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Please help! How to clean inside of MacBook Pro 13" of spilled milk?

G

Guitarcat123

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Nov 25, 2011
6
0
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I spilled milk on my MacBook Pro less than 1/2 hour ago. Okay, okay, I know. I really messed up. I am extremely clumsy, so I'm kinda prone to this kind of stuff happening to me.
Anyway, as soon as it happened I went into freak-out mode because my computer automatically shut down. I attempted to turn it on by pressing keys, clicking the trackpad, and holding down the power button, all to no avail. I then went into clean-up mode. I grabbed a bunch of paper towels and cleaned all of the milk from the surface of and around the Mac. I then proceeded to set it on a countertop to let it dry. I grabbed my iPod and went to work looking up solutions. So far, I have tried opening up the battery with a screwdriver, but it was too big for the tiny nails. I turned my computer upside-down and let the milk filter out of the keys. Then, I rushed upstairs and grabbed a hair-dryer, put it on 'low-cool' setting, and aimed it at the keyboard, happy to see that some of the milk shot out of the keyboard. Please let me know any other ways I can clean the inside/keyboard of my beloved Mac (is it possible to pop out the keys?), and if there's anything else I can do to save it before it's too late! Thank you so much for your help!
 
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Somebody answer please, I really need help!
 
There are a lot of threads about spills. First though, do not try and turn it on. Also the dryer may not be good because it may drive liquid into areas where it wasn't before. Just the first thoughts I had.

The keys do not pop off and go back on right.
 
If your computer shut off, it wasn't "automatic" it was shorted out. Its probably trashed, but at the bare minimum you will need a new top case which is is about $150-200 plus a couple hours of labor. That is IF nothing else is broken. Take it to a professional. You obviously need their help.
 
I recently bought a macbook that had been spilled onto. The prior owner had decided it would never work since it had shut itself off. She had the drive removed. When I bought it, it had been 2 weeks since the spill. When I got it home, I opened it up and looked to see what sign of corrosion there would be inside, Nothing!! I replaced the drive and gave it to my daughter. She has used it for the last month without any problems. The big key is to not try and turn it on. Just let it dry for many days, do not try too quickly.
 
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Thank you all so much. I'm trying my best to stay calm right now. I'm going to let it dry for a week and if it doesn't work after that, I'm definitely going to take it to an expert.
 
If it was water, that's one thing, but milk has sugars, proteins, and other things in it. If it dries on your logic board there will still be a residual layer of stuff on there that may be electrically conductive.

I wouldn't bother waiting for it to dry, if it shorted out it may already have been damaged. Take it in for an assessment ASAP and be prepared to shell out $$$ for the repair.
 
Thanks everyone. And thank you (^ right above me) for backing me up. Well, I tried turning it on (both plugged and unplugged) but it didn't. But when it was plugged in, the green light was on. Also, the top cover is fine, the keyboard looks fine, but I think what's damaged is the logic board. To get a diagnosis/possible logic board replacement, should I go to Apple (yes, I know, no more warranty for me) or to some other professional?
 
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Guitarcat123 said:
Thanks everyone. And thank you (^ right above me) for backing me up. Well, I tried turning it on (both plugged and unplugged) but it didn't. But when it was plugged in, the green light was on. Also, the top cover is fine, the keyboard looks fine, but I think what's damaged is the logic board. To get a diagnosis/possible logic board replacement, should I go to Apple (yes, I know, no more warranty for me) or to some other professional?
Click to expand...


no Apple Care?

Call Apple and make an appointment with a Genius at the Apple store. They'll look at it and let you know what the options are.

There isn't much else you can do until then. I would not turn it on at all for at least a few days.
 
Macrumors Guide says basically to Turn off the computer, unplug the power, and remove the battery if possible. Soak up as much of the liquid as you can. Flip your computer upside down, where the keyboard is almost parallel to the floor. Wait. This could take more than a day. Sometimes it helps if you take a hair dryer and put it over the keyboard and trackpad.

I would definitely have Apple look at it just to be sure. Hope and pray that it didn't touch your logic board, other wise it's going to cost you. This guy spilled stuff on his Mac and everything turned out okay for him, i'll quote it-

Wncmacuser said:
Just in case anyone else pulls a genius move like mine and comes here looking for solace, here's what happened:

1) After three days, I turned my MBP on (without putting the battery back in) in order to get all the data I would need to keep working while it was in the shop.

2) I took it to the shop: they did a build-down, cleaned everything, and inspected the logic board. Ultimately they determined that while some of the spill may have made it there, it wasn't a threat, and put the computer back together.

(2.5 - I brought the MBP home, booted it up - and discovered that the shop had installed someone else's hard drive when they put it back together. Took it back to the shop, grateful to have a problem that was so easily resolved, and that made someone besides me look like a bonehead.)

3) I have had no problems with my computer since, though occasionally some of the keys will stick if they've been out of use for a while. My wife notices the problem, but I notice it only on very rare occasions.

Total cost: $180 and four days without my work computer. But that got me a fully functional MBP with no fears that the soda residue was eating away the insides. So my advice is:

a) buy a keyboard protector
b) do all the stuff I outlined in my original post
c) take it to a shop as quickly as possible (though you may, depending on your need and your courage, be able to turn the computer on enough to get what you need off of it).

Bottom line, though: based on my experience, if you've just had a minor soda spill, you probably have NOT just killed (or even maimed) your computer, even if it shut itself off. So take heart.
Click to expand...

Good luck and I hope everything turns out good for you!
 
Probably boned, milk is far worse than a water spill. At least water can be treated.

You're looking at a new logic board, or at least a through going over by someone who could totally clean your board and examine it for corrosion, assuming the board isn't already permanently damaged.
 
I would stop trying to power it on, then I would remove the bottom cover and then I would use a silk cloth/microfiber with 91% rubbing alcohol (more is better) and I would try and remove some of the milk residue, then I would remove the motherboard and see if you can find any of the residue anywhere else, then only then would I use a hair dryer, after removing the battery.

Hope this helps,
Macfan
 
Guitarcat123 said:
Thanks everyone. And thank you (^ right above me) for backing me up. Well, I tried turning it on (both plugged and unplugged) but it didn't. But when it was plugged in, the green light was on. Also, the top cover is fine, the keyboard looks fine, but I think what's damaged is the logic board. To get a diagnosis/possible logic board replacement, should I go to Apple (yes, I know, no more warranty for me) or to some other professional?
Click to expand...

What happened to waiting a week? You posted the spill 3 days ago. Turning it on repeatedly is a dillweed move.
 
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I spilled milk on my MacBook Pro less than 1/2 hour ago. Okay, okay, I know. I really messed up. I am extremely clumsy, so I'm kinda prone to this kind of stuff happening to me.
Click to expand...

Just don't cry over it...
 
Lee Adama said:
i have a feeling he will try to turn it on everyday and post that it won't turn on anymore.

:D
Click to expand...

Um, no I'm not. I made an appointment with the Genius bar and I'm not even going to touch the computer until then. Also, I'm a girl, not a guy. Just clearing that up because everyone is referring to me as 'he'.
 
Lee Adama said:
no Apple Care?

Call Apple and make an appointment with a Genius at the Apple store. They'll look at it and let you know what the options are.

There isn't much else you can do until then. I would not turn it on at all for at least a few days.
Click to expand...

Apple Care won't help if you spill milk; it doesn't cover accidental damage.
 
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