HALP!!! i spilled rubbing alcohol on my screen! [Archive]

iTone

Jan 15, 2009, 03:07 AM

Damn it! :(

I was cleaning my wireless mighty mouse with a lil' bit of rubbing alcohol when like a dumb ass i spilled the bottle and it splashed on my screen. I dried it up right away and i didn't see any damage but a few minutes later i saw this:

http://img164.imageshack.us/img164/3845/cimg2224kn9.jpg

When i tilt it back it sorta dissapears:

http://img235.imageshack.us/img235/3272/cimg2225go6.jpg

What do i do now? :( I searched and i couldn't find any rubbing alcohol damage threads.

Damn, i am so bummed i don't want it to be permanently damaged. I worked my ass off to save to get this and it's only about a year old.

MattyK

Jan 15, 2009, 04:40 AM

I'm stumped with this one.
Your best bet is to go to a local Mac store and go to the Genius bar, and be honest with them what happened, maybe they could tell you how to fix it, or if you find someone nice enough, they'll cover it under applecare if you have it, keep doing google searches, look through forums and stuff.
best of luck.

cogsinister

Jan 15, 2009, 09:04 AM

Looks like the liquid has gotten between the layers of the LCD screen.......

I doubt weather Applecare would cover this sort of problem.......but hey give it a try....

jessica.

Jan 15, 2009, 09:08 AM

It won't be covered by AC, but it is definitely liquid under the screen.

cogsinister

Jan 15, 2009, 09:12 AM

It may well evaporate given time.......................

Dimwhit

Jan 15, 2009, 09:14 AM

It may well evaporate given time.......................

That's my thought.

Maybe get a hairdryer, set it to cool (so it's not hot air) and try to blow it into the screen? Rubbing alcohol evaporates easily. If it got in there, you might be able to get some airflow into it to get it out.

shady825

Jan 15, 2009, 09:25 AM

That's my thought.

Maybe get a hairdryer, set it to cool (so it's not hot air) and try to blow it into the screen? Rubbing alcohol evaporates easily. If it got in there, you might be able to get some airflow into it to get it out.

If you go the hair dryer route make sure its on COOL! I wouldnt be blowing all kinds of heat on the screen. As others suggested, I suspect it will evaporate as well.

skye12

Jan 15, 2009, 09:44 AM

strange, alcohol should have evaporated. How did you spill it? From the top?

acfusion29

Jan 15, 2009, 10:04 AM

Try taking some water and wiping it down? It looks like some left over residue that can be washed away.

OrangeSVTguy

Jan 15, 2009, 11:30 AM

How could that splash and get completely on the inside of the LCD? Doesn't the MB have a thin film/coating on it, the alcohol could have possibly "etched" it.

bozz2006

Jan 15, 2009, 11:44 AM

strange, alcohol should have evaporated. How did you spill it? From the top?

the alcohol would have probably evaporated by now. but most rubbing alcohol contains ~30% water.... that water may take a while longer to evaporate. I think you're gonna be OK.

dvdhsu

Jan 15, 2009, 11:47 AM

This happened to me exactly.
Don't worry.
I was actually wiping my screen with rubbing alchohol, until I discovered I had left a huge spot that looked like liquid damage on the screen. The damage looked quite similar the problems others have had when spilling water on the screen. The best way to fix it is to just leave it alone.
I was doubtful of that, so I left it alone for a while, and when it got smaller, I started moving it around, and started using it.
However, that was the biggest mistake.
Now, the alchohol is gone, but the "shadow" of where it was spilled still remains.
My advice would be to just open the case up, and leave it alone for a week.
Hopefully, it isn't your primary computer.
Good Luck!

dvdhsu

Jan 15, 2009, 11:48 AM

Also like how you had MacRumors open during the picture.:)

iTone

Jan 15, 2009, 04:14 PM

I just gave it a look and most of it evaporated over night.

http://img292.imageshack.us/img292/3663/cimg2228pa3.jpg

THANKS TO THE BABY JESUS! :D

I hope the rest of it guess away with time and from now on no liquids around my MacBook.

NT1440

Jan 15, 2009, 04:18 PM

I give you credit for originality, I was expecting this weeks "HELP I spilled _____ on my macbook" to be yogurt.

