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daonesteven

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Aug 7, 2007
298
0
Baltimore, MD
Except for the screen but basically everywhere else of the exterior of the body (keyboard, etc) I've been doing this for a while on my 11" mba....have I been essentially harming it? Damnit...
 

daonesteven

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Aug 7, 2007
298
0
Baltimore, MD
well i mean because the official apple documentation seems to say to use a lint-free microfiber cloth to clean the exterior and people here seem to say to avoid using paper towels since they're abrasive...so I'm wondering if I've essentially been scratching it up this entire time since I use a damp paper towel to clean it at least a couple times a week
 

Acorn

macrumors 68030
Jan 2, 2009
2,643
352
macrumors
i got like a single drop of moister on my glass trackpad and it made my curser tweak out for 3 days. not recommended for trackpads lol.
 

Stingray454

macrumors 6502a
Sep 22, 2009
593
115
You should be fine, just make sure the paper towel isn't too wet - if you "squeeze" it a bit while cleaning the keyboard for example, you might press out a drop of water that could get into your keyboard, which of course is bad. Cloth is better that way, it absorbs the moisture better. I'd say the risk of scratching solid metal with a damp paper towel is pretty slim though :)
 

glen e

macrumors 68030
Jun 19, 2010
2,619
2
Ft Lauderdale
these cleaning threads crack me up..it is a MBA, not the hubble telescope. Use your common sense, stay away from harsh wash media or harsh cleaners, and go worry about something else....
 

Xikum

macrumors 6502
Oct 19, 2011
281
1
Jesus. The thing is made of aluminium. What do you think a piece of paper towel is going to do?

Seriously, sometimes people just need to use a little common sense. Remember to wear gloves when using your keyboard so you don't break it!
 

ritmomundo

macrumors 68020
Jan 12, 2011
2,041
586
Los Angeles, CA
Jesus. The thing is made of aluminium. What do you think a piece of paper towel is going to do?

Seriously, sometimes people just need to use a little common sense. Remember to wear gloves when using your keyboard so you don't break it!

Seriously, I don't get why folks think their Apple products are so fragile.

What other brand besides :apple: would people bend over backwards for to buy cases, screen shields, etc? My old Dell (from a few years ago) was covered in scratches, it didn't bother me at all.
 

duky

macrumors 6502
Jun 25, 2007
455
12
North Carolina
Seriously, I don't get why folks think their Apple products are so fragile.

What other brand besides :apple: would people bend over backwards for to buy cases, screen shields, etc? My old Dell (from a few years ago) was covered in scratches, it didn't bother me at all.

My hope is that this is a rhetorical question.
 

mousouchop

macrumors 6502a
Oct 22, 2008
814
118
New York
Seriously, I don't get why folks think their Apple products are so fragile.

This. I clean my entire MBP with paper towels lightly sprayed with windex (actually have done this with all three of my Macbooks to date). They all still looked new when I eventually sold them.

I probably wouldn't do this on the bare, glossy screen of the MBA. Paper towel + windex for the exterior casing, dry microfiber cloth for the screen. I hope they cover the MBA screen with glass in the next update (which is when I plan to buy one, finally).
 

ixodes

macrumors 601
Jan 11, 2012
4,429
3
Pacific Coast, USA
While it's not likely to scratch aluminum, remember paper towels are a by-product of wood. Rather wasteful as well if you care about the environment.

A far better choice is a washable microfiber cloth. You can use one on the screen as well. Unless you let your computer get awfully dirty, nothing more than a lightly dampened microfiber cloth will ever be needed. Mine all look like new.
 

TheRealDamager

macrumors 65816
Jan 5, 2011
1,043
11
While it's not likely to scratch aluminum, remember paper towels are a by-product of wood. Rather wasteful as well if you care about the environment.

A far better choice is a washable microfiber cloth. You can use one on the screen as well. Unless you let your computer get awfully dirty, nothing more than a lightly dampened microfiber cloth will ever be needed. Mine all look like new.

Wood is a crop, and is sustainable. Nothing wrong with using a paper towel.
 
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