Assess the Situation
If you spill water or another liquid on your Mac’s keyboard, the first thing you’ll want to do is quickly assess the situation. Was it a small spill, or did a large quantity of liquid get inside the keyboard? A minor spill on the keys may not be too serious, but a major drenching can be bad news for your keyboard’s electronics.
Also consider what type of liquid it was. Water can cause issues, but other drinks like coffee, juice or soda can leave behind residue or stickiness as they dry, potentially gumming up keys over time. The quicker you can clean and dry out the keyboard, the better chance you have of avoiding both short-term and long-term problems from the spill.
Physically Absorb Excess Liquid
After a spill, your priority should be to soak up any liquid sitting on top of the keys before it can seep down under the keycaps and into the keyboard mechanisms and electronics underneath.
Don’t shake the computer to try and drain the liquid out, as this can spread the problem around and damage other components. Instead, keep the MacBook flat and steady, and pat down any visible pools or drips of liquid on the keyboard with a dry, soft towel or cloth. You want to soak up as much as you can before more can potentially leak inside.
If you don’t have a towel handy, you can use any clean, dry fabric like a blanket or t-shirt. Paper towels work in a pinch too, but the fibers of a towel or cloth are better for soaking up liquid versus just pushing it around. Absorb as much as you can, but don’t aggressively scrub the keyboard, as that can also worsen any liquid seepage.
Detach and Drain
For a desktop Mac with an external keyboard, after blotting up any visible liquid, unplug the keyboard right away and shake it gently to drain out any moisture trapped under the keys. Don’t do this with a MacBook or MacBook Pro since shaking会 spread the spilt liquid further inside the computer. With a portable Mac, just keep blotting the surface of the keys with your cloth or towel.
If your desktop keyboard has a removable keycap design, consider popping off affected keys to clean any liquid trapped underneath and let the mechanisms dry out sooner. Make sure to note which keys go where before removing. Leave the keys off overnight to give time for any lingering moisture to evaporate.
Disinfect and Deodorize
Once you’ve absorbed any standing liquid, spray a disinfectant cleaner onto another towel or cloth and gently wipe down the keyboard keys and surface. Isopropyl alcohol works well for this. The disinfectant will help clean and sanitize the keyboard by killing any germs from the spill. It can also help dissolve and wash away any sugars or stickiness left behind after drying.
You can also use a deodorizer spray on the cloth to help neutralize and remove any odors that might otherwise linger after drying. If you spilled coffee, juice, soda or alcohol, this can help avoid any unpleasant smells from being absorbed and wafting up whenever you type.
Just don’t use bleach or other harsh household cleaners that could damage the keyboard surfaces. Avoid getting any moisture down in between the keys where it’s hard to dry out fully. And never spray cleaners directly onto the keyboard, just lightly dampen your cloth first before wiping.
Increase Airflow and Promote Drying
After cleaning up excess liquid and disinfecting the keyboard, the next goal is to thoroughly dry out any moisture trapped under the keys. This helps prevent short circuits or corrosion issues down the road.
One option is to use a can of compressed air to blow down under each key, quickly evaporating droplets and clearing passages so airflow can circulate and dry the interior mechanisms and circuitry. Turn over a desktop keyboard and give it a few short blasts upside down to clear any water from leaking deeper inside its case.
Position a MacBook to allow gravity to pull moisture out as you blow under the keys. Tilt and gently shake a detached keyboard to drain away dislodged droplets too. Blow drying can speed evaporation in hard to reach spots inside a keyboard faster than just air drying alone.
You can also help the keyboard dry faster and avoid moisture damage by increasing airflow around it. Set up a desktop fan directed at the keyboard for 30 minutes up to an hour. If possible, elevate the MacBook or detached keyboard at an angle so air can circulate underneath and through key gaps. Avoid direct heat like a hairdryer as that can damage plastic parts.
If you spilled liquid on a MacBook’s built-in keyboard, open the lid all the way so air flows over the keyboard and under the raised screen. Try using the laptop temporary with an external Bluetooth keyboard to give the internal keyboard time to fully dry out.
Be Patient During Drying Phase
Have patience after a spill and allow time for your Mac keyboard to completely dry before using it again normally. Drying can take 72 hours or longer if moisture got trapped deep inside. Key presses may feel sticky or sluggish at first. Extra drying protects against issues like keys becoming unresponsive down the road due to corrosion or shorting out.
Avoid the temptation to remove keycaps while drying, as forcing them off can break the delicate scissors linkage underneath. If keys feel a little sticky, try gently blowing compressed air under them again to make sure there’s no trapped moisture left. Things should return to smoothly gliding key action once fully dry.
When to Get Professional Help
If a keyboard is unresponsive or acting erratically after an extensive liquid spill, it may need professional repair or replacement. Consult an authorized Apple repair center if multiple keys stop working properly, as moisture may have corroded a keyboard flex cable or power contacts. They can properly inspect the issue, clean out any traces of liquid residue, and swap damaged parts.
For a big spill that thoroughly soaked a keyboard, replacement may be necessary since lingering moisture deep inside can resurface Days later to cause problems. A new keyboard ensures no future corrosion or connection issues. Back up any important data first in case components like the logic board also got wet. Your local Apple Store or an authorized service provider can handle keyboard repairs and replacements.
Preventing Future Spill Damage
Be more careful with drinks around your Mac in the future to avoid a repeat keyboard spill incident. Never place cups or glasses on top of your MacBook or keyboard where they can be easily knocked over. Invest in a water resistant cover if working in an environment where spills are likely, like a college dorm room.
Use keyboards and mice designed to be more water resistant, like newer MacBooks with membrane keyboards beneath keys. Keep drinks off your desk and use tables or side tables to avoid accidents. Set reminders to take a break and move your beverage away from expensive electronics to be safe.
Conclusion
Spilling liquid on your Mac’s keyboard can be stressful, but stay calm and act quickly. Soak up excess moisture right away without shaking the device. Detach and drain external keyboards, or keep blotting portable MacBooks with an absorbent cloth. Disinfect, increase airflow and stay patient while everything fully dries over a few Days. Seek professional help if keys become unresponsive. And be more cautious with drinks near your electronics in the future to avoid damaging spills. With quick action, you can recover from a keyboard spill incident and get back to normal operation.