Keeping your Air clean?

[intervenient]

My old 11 inch was not treated with the greatest care, so I'm really trying to be careful with my new machine. Unfortunately, I'm not exactly sure what the best methods are to keeping my Air clean and tidy.

What are some products or methods that can help this? My biggest concern would be the keyboard. I like the feel of it now, but my 11 eventually lost it's matte like feel. Is there a way to preserve this?

 

[halledise]

a well wrung out damp clean cloth followed by soft dry cloth to buff.
you can clean all the external surfaces this way.
no need for dedicated cleaning solutions, imho

you will see the eventual 'shining up' on the most used keys per time tho' - such as the command key and that part of the space bar you use - it's inevitable.

 

[RocketRed]

Products:

- Moshi Keyboard Cover
- Moshi Palmguard Protector
- iPearl Snap-On Case (top and bottom)

Helps keep your MBA dirt-free as close as possble~

 

[Cicatrix]

the only cloth that touches my MBA is a cobra microfiber.

 

[GGJstudios]

My old 11 inch was not treated with the greatest care, so I'm really trying to be careful with my new machine. Unfortunately, I'm not exactly sure what the best methods are to keeping my Air clean and tidy.

What are some products or methods that can help this? My biggest concern would be the keyboard. I like the feel of it now, but my 11 eventually lost it's matte like feel. Is there a way to preserve this?

How to clean Apple products

Apple also gives instructions on how to clean your Mac in the User Guides for the MBA, MBP and iMac:

Cleaning your Mac When cleaning the outside of your Mac and its components, first shut down your Mac, and then unplug the power adapter. Then use a damp, soft, lint-free cloth to clean the Mac exterior. Avoid getting moisture in any openings. Do not spray liquid directly on the computer. Do not use aerosol sprays, solvents, or abrasives that might damage the finish.

Cleaning the Mac screen To clean your Mac screen, first shut down your Mac and unplug the power adapter. Then use a soft, lint-free cloth dampened with just water and wipe the screen. Do not spray liquid directly on the screen.

Also, you'll find plenty of suggestions by searching through the many existing threads on this topic.

 

[CoMoMacUser]

Moshi Palmguard Protector

Does this still allow enough air to flow through the machine? When I was at the Apple store, I didn't see any vents on the bottom of the MBA, so I asked the associate where the air is drawn in. He said through the keyboard.

My Gateway laptop burned up a motherboard because pet fur clogged the fan. I don't want that to happen with the 13" MBA that I just ordered, so any advice for keeping out dust and other debris is appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[GGJstudios]

I asked the associate where the air is drawn in. He said through the keyboard.

The associate is wrong. There are no air intake or exhaust vents through the keyboard on any Mac notebook, and there never has been. Both intake and exhaust is through the vents in the rear near the hinge (except for the new MBP-Retina, which has intake vents along the sides at the bottom), which allows venting with the lid open or closed (for operating in clamshell mode). There is a solid panel under the keyboard, preventing any meaningful airflow.

My Gateway laptop burned up a motherboard because pet fur clogged the fan. I don't want that to happen with the 13" MBA that I just ordered, so any advice for keeping out dust and other debris is appreciated.

I recently opened my non-unibody MBP after over 4 years of continuous use and travel, and there was almost no dust inside, certainly not enough to affect cooling. Unless you routinely work in a dust storm, I doubt you'll ever have to worry about clogging vents or fans.

 

[CoMoMacUser]

Thanks for clarifying, GGJstudios. The associate did seem clueless, which was not what I expected from an Apple store.

Edit: I just chatted with a rep in Apple's online store, and she said that air is drawn in through the keyboard. Maybe when it's in clamshell mode, just enough air can still be drawn in to keep it cool.

 

[Barna Biro]

Throw it in the washing machine every now and then...
No seriously, just open it up, dust it off and that's kinda it.
Also use Moshi PalmGuard if possible and don't take any jobs in the desert.

 

[dpc]

i use iskin for the keyboard cover (so i can eat like a slob and watch videos at the same time!) although it turns out these MBA's are so thin that the covers keep them from closing completely! It's no biggie though, on my old MB the cover would always leave some marking (not permanent) on the screens anyway so I guess it does away with that annoyance.

 

[jksu]

keyboard cover $5 ebay
alcohol wipes for the rest of the computer

2010 mba 11" looks like new

 

[Creek0512]

Preventive maintenance like washing your hands before using your computer and not eating near or while using your computer can make a huge difference.

 

[GGJstudios]

Edit: I just chatted with a rep in Apple's online store, and she said that air is drawn in through the keyboard.

She's wrong. It's not uncommon for Apple employees to give incorrect information. Look at the picture I posted. MBAs are designed to both intake and exhaust through the vents in the rear. They are not designed to vent through the keyboard, especially in clamshell mode, when the keyboard is covered by the lid, which would further restrict airflow. If the keyboard were intended for venting, they would have made it as easy as possible for air to pass through it, rather than sealing it up, as it is.

 

[Team Timm]

Invisible skin (Zagg, Wrapsol, etc) + washing your hands each time before you touch the keyboard + keep kids / adults who like to touch computer screens away = Clean MBA.

Also, you can use a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser. Works magically, just make sure it's not too wet.