How do you clean a MBP without it turning on.

[adrianlondon]

I tend to clean my keyboard just after logging in. My laptop takes a while to boot - long enough to clean the keyboard. Once booted I clean the screen, if necessary, with the screen asleep. I have the top right "hot corner" set to turn the display off.

 

[Falhófnir]

I’m still of the mind this any key bootup is pointless at best and an outright annoyance at worst - isn’t this what sleeping the machine is for? Can Apple with their unique viewpoint not see that in some situations (as those already given) you might want to make sure your computer is fully off until you deliberately power it back on with the power button?

 

[maflynn]

Seems more like a flaw than a feature.

But Apple went out of its way to design it, so much so, they removed the start up ding, because its basically in a quasi always on state

 

[rayriceroni00]

I don’t see the problem. I clean the screen with it off all the time. If it’s on for the track pad or keyboard who cares?

 

[Fishrrman]

OP --

A word of advice:

If you're going to "clean" the retina MacBook Pro, DO NOT give the display "a good wipedown".

If you do, you run the risk of literally "wiping off" the fragile (sprayed on) anti-glare coating.

You want to touch the surface of the display as little as possible, with your fingers, with a cloth, with anything.

The best way to maintain the display is to keep it from getting dirty in the first place.
Be very careful opening/closing the lid so your fingertips don't touch the surface.

Sounds almost ridiculous that one has to be so careful with the MBP displays, but one quality Apple DID NOT "build into" them was "robustness".

(That's what "StainGate" is all about...)

 

[LizKat]

hehe, you have to get an appointment at the genius bar 😉

and

why do all the geniuses end up working for apple retail?

Sounds to me like some of them ended up in engineering. Who needs a machine to boot when you open the lid?

Still comfortably ensconced in front of a mid-2012 MBP, even if I am window-shopping my next laptop, I had no idea that auto-boot upon opening the lid was a "Feature" of the newer MacBook Pros. So far it sounds more like a bug to me. A lot like the bugs of having hardly any ports.

Here endeth the Sunday lesson from today's resident curmudgeon.

 

[BigMcGuire]

Having owned laptops for over 10+ years, individuals being unhappy at the automatic startup of MacBooks confuses me. I love the feature.

What do I use to clean my MBP? https://folivora.ai/keyboardcleantool/ Love this tool. Absolutely love it and I use it once or twice a month.

I use compressed air on my keyboard a few times a week. I use a RadTech cloth on top of my laptop's keyboard at night when I go to sleep (leaving my laptop opened, but Command+Control+Q'ed so it sleeps).

I've only twice had to use another RadTech cloth to clean the screen. I try to avoid touching it if at all possible. Having just typed this, I noticed some spots on my screen. I usually use my breath to create some moisture and then gently wipe the screen with a radtech cloth.

The keyboard? Damp cloth, t-shirt if necessary. I hate how these keyboards show grease even though I wash my hands a lot. Oh well. It is a tool to be used.

I do love the auto-on when opening my laptop's lid, hitting any key.

 

[rayriceroni00]

OP --

A word of advice:

If you're going to "clean" the retina MacBook Pro, DO NOT give the display "a good wipedown".

If you do, you run the risk of literally "wiping off" the fragile (sprayed on) anti-glare coating.

You want to touch the surface of the display as little as possible, with your fingers, with a cloth, with anything.

The best way to maintain the display is to keep it from getting dirty in the first place.
Be very careful opening/closing the lid so your fingertips don't touch the surface.

Sounds almost ridiculous that one has to be so careful with the MBP displays, but one quality Apple DID NOT "build into" them was "robustness".

(That's what "StainGate" is all about...)

I had a 2013 that qualifies for free stain gate repairs. I wiped it countless times with a micro fiber cloth and never had an issue.

The people removing the coating must be cleaning the screen like they’re trying to get grime off a bath tub.

 

[MacNut]

OP --

A word of advice:

If you're going to "clean" the retina MacBook Pro, DO NOT give the display "a good wipedown".

If you do, you run the risk of literally "wiping off" the fragile (sprayed on) anti-glare coating.

You want to touch the surface of the display as little as possible, with your fingers, with a cloth, with anything.

The best way to maintain the display is to keep it from getting dirty in the first place.
Be very careful opening/closing the lid so your fingertips don't touch the surface.

Sounds almost ridiculous that one has to be so careful with the MBP displays, but one quality Apple DID NOT "build into" them was "robustness".

(That's what "StainGate" is all about...)

I only use iKlear on my gear. There are times where the screen dirty enough that it needs a good cleaning. I'm not doing this every day. Maybe once every 2-3 months.

 

[SDColorado]

I only use iKlear on my gear. There are times where the screen dirty enough that it needs a good cleaning. I'm not doing this every day. Maybe once every 2-3 months.

I have been worried about iKlear ever since the first "staingate" display replacement I had and the "Genius" at the Apple store asked what I had been cleaning it with. I told him iKlear and he specifically told me to not use it on these newer displays and to only use water and a microfiber cloth. So, I followed the instructions on Apples web site and did exactly that and then it occurred a second time on that same computer. So, no evidence that iKlear was ever to blame, but they were adamant about not using it.

Which was a shame, because I had just purchased a new bottle. But when I posted something about that, there was a forum member who wanted it/used it on an older model and said he would be happy to take it off my hands if I didn't want to use it, so I shipped it "free to a good home." 🙂

So now I just use the utility BigMacGuire mentioned, water to slightly dampen a spot on a microfiber and as little pressure as possible to do the job.

