Spilled a drink on your laptop? Do this right now

Liquid and electricity don't mix. What you do in the first few minutes makes the biggest difference.

Right now

1. Turn it off straight away: hold the power button until it switches off. Don't wait to save your work
2. Unplug the charger and everything else
3. If the battery comes out easily, take it out
4. Open it into a tent shape, or turn it upside down, so the liquid can drain out instead of further in
5. Wipe off what you can see with a dry cloth

Don't

• Turn it back on "to check": powering a wet board is what usually does the damage
• Use a hair dryer or put it near a heater: the heat can damage parts and push liquid further in
• Rely on a bag of rice: it doesn't dry the inside, and the dust can get into the laptop

Why get it checked, even if it seems fine

Sugary drinks, coffee and even water leave residue that keeps corroding the board for days or weeks. A laptop that works after a spill can fail later. We open it up, clean the board properly, check for damage and repair what's needed, including at board level.

Other common problems

• A pop-up says your computer is infected and to call a number
• Printer won't print
• Lost files, or a drive that won't show up
• Phone or tablet won't charge
• All common problems