Introduction
Let’s imagine you borrow a laptop from your friend thinking that they own a very expensive one. But as soon as you start using it you notice the dirty touchpad. How will it make you feel? It will definitely make you feel gross. As a result you might end up returning it to your friend. You all might not be aware but your laptop touchpad can accumulate a lot of dust and skin contamination over time. It doesn’t matter how expensive your laptop is or how much you have invested in it. If the touchpad doesn’t work properly or gives you a hard time then you must need to clean the laptop touchpad as soon as possible.
But before proceeding there are some important points to remember:
- Since all laptops are similar but they are processed and produced differently. Therefore you should prefer just one type of cleaner over another.
- Cleaning should be performed thoroughly; because it will make use of liquids which might affect the laptop’s performance.
- Make sure your hands and fingers are clean and sanitized before and after the process.
Requirements:
Before moving toward the process let’s first go with the things that we require to clean the laptop touchpad;
- A dried clean cloth
- A cloth paper towel or a microfiber towel
- Pure water or distilled water
- A large bowl
- Isopropyl alcohol
Process:
Now let’s discuss the 5 simple steps regarding how to clean the laptop touchpad;
Step # 1: power off your laptop
Before starting any cleaning process always make sure that your laptop is powered off and is not connected for charging as well. Also if the laptop has a removable charger then it is necessary to remove it for precautionary measures.
Step # 2: use pure or distilled water
Use a bowl cleaner to hold some pure or distilled water and use the towel to soak in it. Then do not forget to properly wring it out to remove the extra water from the towel.
Note: make sure that the towel that is being used is a microfiber or paper towel or else it might leave scratches on your touchpad.
Step # 3: rub slightly
Use the paper towel to clean the touchpad properly and gently. Must make sure not to press the touchpad too hard or else it will break.
Step # 4: isopropyl alcohol or isopropanol
Now at this point you will see that there are still some stubborn stains on the touchpad which were not removed by the damp paper towel. In this case use a clean cloth and moisten with isopropyl alcohol. Now use that cloth to clean the resisting stains off it.
Isopropyl alcohol is used in 99% of cleaning of electronic items because its evaporating property ensures that it will dry the dirty spot leaving no residues behind. Its miscible property is a plus point because you can mix it with water and easily wipe off the stains.
Step # 5: wipe off with a dry cloth
As soon as the alcohol dries up use the clean dried cloth to wipe all the wet area and dust off the touchpad. Your laptop touchpad will now look clean and new.
Can You Clean a Laptop Touchpad? – Here’s What You Need to Know
Do you have a laptop that’s too old to update but still works well enough that you don’t want to get rid of it? If you’re feeling ambitious you might be wondering if it’s possible to clean the touchpad or even replace it entirely with something newer and more sensitive. The answer is maybe! Here’s what you need to know about cleaning and replacing your laptop touchpad before you take the plunge.
The first thing to know
Can you clean your laptop touchpad? Of course you can. But it may not be recommended by your manufacturer or whoever built your device. That’s because it is possible to damage some of its components if done improperly. So before you get out that can of cleaning spray and paper towel here are some things you should know about cleaning laptop touchpads
How to clean a laptop touchpad?
The best way to clean your laptop touchpad depends on whether or not it has an optical touch sensor (sometimes labeled as touch-sensitive). These sensors track your finger movement over its surface and are used in place of a mouse. Optical touchpads can be cleaned much like any other part of your laptop while manual sensors use mechanical components that don’t require cleaning. If you have an optical sensor follow these steps:… If you have a manual sensor the following should help:…
A helpful tool for the job is q-tips and rubbing alcohol.
Do not submerge the touchpad in water or use any abrasive products; instead use cotton swabs with rubbing alcohol to remove dirt from individual keys.
Be careful not to push too hard when doing this because dirt can accumulate under keys if they are pried up too high.
How often should you clean your computer screen or other devices?
The jury is still out on whether you should clean your computer screen at all. In many cases it’s not necessary. If you’re like most people and use your computer frequently throughout the day cleaning it occasionally may be enough to remove grime crumbs and dust that have settled on its surface. The best way to clean your laptop is with a damp cloth or other cleaning products if needed.
