How to Maintain a Laptop Battery

Getting to know your battery......


For the most part, there are three different battery types. The two most common are NickelMetalHydride (NiMH) and LithiumIon (LiIon) batteries. If you or your client has purchased a new laptop, then you will most likely have the new LiIon battery. The LiIon battery happens to have a pretty decent charge life, but it it still needs to be properly conditioned in order to work right.

Conditioning your battery......

First and foremost, make sure you fully charge the battery before using it - sometimes up to 16 hours. (In a number of cases, your laptop may have a battery conditioner utility built into the laptop’s BIOS)
Maintaining your battery
There are a variety of things that you can do to keep your laptop battery running in tip-top shape.

• Condition it every two to three weeks. Completely discharge it and then recharge it completely. This will help the battery maintain maximum life.
• When running off the AC power unit, only leave the battery in the battery bay when it needs to be charged.
• Use the power sparingly. Set up your power settings to turn off the hard drive when the system is in an idle mode. Same with the screen.

Tips and Warnings........

• A heavily used battery will probably require replacement in about 18 months. Be prepared to buy a new one if you rely heavily on your battery.
• Keep a spare battery on hand if you rely on battery power a great deal. Might save you from losing your work!
• Batteries that don't charge to 100 percent are probably starting to have issues with recharging. It will probably need to be replaced soon.
• If your computer manufacturer issues a recall for your battery, do not hesitate to send it back for a replacement. You don't want your laptop melting down on you, and that's meant in the literal sense. People can and have had their laptops melt or explode because of defective batteries.
• Use your laptop on a raised surface, such as a book to prop it up, or a portable desk made especially to keep your laptop cool. Batteries can get very hot, and if your laptop cannot vent properly, it can cause problems with the processor.

How to maintain your laptop

Before attempting to clean your laptop, read the User's Manual to learn what the recommended procedure for cleaning your particular laptop is. Most laptop manufacturer's recommend thoroughly cleaning a laptop once a year but frequent travelers may wish to clean their laptop more often. When cleaning a laptop computer do not use any harsh cleaning agents or those which contain ammonia in them on any part of the laptop.
Dirt that can build up inside and on your laptop computer includes pet hair and dander, dust, cigarette ashes and residue. This dirt can mar your display, affect the performance of the fans and block or cause problems with I/O ports.
You'll need the following to clean your laptop computer:

• Compressed Air
• Cotton swabs
• Cleaning solution
• Soft cleaning cloth such as a cotton t-shirt.

EXTERIOR:

• Use a soft damp cloth such as an old cotton t-shirt to clean the casing.
• Do not use a scratchy or abrasive cleaning cloth.
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• Don't use harsh cleaning products.
• Never spray any cleaning solution directly onto the casing - spray onto a cloth first.

COOLING VENTS:

• Use a can of compressed air to clean the cooling vents.
• Be careful with the compressed air that you don't spray too hard and get liquid on the fan blades.
• Use cotton swabs to hold fans in place while you clean them.
• Spraying directly on the fan and making them spin could cause them to over spin.

I/O PORTS:

• After the vents are cleaned, move to the I/O Ports.
• Use cotton swabs to wipe away large pieces of dirt that have accumulated.
• Compressed air can be used as well to blow the rest of the dirt away.
• Just be careful to not blow dirt into the I/O Ports.

DISPLAY:

• Turn off the laptop before cleaning the display as you will dirt more easily on the screen.
• Always use a non-abrasive cloth such as a cotton t-shirt.
• Never use paper towels or tissues to clean your display.
• Do not use any ammonia based cleaners on the display - they will leave a film.
• You can purchase monitor cleaning solutions in spray or pre-moistened wipes.
• Always spray on a cloth first then wipe the screen from left to right, top to bottom.
• You can make your own cleaning solution using isopropyl alcohol and water.
• Use one part water and one part isopropyl alcohol.

KEYBOARD:

• In order to keep your keyboard cleaner and prevent keys from sticking or malfunctioning, do your best to keep food and drink away from where you are working.
• Even if you don't spill something directly on the laptop keyboard, you will get residue on your fingers and transfer that to the keyboard.
• Compressed air can be used on the keyboard to get rid of dirt build-up.
• Read your User's Manual to learn if the keys can be removed for cleaning.
• Just be sure that you put the keys back in their proper place when you are done cleaning them.
• Cotton swabs are useful for cleaning in and around keys.