After you have been using your laptop for more than a few weeks, it will probably begin to accumulate dirt and crumbs in the keyboard and a light haze over the screen. It's not your fault; you probably handle the computer extremely carefully, but we all live in a world with lots of environmental crud all around us.
You could wait to clean the computer until you return home, but a few simple cleaning supplies don't add much weight to your computer bag. A small artist's brush, a soft cotton cloth, and maybe a small plastic container of all-purpose cleaner are enough to remove dirt and spills from the keys and the case. To clean the screen, wipe it with a soft lint-free cloth lightly moistened with water or isopropyl alcohol.
Tip | As an alternative, look for cleaning sheets in sealed packets, specifically designed for LCD screens, such as No. CL360 Notebook Screen Cleaning Wipes from 3M, or Surface Guardian® Wet/Dry Cleaning Wipes from Kensington. |
Caution | Don't use ethyl alcohol, acetone or other solvents, or any glass cleaner that contains ammonia on your laptop's case or video display; these chemicals can permanently damage the surface of the screen and the material that makes up the outer case. |