Avoid using household cleaners because they can damage the sensitive electronics in your laptop. Don’t forget about the touchpad! Over time dirt and oils can accumulate on this surface making it difficult for you to use without running into issues like inaccurate tracking or unresponsiveness. To keep your touchpad working properly give it a gentle wipe with a soft dry cloth once in a while but avoid using any type of liquid cleaner as this could damage your laptop.
The importance of cleaning screens
Let’s get one thing out of the way first: Yes you can clean your laptop touchpad. A lot of people don’t clean their laptops because they assume that doing so will somehow damage their screen. This is untrue; in fact leaving a screen dirty will cause it to wear out faster. That said there are certain steps you should take when cleaning your laptop touchpad and there are some easy ways you can keep it looking fresh without much work at all.
1) The first step is to ensure that the laptop has been powered down for several hours beforehand. Turning off power ensures that any residual heat from the device won’t crack or otherwise harm the surface of your touchpad as you’re cleaning it.
2) Using an alcohol-free cleansing wipe or hand sanitizer wipe down both sides of the trackpad with gentle strokes and rub until dry. These can be found on Amazon or any local pharmacy/grocery store in a pack of 10 for less than USD 10.
3) Turn on power to resume use once you’re done wiping down your trackpad!
Why do we need to clean our computers anyway?
Computers can get dirty and cleaning them can help us keep them running smoothly. However before you grab that isopropyl alcohol or wipe it down with your shirt sleeve take some time to learn about what could happen if you don’t clean it correctly and how to get it done without breaking your computer.
First let’s talk about where dirt can build up on a laptop touchpad: around the edges of the mouse pad itself and under the buttons below. If these areas are neglected for too long dirt will collect there leading to higher rates of hardware failure over time. The good news is there are several ways to tackle this issue: you can use compressed air (or an air compressor) to blow away debris; wipes can be used for light dusting; compressed air can also be used in conjunction with liquid cleaner; sometimes just wiping it down with a damp cloth will do the trick! Now that we know all the tools at our disposal here are four more things we need to know when cleaning our laptops
Note:
Here are some important notes to consider after or while cleaning your laptop touchpad:
- Do not pour water or any cleaning agent directly on your laptop or the touchpad.
- Make a thorough research before choosing any cleaning agent since it is an electronic device and might get affected easily.
- A mild dishwasher is good to go if you cannot afford any expensive cleansers.
- Do not try to scrub it or apply force while cleaning.
- Even after cleaning if there is a lack in its performance then it might be damaged. Therefore it is suggested to consult a technician.
- Do not eat or drink near your laptop or you might end up with spills all over your touchpad.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Why is my laptop’s touchpad lacking its performance?
There might be several reasons for the touchpad to lack its performance but the 2 main reasons are:
- Dirt and dust must have been embedded in your touchpad
- The operating system of your laptop would have frozen
2. What is the best way to clean an oily touchpad?
Take a half cup of water damp microfiber towel and clean your oily touchpad. You can use isopropanol in the water for better results.
3. Will the water damage my touchpad?
It wouldn’t if you power off your laptop before cleaning or else you might face the worst circumstances.
4. How can I remove scratches from my laptop touchpad?
Do not use isopropanol to remove scratches. Instead use toothpaste. It might sound ridiculous but toothpaste has small granules that will help to remove all the scratches on your touchpad making it clean as new.
5. How often can I clean my laptop touchpad?
You must clean the touchpad every day before working on it or after you are finished working. It will help to remove all the grime and oil preventing it from building up on the touchpad. And if not you should at least clean it once a week.
6. Can I replace my touchpad if it gets dirty?
Instead of replacing your laptop touchpad and wasting money you can easily clean your touchpad at home by using water and a dishwasher.
Conclusion
In this article we have provided you with some basic and relevant information on how to clean a laptop touchpad efficiently. We have discussed the five easiest steps to help you clean your laptop touchpad following with some important points to remember and precautions. If you follow the steps and avoid the things mentioned above you might get a clean and germ-free touchpad as new as you brought it.