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ursus262

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Jan 10, 2022
3
4
I have a feeling that this question hasn't been asked before!

I turn my MacBook off to clean it, but it always seems to turn itself on when I clean the keyboard. It's impossible for it to stay off. The screen is a fingerprint magnet, and I just wanted to ask: how do you clean your MacBooks? Any advice would be welcome.
 

DeepSix

macrumors 6502a
Feb 4, 2022
810
890
Lots of sanitizer, water and microfibre cloth. And apply a lot of elbow grease. I also have makeup brushes that I use to brush dust between the keys. I do this everyday to prevent any dust getting under the key caps.
 
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canuckRus

macrumors 6502a
May 18, 2014
966
358
I have a feeling that this question hasn't been asked before!

I turn my MacBook off to clean it, but it always seems to turn itself on when I clean the keyboard. It's impossible for it to stay off. The screen is a fingerprint magnet, and I just wanted to ask: how do you clean your MacBooks? Any advice would be welcome.
Merely press "Apple" in upper left corner, then "Shut down" or press power button for about ten seconds to power off then use microfibre cloth?
 
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Howard2k

macrumors 603
Mar 10, 2016
5,670
5,585
It has been asked many times. :p

It doesn't need to be powered off to clean it.

I use alcohol wipes and a microfibre cloth for the keyboard. For the screen I use Whoosh!
 
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Macbookey

macrumors member
Dec 15, 2023
78
147
I use the free Keyboard Clean Tool app (get it here) form the same maker of the very popular Better Touch Tool. It disables the keyboard input so that you can clean without unwanted key presses, or power up the machine if it is off for cleaning. Whoosh is okay, but for my MacBook, I just use water with high quality Korean microfibre cloths, same style that I use for detailing my car and applying/removing ceramic coatings. Works like a charm and keeps my Midnight M2 pristine.

Edit: My wording is off. What I meant to say is that having the app run mimics the behaviour you would expect in a powered off state. Another tip is to set a hot corner to sleep the display so that after you run the app, you can just activate the hot corner and clean the display and keyboard together. Clean the trackpad last as that doesn’t deactivate and will wake the display when touched. Hope this helps!
 
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russell_314

macrumors 604
Feb 10, 2019
6,640
10,228
USA
I use the free Keyboard Clean Tool app (get it here) form the same maker of the very popular Better Touch Tool. It disables the keyboard input so that you can clean without unwanted key presses, or power up the machine if it is off for cleaning. Whoosh is okay, but for my MacBook, I just use water with high quality Korean microfibre cloths, same style that I use for detailing my car and applying/removing ceramic coatings. Works like a charm and keeps my Midnight M2 pristine.
This so much! For some crazy reason Apple decided to make every button on the keyboard a power button so you need something like this. I hope one day Apple fixes this issue though
 

ctjack

macrumors 68000
Mar 8, 2020
1,518
1,540
This so much! For some crazy reason Apple decided to make every button on the keyboard a power button so you need something like this. I hope one day Apple fixes this issue though
I often times find my mac discharged to 0% and be like “meeh, might as well wipe it now while i have a chance to press on that buttons without turning it on” before charging it.
 

krspkbl

macrumors 68020
Jul 20, 2012
2,440
5,855
water and microfibre cloth. you don't really need anything else. at a push maybe some IPA.

wash your hands often and buy a sleeve. that's what i do. every now and then i'll use a micro fibre cloth to get some bits of dust off the screen or from in between the key caps.
 

russell_314

macrumors 604
Feb 10, 2019
6,640
10,228
USA
I often times find my mac discharged to 0% and be like “meeh, might as well wipe it now while i have a chance to press on that buttons without turning it on” before charging it.
That’s not good for the battery. It’s not terrible to run it down to 0% but not good to leave it like that for an extended period. If you don’t plan on using it I would turn it off at about 60% charge.
 
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