After six MacBooks arrived at our bench with liquid damage in just one week (and it’s only Wednesday), we thought it was time to write a guide for what to do if this happens to you.

Remember, an ounce of prevention is worth at least $1,000. Try to keep your computer away from wet places like kitchen counters, sinks, and swimming pools. And—this may be the hardest thing of all—make it a habit never to place your beverage container next to your laptop. All it takes is one strategically placed droplet of water to turn your MacBook into a very expensive paperweight. We know this is common sense, but it bears repeating.

Now…what to do when the unthinkable happens?

First: remove power from the computer. Immediately unplug the unit if it’s plugged in and remove the battery if possible. (If you have a newer “Unibody” MacBook or MacBook Pro, removing the battery isn’t an option.) If you keep the system under power, liquid will eventually make it past the keyboard and short out contacts on the underlying circuit boards—irreversibly damaging main components.

Second: if liquid was spilled on the keyboard, get rid of as much of it as you can. Try to blot up as much as possible. If you don’t have anything to blot with, raise the MacBook and tilt it so that the liquid runs off away from the keyboard or any other openings. The key here is to prevent liquid from entering the computer and coming into contact with the logic board, the single most expensive component in a MacBook or MacBook Pro. Follow up by placing a paper towel, tissue, or at the very least a piece of paper on the keyboard; then close the display and transport the computer upside down to your service provider.

If the spill is only on a surface where the laptop is sitting, quickly pick up the computer and place it on a towel or some other absorbent material. Do not turn the unit upside down.

If the liquid is on top of a closed MacBook, turn the unit upside down and blot up any liquid, paying special attention to the ports and other openings on the computer’s sides.

Last: whew…that was close. You’ve spilled soda, beer or water on your MacBook and were able to blot it off and everything looks OK. If you were able to disconnect the battery, do not reconnect it or connect the computer to the charger. If the battery is still connected, no matter how curious you are, do not press the power button. If moisture made it to any of the sensitive components and is still present, applying power will surely damage them.

At this point you need to bring your MacBook to your service provider as soon as possible and have them inspect the electronic components to see if the liquid caused any damage. Speed is of the essence: if you wait too long corrosion will form, sugary liquids will evaporate and crystallize, or mineral deposits will bridge contacts. Damage to electronic boards can only be prevented if the liquid is first eliminated, followed by careful cleaning with distilled water and mild evaporating solvents (usually alcohol).

If you were unlucky enough to have your logic board or other component irreversibly damaged by the liquid spill, all is not necessarily lost. While your computer may be totaled, your data may still be intact. In our experience even the most severe liquid spills rarely damage the hard drive. So if your hard drive is okay, Chesapeake Systems will be able to retrieve your data and transfer it to a new computer or external hard drive. After all, if you don’t have a backup (and you should), your data is usually the most difficult thing to replace.

About the Author:
Mark Critzman is an Apple Certified Macintosh Technician for Chesapeake Systems as well as a server-based backup and archiving solutions specialist. An animal lover and amateur dog rescuer, he spends most of his free time with his wife and four dogs when the Ravens aren’t playing.