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Using Air Duster on MBP?

I've always strictly used a dry high-quality, thick microfiber towel to gently wipe down the laptop. If there's a spot somewhere that won't come out, just use a little water on the towel and she'll buff right out.

I doubt the duster would do any harm but it wouldn't be necessary unless you're working in a dirty environment. Save the $$$ and stick with the towel =)
 
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appleunderpants said:
I've always strictly used a dry high-quality, thick microfiber towel to gently wipe down the laptop. If there's a spot somewhere that won't come out, just use a little water on the towel and she'll buff right out.

I doubt the duster would do any harm but it wouldn't be necessary unless you're working in a dirty environment. Save the $$$ and stick with the towel =)
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I just want an easy way to get rid of the dust on the screen. Blowing air seems safer to me than wiping physically all the times, but I am worried that the occasional liquid spills (if ever with correct usage) from those cans can harm the coating. The safest way is to use a rocket air blower, but I am too lazy for that. I guess I am just too paranoid lol.
 
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heima said:
I just want an easy way to get rid of the dust on the screen. Blowing air seems safer to me than wiping physically all the times, but I am worried that the occasional liquid spills (if ever with correct usage) from those cans can harm the coating. The safest way is to use a rocket air blower, but I am too lazy for that. I guess I am just too paranoid lol.
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Air dusters are perfectly safe to use as long as you use them properly. Don't spray it directly against the screen, use it at a distance, and hold it upside-down if possible; just like any aerosol. It's great for keyboards/vents.
 
New_Mac_Smell said:
Air dusters are perfectly safe to use as long as you use them properly. Don't spray it directly against the screen, use it at a distance, and hold it upside-down if possible; just like any aerosol. It's great for keyboards/vents.
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Why spraying upside-down? I thought the liquid would come out that way and must be avoided?
 
heima said:
Why spraying upside-down? I thought the liquid would come out that way and must be avoided?
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Liquid condenses below gas. By holding a spray can upside-down you should only be getting the gas. Inside there is a tube that goes to the bottom of the can, so the liquid pools near the top when you hold it upside-down and the gas gets pulled in from the bottom.

All aerosols work that way, that's why some have little handles to hold it upside-down. It's only really important with spray paints but if you're wanting to minimise liquids then that is the correct way to use one.
 
I have limited experience of air dusters,but I have used a small hobby compressor to blow my rMBP clean from dust,especially the kind of yellow dirt that certain trees
spread everywhere in spring.
Of course,when using my method,you have to be extremely careful.
 
New_Mac_Smell said:
Liquid condenses below gas. By holding a spray can upside-down you should only be getting the gas. Inside there is a tube that goes to the bottom of the can, so the liquid pools near the top when you hold it upside-down and the gas gets pulled in from the bottom.

All aerosols work that way, that's why some have little handles to hold it upside-down. It's only really important with spray paints but if you're wanting to minimise liquids then that is the correct way to use one.
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Uhhhh....

The air duster cans I've used blew gas when held upright and sprayed chilled fluid when held upside-down.

OP, test-squeeze before you aim your can at the laptop.
 
It annoys me so much Apple doesn't include the little cleaning cloth like they used to on the new MBP even though they include them on the Mid 2015 model still.

I use a slightly damp microfiber cloth to clean my laptop and haven't had any issues.
 
BarracksSi said:
Uhhhh....

The air duster cans I've used blew gas when held upright and sprayed chilled fluid when held upside-down.

OP, test-squeeze before you aim your can at the laptop.
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Yup that's the case with mine too. I guess air dusters don't have the straws that go to the bottom of the cans, which is different from aerosol cans where liquid droplets are pushed out.

btw do you use air duster to clean laptops too?
 
New_Mac_Smell said:
Liquid condenses below gas. By holding a spray can upside-down you should only be getting the gas. Inside there is a tube that goes to the bottom of the can, so the liquid pools near the top when you hold it upside-down and the gas gets pulled in from the bottom.

All aerosols work that way, that's why some have little handles to hold it upside-down. It's only really important with spray paints but if you're wanting to minimise liquids then that is the correct way to use one.
Click to expand...

