Quick Links
Cleaning your MacBook with the wrong items can lead to disastrous results, such as discoloring its aluminum frame or stripping the oleophobic coating off the screen. Here are some lessons you can learn from my experience.
1Nail Polish Remover (or Any Alcohol-Based Solution)
Apple saysthe only way toclean your Macis to use a damp, lint-free microfiber cloth or a 70 percent isopropyl alcohol (IPA) solution for tougher stains, like smudges and fingerprints.
With that in mind, I bought nail polish remover wipes that contained isopropyl and another unspecified alcohol to clean off tough stains. I thought it would be a good way to get some cleaning solution onto my Mac and then wipe it off with a microfiber cloth.
Initially, the nail polish remover wipes seemed to work fine, effectively removing fingerprint and food stains. However, one fateful day, I left the wipes on my rose gold MacBook Air for a few minutes while engrossed in work. When I finally remembered and rushed to wipe it off, I noticed that my once vibrant rose-gold MacBook had discolored into a gray hue.
Even though some isopropyl was in the mix, the regular rubbing alcohol in the nail polish remover corroded with the aluminum and discolored its surface. The lesson here is that non-isopropyl alcohol cleaners—even when combined with IPA—will discolor your Mac.
I used a nail polish remover because its label said it didn’t have acetone. However, most nail polish removers contain this compound, which is highly volatile and will discolor your Mac. Nail polish remover is just one of thoseproducts you should never use to clean your computer.
2General-Purpose Cleaning Spray
You should avoid using cleaning sprays altogether unless the product’s packaging specifies it’s safe for your Mac. You should also never spray it directly onto your device; instead, spray it onto a microfiber cloth and use the damp cloth to wipe down your Mac.
I ignored both cleaning tenets by purchasing a foam cleaning agent spray and spraying the aerosol can directly on the Mac. I thought it would be fine since my Mac’s aluminum is technically metal, and the label said it was safe for metal and plastic computer surfaces. I was wrong, and the worst happened.
I would hear the MacBook power on, but the screen no longer worked; the cleaning agent had seeped into the internals and damaged its connection. The Apple agent at the Genius Bar said it showed signs of water damage, which isn’t covered by warranty. Another Mac had bitten the dust thanks to my negligence.
Additionally, the foam cleaning agent didn’t clean my Mac’s surface well in the first place; it left a sticky residue that attracted even more dirt and fingerprints.
3Tissue Paper, Paper Towels, and Random Cloths
If you’re like me, you probably eat a lot around your Mac. When I take a break between work sessions, my work desk pretty much serves as a dining table. Whenever I used a paper towel, tissue paper, or even my T-shirt to wipe food particles that ended up on my Mac, it either left micro-scratches or lint residue.
Micro-scratches may not be noticeable initially, but they become more obvious as you add more. Your Mac’s screen is especially sensitive to this, and repeated cleaning will remove its anti-reflective andoleophobic coating. This compromises the display quality and reduces your Mac’s resale value.
The second problem is lint. Apple specifies “lint-free” when describing what micro-fiber is best for cleaning a Mac. Paper towels and tissue papers are abrasive and leave small fibers (lint) wherever they touch. The result is that your Mac doesn’t end up looking clean afterward. Doing this can also compound under your keyboards over time and dampen your typing experience.
4Toothbrush (or Any Hard-Bristled Brush)
I’ve had some pretty tough stains on my Mac that I struggled to remove. One of the first things I grabbed to remove them was a repurposed toothbrush without realizing it was a hard-bristled brush. Unfortunately, it didn’t remove the stain without leaving some scratches on the Mac’s surface first.
In short, avoid any hard-bristled brush—toothbrush or not. Apple doesn’t recommend brushes for cleaning your Mac, but a soft-bristled, high-quality brush could sweep the gaps between your keyboard and remove particles from the speakers. Anything else might lodge debris deeper into crevices or even eject their own fibers.
There are many other things I didn’t list here that will damage your Mac, like soap, excessive water, and bleach. However, these are the items I will surely avoid from personal experience. You should readApple’s guideon how to clean your Apple devices to learn more about what to avoid when cleaning.