 

[MacNut]

I have been worried about iKlear ever since the first "staingate" display replacement I had and the "Genius" at the Apple store asked what I had been cleaning it with. I told him iKlear and he specifically told me to not use it on these newer displays and to only use water and a microfiber cloth. So, I followed the instructions on Apples web site and did exactly that and then it occurred a second time on that same computer. So, no evidence that iKlear was ever to blame, but they were adamant about not using it.

Which was a shame, because I had just purchased a new bottle. But when I posted something about that, there was a forum member who wanted it/used it on an older model and said he would be happy to take it off my hands if I didn't want to use it, so I shipped it "free to a good home." 🙂

So now I just use the utility BigMacGuire mentioned, water to slightly dampen a spot on a microfiber and as little pressure as possible to do the job.

I would bet Apple was mad that people were using iKlear and probably stopped selling it at the stores. Most of the Geniuses have to tow the company line no matter what.

 

[SDColorado]

I would bet Apple was mad that people were using iKlear and probably stopped selling it at the stores. Most of the Geniuses have to tow the company line no matter what.

Hard to say. You won’t find a clear answer about why Apple discontinued carrying and using iKlear. At least I couldn’t. I mean I started using it because that was what Apple used and carried in their stores.

It seemed it disappeared overnight and I am not sure if there is something in iKlear that Apple believed *might* have been a contributing factor to Staingate or a case of they simply didn’t know what the cause was so pulled a CYA move and decided to recommend nothing but water.

Edit: this was the most info I could find

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.cu...us-says-iklear-we-dont-know-why-ces-2011/amp/

But as I said, I had one replaced using iKlear and one replaced using nothing but water, so have no personal eveidence that would indicate iKlear is any less safe than water. I just decided to play it safe 🙂

I did pick up some Screen Mom that I use for everything but my MBP and it does a great job, but still I worry 🙂

 

[GLS]

RE: cleaning the laptop.

For over a decade now, I've cleaned laptops only one way, and I've never had a single issue with the display having issues or anything else.

With it shut completely down (I need to figure this out on my 2018 MacBook Pro), I use a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser, slightly damp over the top and bottom of the laptop. That removes any smudges, or anything else easily enough. You don't need to scrub with so much force you end up taking off the anodization, just rub it gently enough to clean. I then dry it off with a microfiber cloth.

I'll open the laptop, then clean the palm rest area with the same Magic Eraser, and then dry.

Taking a second microfiber, I'll dampen a corner of the cloth with rubbing alcohol. I've used the 70% stuff as easily as the 91% stuff. Whatever you have at home probably is fine....and I'll wipe down the keyboard and trackpad with this. I don't use so much alcohol to saturate the rag, just enough to be able to wipe off the keys and trackpad to remove the greasy film that develops from use. Plus, the alcohol evaporates rapidly, so there's no need to dry this.

For the display, I'll lay the laptop on the back of the display so it's facing upward, then spray it with eyeglass cleaner. I've used so many different brands over the years, but for posting sake, I have the Walgreen's variety here now. I just spritz this over the display (and I've done this to both MacBook Pro glass displays, and the plastic MacBook Air displays) and wipe that clean with a third microfiber cloth.

That's it. We've had 40 some odd MacBooks, Airs and Pros in our extended family, and every single one has been cleaned either by myself or one of my siblings in this manner with nary an issue.

 

[doitdada]

I just put my MacBook in the dishwasher and dry it in the microwave. I saw it on a YouTube movie.

 

[maflynn]

With it shut completely down (I need to figure this out on my 2018 MacBook Pro)

That's the issue that the OP is complaining about, the laptop is not really fully off. Open it up or hit a key and the MBP boots back up.

 

[Ruggy]

I don't get this at all. Mine definitely switches off and I've just checked because I thought maybe I was going nuts.
Are you guys really switching it off and not just putting it to sleep? If you close the lid it just goes to sleep, no?
What happens if you go to the apple symbol and choose 'Shut Down'. Mine definitely shuts down and the track pad is totally unresponsive.
If you have a touch bar, you can hold the button down for about 5 seconds too, that totally shuts it down.
In fact, you must have a button somewhere on the ones without the touchbar too so just hold that down for about 5 seconds or so (instead of blipping it) and I'll bet that shuts it down properly too. Has on every computer I've ever owned in fact.

 

[SDColorado]

If I go to the Apple logo, click shut down, wait for it to completely "shut down," close the display and wait a few seconds. Open the display again, the Apple logo will appear within a second after opening it.

 

[Falhófnir]

I don't get this at all. Mine definitely switches off and I've just checked because I thought maybe I was going nuts.
Are you guys really switching it off and not just putting it to sleep? If you close the lid it just goes to sleep, no?
What happens if you go to the apple symbol and choose 'Shut Down'. Mine definitely shuts down and the track pad is totally unresponsive.
If you have a touch bar, you can hold the button down for about 5 seconds too, that totally shuts it down.
In fact, you must have a button somewhere on the ones without the touchbar too so just hold that down for about 5 seconds or so (instead of blipping it) and I'll bet that shuts it down properly too. Has on every computer I've ever owned in fact.

Do you have a 2016 or 2017 model rather than a 2018? Although they look nearly identical they only have wake on opening the screen, not wake on pressing any key or the trackpad.