How long should you wait for your laptop to dry after a spill?

Any average workday or online shopping session can quickly go from productive to catastrophic when a spill occurs. Liquid is one of the worst things that can happen to your laptop, and laptop users will want to jump straight into action to save their system. We therefore recommend the following steps to avoid further damage to your device (or worse, voiding your laptop warranty).

One of the biggest mistakes you could make is not letting your laptop dry long enough after a bad spill. If you try to use your laptop before the moisture has completely dissipated, it could cause additional damage. Technical writer and editor Fred Langa suggested that a spill of just a few drops should be able to dry completely within a day. However, larger spills that require liquid to be drained from the laptop should be left to dry for close to three or four days. “If you empty the laptop completely and then let it sit in a warm, dry place (put it in a plastic bag with a generous dose of desiccant, if necessary), three or four days should be enough to remove any remaining moisture, even after a large spill,” says Langa.

Some editors agreed with this remedy, saying it would take about two to three days for a laptop to work properly after cleaning and drying a spill. However, they advise not to panic, as this could make the problem even worse. “People usually panic and see if the laptop still works, but by turning it on they short circuit the laptop,” one user wrote. So, by showing a little patience and taking proper precautions, you can save your laptop from imminent, or perhaps useless, demise.

Before letting your laptop air dry, it’s important to clean it thoroughly and remove as much moisture as possible. iFixit strongly urges laptop owners to immediately and safely unplug their device from any charger or power source. As with iPhones or other smaller devices, you should wait until it is completely dry before charging it. After unplugging the charger, turn off the laptop if it is still running. Turn it over and shake it to remove any remaining liquid. If you can, it would help to remove the battery and perhaps take the device apart to clean the individual parts, including the motherboard, and let them dry separately.

The editors strongly urged people to clean laptops after a spill. Otherwise, they say the device’s days are numbered. “Computers don’t like conductive liquids,” one user wrote. “Period. Even if the computer is still running for a few minutes after getting wet. If something spills (most products can handle a few drops, but are not spilled), clean it immediately.” If you ignore it, conductive liquids will gradually corrode components, leading to costly repairs or requiring a new laptop.