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How to Clean Your Laptop

nytimes.com

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Re: How to Clean Your Laptop

#31

Post by blowski »

komali2 wrote: post #27
blowski wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

David Mitchell, a British comedian, has a great comment on this. Given that all smartphone users are not dead, it just goes to show how meaningless studies like that are. Being around people with compromised immune systems requires different standards, but day to day, it doesn't seem to matter.

I understand the attraction of stories like this, but it's not science. For all I know, I only got the flu this year because my cell phone is dirty. Same for my roommate and his sinus infection. The immune system does its job extraordinarily well, but putting it to work does take a toll on your body. I suspect we'll have studies linking random episodes of mini-depression or a bad day at the gym to an immune system in…

You're right that there's no science in David Mitchell's argument, but I'm not seeing any science here proving that "more bacteria on your phone is bad for you".

Re: How to Clean Your Laptop

#32

Post by ohazi »

sandworm101 wrote: post #12
LeoPanthera wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Do you have a citation for this? Because it surprises me. Most smartphones are hard, dry surfaces, which inhibits bacteria growth.

You hold it in your hand, pressed against your ear, while speaking into it with your mouth. It has bacteria on it. I wouldn't be too worried. Is isn't any dirtier than your hands or your ears already are, but I wouldn't be a good idea to share a phone with a flu sufferer.

Pet peeve: people who actually touch their smartphone to their face when calling rather than just hovering near their ear. The layer of grease on the glass afterwords is absolutely disgusting, and on exactly the area that you touch with your fingers every two seconds. Why would anyone do this!?

Re: How to Clean Your Laptop

#33

Post by weiming »

Suspect wrote: post #14

Don't eat while using your laptop and you will keep it clean with a dust cloth and a mist of water. Eat while using your laptop and no vacuum in the world will be able to suck that disgusting filth from it.

Nothing like watching someone eat a juicy, savory burger and then wipe their hands on their pants and continue typing. Something I see way too often.

Re: How to Clean Your Laptop

#34

Post by rhacker »

Suspect wrote: post #14

Don't eat while using your laptop and you will keep it clean with a dust cloth and a mist of water. Eat while using your laptop and no vacuum in the world will be able to suck that disgusting filth from it.

My wife tries to do this. She's not allowed near my Old Macbook Pro (good keyboard one from 2014) after she eats. The PS4 and Roku controllers are totally gross, so I keep alcohol prep pads nearby for those (not on my laptop of course).

Re: How to Clean Your Laptop

#35

Post by wang_li »

elliottkember wrote: post #23

It wouldn't be Hacker News without a few people commenting "let all your stuff get filthy so your immune system stays on its toes".

Not that a dirty laptop applies, but it’s pretty well supported that a too clean environment is bad for the developing immune systems of children.

Re: How to Clean Your Laptop

#36

Post by pizza »

ohazi wrote: post #32
sandworm101 wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You hold it in your hand, pressed against your ear, while speaking into it with your mouth. It has bacteria on it. I wouldn't be too worried. Is isn't any dirtier than your hands or your ears already are, but I wouldn't be a good idea to share a phone with a flu sufferer.

Pet peeve: people who actually touch their smartphone to their face when calling rather than just hovering near their ear. The layer of grease on the glass afterwords is absolutely disgusting, and on exactly the area that you touch with your fingers every two seconds. Why would anyone do this!?

Are you asking why anyone would ever touch something to their face and fingers?

Re: How to Clean Your Laptop

#37

Post by raithel »

I used to work in a laptop repair place.

I found that isopropyl rubbing alcohol can sometimes damage or wear some exterior rubbers or plastics on laptops.(works great on interior and metal though!)

The best method I have found to clean exterior of a laptop is the following:

- Turn off the computer.

Standard:

- Wipe down exterior, screen and keyboard area with Windex sprayed on a cloth or use Lysol wipes.

If Heavily soiled:

- Take a vacuum with small brush attachment and gently suck up stuff under and around keyboard, in vents and other nooks and crannies.

- Then use canned air to blow out keyboard and other places. (If it's really bad, you may need to (if possible) remove the keyboard to really get everything.)

- Repeat standard procedure until cloth or cleaning implement does not pick up any more dirt or grime.

Finally, let the laptop sit for an adequate amount of time to dry off.

Re: How to Clean Your Laptop

#38

Post by mistersquid »

Suspect wrote: post #14

Don't eat while using your laptop and you will keep it clean with a dust cloth and a mist of water. Eat while using your laptop and no vacuum in the world will be able to suck that disgusting filth from it.

I often eat while computing for work and personal reasons. Since eating while using a keyboard is a fact of how I live and work, I use a keyboard condom when eating or drinking beverages (especially coffee).

Except for my smart phone, I don't really compute in the outdoors.

My go-to provider for keyboard covers is http://kbcovers.com (no relation except as a satisfied customer).

As the saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Re: How to Clean Your Laptop

#40

Post by ohazi »

pizza wrote: post #36
ohazi wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Pet peeve: people who actually touch their smartphone to their face when calling rather than just hovering near their ear. The layer of grease on the glass afterwords is absolutely disgusting, and on exactly the area that you touch with your fingers every two seconds. Why would anyone do this!?

Are you asking why anyone would ever touch something to their face and fingers?

Yes? I don't particularly enjoy the feeling of touch-screening through bacon grease, and am wondering why anyone would willingly subject themselves to this.
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