Assess the Situation Quickly
If you accidentally spill something on your MacBook, your first reaction may be panic. However, try to stay calm and act quickly. The faster you can address the spill, the less chance there is of permanent damage to your computer. Take a deep breath and follow these steps:
- Unplug your MacBook right away. This will prevent any electrical shorts.
- Turn it off. Hold down the power button for 5 seconds to force shut down the computer if needed.
- Disconnect any peripherals or cables.
- Hold the MacBook upside down to let excess liquid drain out.
- Open it up and shake it gently to remove trapped liquid.
- Dry the exterior with a towel. Do not rub roughly.
- If possible, stand the MacBook upright and let it air dry before proceeding.
Acting quickly to remove power and drain liquid gives you the best chance of saving your MacBook from permanent damage.
Determine What Spilled
Knowing what type of liquid ended up inside your MacBook can help determine the next steps to take. Here are some common spill scenarios:
Water
Water can cause short circuits, corrosion, and mold inside your MacBook. Get it dried out as soon as possible.
Coffee, Tea, Soda, Juice
These sugary drinks can leave behind sticky residue as they dry. Their acidity can also accelerate corrosion. Rinsing out the sugars quickly is important.
Alcohol
High-proof alcohol can be conductive and should be rinsed out thoroughly. It can also damage the screen coating.
Oils, Lotions
Greasy liquids can gum up components. Use a microfiber cloth to gently blot up as much as possible. Avoid spreading it around.
Toiletries, Cleaners, Chemicals
Harsh soaps, cosmetics, and cleaning agents can damage plastic and coatings. Rinse thoroughly with water to dilute.
Assess the Damage
Once excess liquid is removed, inspect your MacBook carefully:
- Check for visible corrosion, burnt marks, cracking, or peeling.
- Look for moisture inside connectors, ports, buttons.
- Test keys to see if any are sticky or no longer working.
- Turn it on briefly to see if it powers up. Do not leave it on.
- Check the trackpad and keyboard for responsiveness.
- Connect it to an external display if possible to test video output.
This quick inspection will give you an idea of what repairs may be needed. The extent of the damage depends on how quickly you acted and what type of liquid caused it.
Dry Out the MacBook
Getting all residual moisture out of the inside of your MacBook is critical for preventing further damage. Here are some tips:
Let It Air Dry
Leaving the MacBook powered off and open in an upright position allows air circulation to evaporate liquid. Give it 24-48 hours if possible.
Use Desiccant Packs
Placing moisture absorbing packs inside can help draw out lingering dampness. Some options include:
- Rice – Cheap and readily available. Pads of dry white rice work well.
- Silica gel packs – Found in electronics packaging, shoes, etc. Absorbs a lot of moisture.
- DampRid – Plastic tubs of calcium chloride used to dry closets and basements.
Spread packs around inside the MacBook and leave overnight or longer.
Use a Fan
Positioning an electric fan to blow air into the open MacBook will speed up evaporation. Do not overheat.
Visit a Repair Shop
Technicians have specialized tools to thoroughly dry out electronics. May be worthwhile for valuable devices.
Moisture trapped inside can lead to oxidation, electrical shorts, and component failure over time. Be patient and diligent about drying.
Clean Off Sticky Residue
Dried sugary spills from coffee, soda, etc. can leave residue behind on the logic board and other parts. Cleaning this off is important to avoid sticking and further corrosion.
Isopropyl Alcohol
Use 90% isopropyl alcohol and cotton swabs to gently dissolve and remove dried sticky spots. Let fully dry afterward. Avoid over-saturating components.
Distilled Water
For minor residue, you can also use distilled water dampened cotton swabs. Dry thoroughly with low heat fan after.
Vinegar
A 50/50 diluted white vinegar solution can be used to clean corrosion and dissolve stickiness. Wipe with dry swab after.
Compressed Air
Use short bursts of air to dislodge particles in hard to reach areas. Avoid spinning fans.
Meticulously removing sugary residue improves long term reliability and prevents ant infestations.
Check for Corrosion
Liquid spills greatly accelerate corrosion on the metal parts inside your MacBook. Look closely for any signs of rust or oxidation:
- Green or white corrosion on solder points or circuitry
- Rusted screws holding components in place
- Oxidation rings around metal connectors and ports
- Pitted copper traces on logic board
Corrosion will eventually lead to electrical shorts and component failure. Addressing it now prevents more expensive fixes later.