This is not the case for electronic cleaning gas dusters. There is no tube that goes to the bottom of the can; if you tip the can upside down while spraying, you'll be spraying the condensed liquid all over the object/device you're aiming it at. OP, always hold the can upright while spraying. Follow the instructions printed on the outside of the can - usually it tells you to avoid shaking, as well.

The way these compressed air cans work is by using a very volatile liquid fluorocarbon that evaporates and pressurizes within the can. The liquid sits at the bottom and evaporates at room temperature creating pressurized "air" which is released when you pull the trigger. If you tip the can upside down, the liquid will be right at the nozzle and spray everything in its path. Granted it will evaporate in seconds, you can cause cold damage to the object if you leave it aimed long enough. Not to mention most canned air companies include a bittering agent within the fluorocarbon to prevent misuse, so when you spray the liquid out like this, the bittering agent is also released in high concentrations into the surrounding air and you'll immediately taste it. Not a pleasant taste. Ask me how I know that one!
 
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I would think compressed gas would be good for cleaning the keyboard, especially to get debris from under the keys
 
New_Mac_Smell said:
Liquid condenses below gas. By holding a spray can upside-down you should only be getting the gas. Inside there is a tube that goes to the bottom of the can, so the liquid pools near the top when you hold it upside-down and the gas gets pulled in from the bottom.

All aerosols work that way, that's why some have little handles to hold it upside-down. It's only really important with spray paints but if you're wanting to minimise liquids then that is the correct way to use one.
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Incorrect for most aerosols. If you look at the directions printed on virtually every can of spray duster or paint or furniture cleaner, it clearly says to keep the can upright when spraying.
 
heima said:
btw do you use air duster to clean laptops too?
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Nope, I just spray the screen with a mist of water and wipe it down.

For the rest, like between and under the keys, I might go over it with a vacuum cleaner once in a while, row-by-row with the idea that any dust inside will be easy to suck "backwards" through the gaps under the keys. I haven't yet opened up the case to see how much dust has accumulated inside, but maybe I should. That'd give me an excuse to buy a can of air, too.

(remember, on most Mac laptops -- mine's a mid-2012 MB Pro -- the hot air exhausts by the display hinge, and fresh air enters through the keyboard itself)
 
IllIllIll said:
Incorrect for most aerosols. If you look at the directions printed on virtually every can of spray duster or paint or furniture cleaner, it clearly says to keep the can upright when spraying.
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Hmm might be different for foreign cans then (Regulations), either way do look at directions.

campyguy said:
OP, searching these forums can get plenty of good answers to your questions, like my post from 3-odd years ago:
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/best-cleaning-product.1761057/#post-19441992

Along with a microfiber cloth use distilled water, not tap crap. Use a vacuum, not a blower that can further embed crap in your Mac. And, use the search option, it's a feature of these forums! Welcome to MR Forums.
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Do be careful using a vacuum as it creates static around the nozzle.
 
New_Mac_Smell said:
Hmm might be different for foreign cans then (Regulations), either way do look at directions.
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You're not entirely incorrect. Aerosol cans that are meant to spray aerosolized liquids do have the small straw that goes to the bottom of the can, since that's where the liquid settles when the can is held upright. However, aerosol cans that are meant to shoot out pressurized gas (such as air dusters) have a very short 'straw' at the top of the can, which is why it sprays out liquid when sprayed upside down.
 
/V\acpower said:
https://support.apple.com/en-ca/HT205662

Apple recommend air duster.
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I can't believe they actually have a guide for that :D. Is there a guide on how to open the clamshell too?

Also been saying that for ages: "If your MacBook (2015 and later) or MacBook Pro (2016 and later) has an unresponsive key, or a key that feels different than the other keys when you press it, follow these steps to clean the keyboard with compressed air.". Before people go spending weeks with return units and stuff.
 
New_Mac_Smell said:
Air dusters are perfectly safe to use as long as you use them properly. Don't spray it directly against the screen, use it at a distance, and hold it upside-down if possible; just like any aerosol. It's great for keyboards/vents.
Click to expand...
New_Mac_Smell said:
Air dusters are perfectly safe to use as long as you use them properly. Don't spray it directly against the screen, use it at a distance, and hold it upside-down if possible; just like any aerosol. It's great for keyboards/vents.
Click to expand...
no don't do that or at least check first as I tried that and got a hand full of liquid
 
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