Re: Re: safe laptops - washing off plastic smell

[Guest guest]

For those mechanically inclined, there are repair manuals online that

show you how to disassemble all the plastic parts off. Why do this?

The plastic parts when made have a spray on release compound that

is " safe " enough now, that it is not washed off. It dissolves in about

5 seconds in a spray of water. I brush with soap anyway. Towel

dry, sun for 8 hours, and let dry overnight, just to be sure you do not

put water into the re-assembled laptop. A visual inspection of all

the small cavities is critical.

Why do all this? The plastic smell is actually from the release compound.

At least 95% of it.

I take apart all my new electronics and wash the plastic. Monitors, computers,

calculator, phones, cell phones, remote controls... but then I am a qualified

electronic technician, and putting them back together is easy for me.

But some things I take digital pictures, where the screws came from,

the wires were routed.

Point of this post... if you can not take it apart, at least do what you can.

And let dry outside for in the sun for 3 days!!!! You've been warned.

Take it in at night so morning condensation is not a problem.

Do not use any harsh chemicals. Water is enough. Soap is not needed.

[Guest guest]

At 06:38 AM 5/27/2009, you wrote:

> >This really works? Then I am going to try a Dell-it's got a

> magnesium alloy casing but everything else is plastic-I'm hoping

> for a reduced amount of toxins that, as you say, maybe I can wash

> off. I'm in NYC so keeping it in the sun for 3 days will be tricky

> but I can hope for some nice weather.

Also, there is the smell of hot electronic components, the CPU and RAM and HD.

Keeping these cool is wise. Use two pencils to raise the laptop off

the table top.

Or buy a laptop cooler. There is a lower smell level of hot

components that WILL NOT

go away. Then, you need to vent the exhaust air to the outside.

Keyboards of laptops now lift off with just 3 screws (bottom of

laptop, they are marked),

and one off board connector, and the keyboard can be washed under the tap.

Dry for a day in the sun. Or use rubbing alcohol (91 or 99% is best) to remove

water, and dry for 2-3 hours. But truly it's not worth risking the

laptop and drying

for 1 day (24 hours), is best.

Why wash the key cap tops? You touch them. This can be " one " exposure,

and so you now become sensitive, and the smell of the laptop now effects you.

Using metal key caps is possible. I put foil tape on my key caps and mouse

for 5 years. It works.

Oh, wash the key caps. Wipe with slightly damp towel to remove your finger

grease. IMPORTANT.

The point of 3 days of sun drying is to make sure all the water is

gone for non experts.

There are short cuts. 100% alcohol, and just 1 day sun drying.

Hot lamps above it, or better below it on a drying rack, or best is both.

If you are very wise, then the oven at 200 will work, but it will melt plastic,

soften it, permanently, even it if feels hard to the touch, it's weakened,

so oven's is for items that you can afford to lose.

Not many people realize that water can be used to clean most all electronics.

It's just it must be completely dry, including where the water leaked inside

components, and the sun adds heat that evaporates the water, and drives

the water out. I do this. I use 100% alcohol then, and 3 days sun drying.

And " lube " can be washed off by the alcohol. So, you really have to be

an expert. Or risk losing the item.