I guess I lost that bet:(

cogsinister

Jan 15, 2009, 04:36 PM

iTone

Jan 15, 2009, 06:06 PM

:D

But not i have another question. Is there a way to open the screen and get in there to see if i can wipe it clean? :confused:

cogsinister

Jan 15, 2009, 06:36 PM

:D

But not i have another question. Is there a way to open the screen and get in there to see if i can wipe it clean? :confused:

To be honest, i would leave it well alone you could cause a lot of damage trying to open the screen bezel...........

gamer2502

Jan 15, 2009, 09:55 PM

If it is really bothering you and you have $400-$500 to burn here is a link http://www.ifixit.com/MacBook-Parts/MacBook-13-3-Inch-Core-2-Duo-Santa-Rosa-Penryn-Display-Assembly/IF186-047 :apple:

angemon89

Jan 15, 2009, 10:10 PM

If you have Applecare do not even think about attempting it. I would rather let it evaporate over time than void my Applecare.

iTone

Jan 16, 2009, 01:25 AM

Alright. I'll just let it be. Thanks to everyone for the advice during this small crisis.

dvdhsu

Jan 16, 2009, 01:47 AM

Yeah. No problem.
We're always here to help!:D

WinkWink726

Jan 16, 2009, 11:22 AM

I'm very happy for you that it all worked its way out! I had no advice to offer but i felt so bad for ya!!! :(

alphaod

Jan 16, 2009, 06:21 PM

:D

But not i have another question. Is there a way to open the screen and get in there to see if i can wipe it clean? :confused:

You're more like to get junk under the screen than to remedy the situation.

rylin

Jan 16, 2009, 06:34 PM

Personally, I think uniformity is much more important.
Have you considered putting rubbing alcohol on the remaining parts of the screen? :D
(Note: not entirely recommended ;) )

philosopherdog

Jan 16, 2009, 07:23 PM

Personally I would take it apart and make sure there isn't any left, but you would need to be pretty handy. Also, I wouldn't ever use rubbing alcohol on the screen. Use vinegar and only ever spray a little bit on a cloth. Personally I use micro cloth for this. Never put liquid directly on any electronic device.

cogsinister

Jan 17, 2009, 07:37 AM

morrisman1

Jan 18, 2009, 02:21 AM

the LCD will absorb IPA (rubbing alcohol). i cleaned the back of an lcd panel with some one day and it absorbed, leaving me with a big black blob. it took about a week to disappear completely. id say it was a rather serious case of it, it was the backside of the panel between the LCD and the backlight.

ranmalrac

Oct 8, 2009, 04:32 PM

;) hi i am new to the forums site, but as most people that went to school for a long time and learned a lot of useless stuff i have some knowledge to give ya about this.

1. you can take apart your screen and it will be a pain in your ass lol. I say this because i have taken more computers apart then i can count. If you are to do this i can help ya threw the steps needed to do so.

2. it will eventually go away, if not that is because the alc is trapped then you need to take apart the sceen.

3. you can alway tell them that the sceen got humidity in it and that would be covered...... defective seal.

you can email me at ranmalrac@yahoo.com or just aim me at ranmalrac talk to ya soon ;)

p.s. i did the same thing to my dads computer like 10 years back when he had an old school ibm that cost is company like 8g lol i got alot of ass whipping's for that one lol :D i feel your pain.

ranmalrac

Oct 8, 2009, 04:33 PM

;) hi i am new to the forums site, but as most people that went to school for a long time and learned a lot of useless stuff i have some knowledge to give ya about this.

1. you can take apart your screen and it will be a pain in your ass lol. I say this because i have taken more computers apart then i can count. If you are to do this i can help ya threw the steps needed to do so.

2. it will eventually go away, if not that is because the alc is trapped then you need to take apart the screen.

3. you can always tell them that the screen got humidity in it and that would be covered...... defective seal.

you can email me at ranmalrac@yahoo.com or just aim me at ranmalrac talk to ya soon ;)

p.s. i did the same thing to my dads computer like 10 years back when he had an old school ibm that cost is company like 8g lol i got alot of ass whipping's for that one lol :D i feel your pain.