Rubbing Alcohol and Toothbrush
Use a soft toothbrush dipped in isopropyl alcohol to gently scrub away corrosion. Take care around delicate parts.
White Vinegar
The acetic acid in vinegar dissolves oxidation and inhibits future corrosion. Use cotton swabs soaked in vinegar.
Contact Cleaner Spray
Electronic cleaner spray like DeoxIT can displace moisture and prevent further corrosion. Avoid overspray.
Replace Affected Parts
If corrosion is extensive, replacement of affected components may be necessary. This often requires professional microsoldering skills.
Stopping the spread of corrosion helps contain the damage and get your MacBook working again.
Check for Liquid Damage
Liquid can damage electronic components and connections inside a MacBook:
Swollen Battery
Lithium ion batteries corrode and expand when exposed to moisture. This is a potential fire hazard. The battery will need replacement.
Short Circuits
Moisture can create shorts between contacts on logic boards and cables. This can disable individual components unexpectedly.
Burn Marks
Short circuits generate heat which melts and burns plastics. Look for scorching around ports, buttons and edge connectors.
Failed Components
Integrated circuits and chips can fail if power is applied before they fully dry out. Spinning hard drive motors can also seize up.
Display Damage
Liquid seeping between the LCD panel and backlight sheet can appear as obscured dark patches visible on screen.
Identifying damaged parts is key to determining what needs replacement or repair to get your MacBook running again.
Troubleshoot Software Issues
Beyond physical damage, liquid spills can also cause software issues including:
Corrupted Data
If power was still on during the spill, stored files may have been altered or lost. Restore from backups where possible.
Performance Issues
Water exposure can degrade processing capabilities over time as components fail.
Failed Bootup
Important system files needed for startup may be damaged, causing boot failure. This may require reinstalling the OS.
Crashes & Freezes
Shorts and corrosion can disrupt software, causing apps and system processes to freeze or crash unexpectedly.
Faulty Connections
Liquid can damage ports and connectors, leading to faulty cable connections for data, charging, external displays, etc.
Pinpointing software issues allows properly repairing versus unnecessarily replacing components due to physical liquid damage.
When to Replace Parts
Determining which parts need replacement or repair is key to restoring full functionality after a liquid spill. Consider replacing:
Battery
If at all swollen or corroded. These pose a safety risk and need immediate replacement.
Logic Board
If there are visible shorts, burnt spots or extensive corrosion that cannot be cleaned off.
Display
If persistently obscured patches are visible indicating LCD damage.
Individual Components
Like a USB port that no longer works, failed memory slot, etc.
Entire Device
In cases of catastrophic liquid damage where repair costs outweigh replacement.
Know when to cut your losses. Extensive repairs on an older device may not be worth the investment.
Do a Clean OS Install
After any liquid damage, it’s a good idea to do a clean install of the MacBook operating system. This ensures:
- No software bugs or performance issues linger from any file corruption.
- A fresh OS optimize performance, especially if hardware components were replaced.
- No unusable cached data remains from damaged components.
- Helps rule out any software cause if troubleshooting hardware issues.
Backup your data, erase the hard drive, then reinstall macOS from the internet recovery partition or using a bootable installer drive.
Invest in Preventative Measures
While nothing can guarantee a spill will never happen, there are steps you can take to minimize the risks:
- Avoid eating or drinking near your laptop.
- Get a water resistant cover or case.
- Use your laptop away from edge of tables.
- Keep drinks in bottles with secure lids.
- Take regular breaks to rehydrate away from electronics.
- Keep your MacBook battery charged so it can be unplugged if needed.
Accidents happen, but being cautious can prevent many spills in the first place.
Conclusion
Spilling liquids inside your MacBook can be stressful and damaging. By acting quickly, methodically troubleshooting, thoroughly drying, cleaning and replacing parts as needed, you can hopefully salvage it and get back up and running. Being proactive about prevention is also wise to avoid a damaging spill in the first place. Use your best judgment when an expensive repair may not be worth the investment on an older device. But in many cases, taking prompt action can save your MacBook from a spilled drink.