how to clean a macbook screen

MacBooks are very beautiful laptops and it is natural to want to keep them clean and beautiful as long as possible. When using any computer, they used to get screens oily and dusty. When you open a MacBook lid you can see the traces of keys from the keyboard.

So how do you clean MacBook Retina screens? According to Apple first shut down the MacBook and unplug the power adapter. Then dampen a soft, lint-free cloth with water only, then use it to clean the laptop's screen. Clean Touch Bar and Touch ID same way you would clean the screen.

First, turn off the MacBook

To avoid electrostatic shock, it's better to turn off the MacBook and unplug it from the electricity before any cleaning. In order to shut down the Mac go to Apple menu located in the top left corner of the screen, click on Apple logo, scroll down and click on Shutdown menu item.

A window will pop up with the question "Are you sure you want to shut down your computer now?" and count down will start. You have one minute to decide if you want to cancel the shutdown process.

Additionally, you can choose if you want to reopen the applications you were working with at the time. If you don't want to wait a minute, click on the Shut Down button and wait until the screen goes black. Now unplug the power cable it was plugged in.

Unplug all other external devices.

Using air blower

Dust is extremely abrasive and it's one of the biggest enemies of any computer. Macs have always been well designed and had fewer openings between components and with butterfly keyboards introduced recently using air blowers may not be as much needed as before.

However, if you have an older model then blowing off dust, breadcrumbs, and hair is the first thing when cleaning a MacBook.

Dry cleaning

If the screen is not too dirty then start with dry clean as it is least aggressive to the hardware. The problem with any liquids is that liquids can damage any computers by causing a short circuit. They also may contain some minerals that may cause electrostatic shock.

Finally, some liquids can contain abrasives or chemicals which can be harmful to MacBook screen. And maybe most importantly, liquid damage is not covered under the Apple product warranty or AppleCare Protection Plans.

Use a dry soft lint-free cloth and gently wipe down the screen. Do not press too hard when wiping off the display to avoid damaging pixels on the screen. Never scrub as it might rub off protective layers on the screen. Avoid abrasive cloths, towels, paper towels, and similar items that might cause damage.

Wet cleaning

If the screen is still warm after turning off the Mac, then let it cool down. Then lightly dampen another soft lint-free cloth in a distilled water. Do not use a heavily wet cloth to avoid excess water to get into any openings.

Keep liquids away from the Mac to avoid accidental spills. Under no circumstances spray directly on the laptop. If liquid makes its way inside your Apple product, get help from an Apple Authorized Service Provider or Apple Retail Store as soon as possible. If your Mac has Touch Bar or Touch ID clean them the same way you clean the screen.

Wipe the screen with the dry cloth after this.

In case of serious dirt

If there is dirt on the MacBook that does not go away when using water and a lint-free cloth, then you can try some commercial products. Check here for the list of recommended cleaning products for MacBooks.

Unlike most other laptops which have plastic displays MacBooks have glass screens and if a cleaner does not specifically mention Apple MacBook do not use as it may not work as expected.

Avoid using any type of domestic cleaner, alcohol, aerosol sprays, solvents, abrasives, or cleaners containing hydrogen peroxide.

Be aware of the issues caused by using incorrect solutions. Some people complained about losing the protective screen coating.

Disinfecting MacBook

The disinfecting process is similar to cleaning except it consists of three steps:

First, disinfect the screen and keyboard with disinfectant wipes.
Second, wipe everything with a damp lint-free cloth.
Finally, wipe out the area with a second dry lint-free cloth.

Things to avoid when disinfecting:

Wipes containing bleach products.
Disinfecting sprays. Never use spray on MacBooks.
Extremely wet wipes. Squeeze the wipe to remove any excess liquids it may have.
Rough clothes or towels.

Can I use Windex on my MacBook screen?

Do not use Windex or something of the sort because Windex is a chemical and it will ruin the coatings on the screen. Use water and a clean lint-free cloth for cleaning. Your MacBook is too expensive to allow damaging with an incorrect solution.

Can I use a Clorox or Lysol wipe on my MacBook

When using disinfecting wipes make sure that they are bleach-free. After wiping with disinfecting wipe, wipe the area first with a damp lint-free cloth and dry it with another lint-free cloth. Do not let disinfecting liquid to stay too long on the screen. Wipe it off and dry as soon as possible.

How to clean the keyboard of your MacBook

If a key on your MacBook keyboard become stuck or unresponsive then you can follow the steps recommended by Apple:

Hold the Mac at 75% angle
Use compressed air spray the keyboard
Rotate the MacBook to its right side and spray again
Rotate the MacBook to its left side and spray again

Use Apple documentation for cleaning

With the steps described, you will make sure that your MacBook is clean and avoid any damage the cleaning may cause.

When in doubt consult with official Apple documentation. It has instructions on cleaning various types of Apple products including MacBooks with Retina screens. The link is here.

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