloke) poured a skinny cappuccino into his Apple (not on purpose, obviously). Sadly your advice could not rescue it, and alas poor laptop it is no more. It is flashing and beeping and stained, and generally distroyed.

Apparently when he took it to the Genius Bar in the Regents Street Apple store, the resident expert was very distressed at the fate of the poor laptop, saying it looked like a fish out of water, flapping and gasping and dying.

It would cost £800 to fix, but thank heaven for homes and contents insurance. For an excess of just £50 the kind people at AA will replace it with a shiny new one.

But so sad.

Posted on November 28, 2007 at 5:46 AM by

Yay knitting! I hope I never spill coffee on my compy.

Posted on November 28, 2007 at 12:48 PM by Chelsea

It is good that someone writes articles which really matters something. Thank you for this article, it�s full of knowledge which is hard to find in tons of rubbish in our famous world wide web. Regards and good luck!

Posted on February 12, 2008 at 1:34 PM by COmper

I have a great way to protect your laptop from any spills like this. It’s a huge secret in the tech industry, you ready for this? ok… All you do is wrap your laptop with layers of cling film! easy! that way it doesn’t get dirty and when you want to sell it, it’ll look like new because of the cling film. Amazing!!11

Posted on March 13, 2008 at 2:12 PM by Pink Laptops

why not just keep ur coffee and laptop completely separated

Posted on March 25, 2008 at 3:01 AM by ALL IN ONE FORUM

We could keep the laptop and the coffee separate but then half the coffee shops of the world would close doors People don’t go to have coffee with people. they go to have coffee with their computers, so it stands to reason that once in a while the computer gets some of that coffee too.

Posted on March 31, 2008 at 1:03 PM by

My friend’s MacBook get a more harrowing episode than spilled coffee. My friend left his bag in a terrace at the terrace and taking a nap.

When he woke up the rain pour down crazily, he got to the pantry to make coffee, take a seat, watch the TV and take a sip, then he remembered he left his MacBook bag in the open.

He cursed and run like hell to grab the bag.
The MacBook is drenched, even the keyboard dripping with waters.
He tries to forget it, put the macbook in the attic to get away with sorrow and guilt.

A couple of months later his nephew found his MacBook, recharge it and turn it on, guess what.... it run smoothly like nothing has ever happened before....

it’s crazy

Posted on April 02, 2008 at 12:36 PM by electrical geek

Great tips and advice. Thanks for sharing.

I guess if the liquid has not seeped into the laptop inner body yet, the machine could still be undamaged. Just tip it over so the liquid can drip off the laptop and let it dry. It should be fine.

The scenario that electrical geek described is a miracle! LOL.

Posted on April 03, 2008 at 12:14 AM by Michelle

Thanks for sharing those tips. I’ve heard that for any electronic appliance when spilling any liquids on them what you have to do first is to turn them off. Then you should take a hair dryer (cool) and try to dry as much as you can, then wait for a few hours and that’s it, no damages in your equipment.

Posted on April 18, 2008 at 5:18 PM by Bill

I lost a computer due to coffee spillage - but it was great because the insurance company replaced it wit a more up to date one (My computer before that I broke by dropping it and was similarly compensated) However, not wanting to be irresponsible I’m now very strict about not having coffee on the desk. Instead I put it on a small table or stool at coffee table height beside the desk so that if the coffee gets spilt there is a good chance that none of it gets on the computer. It’s worked very well so far

Posted on May 23, 2008 at 10:35 AM by

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