I accidentally spilled sugar-free soda on my school computer. I've let it dry, but I'm worried about the sticky residue left inside. I've consulted my dad and the school's IT person, and both suggested I try turning it on. I'm concerned this might make things worse and that the components could degrade over time. Am I misunderstanding something?
4 Answers
Honestly, it’s best to hand it over to the IT department for a proper clean. Trying to power it on could lead to permanent damage, plus it might be against your school's IT policy.
I think it makes sense to do whatever the IT staff says since they are in charge of the computer. Just a heads-up: if they find damage from the spill, you (or your friend) might be held responsible for the repair costs.
If the school's IT person said it's okay to turn it on, I'd follow their advice. However, I think they should really take it apart to clean it. Powering it on while it's still sticky could cause more damage due to corrosion.
He mentioned I could be liable if it doesn't work afterwards.
Yeah, there’s a good chance you’ll run into issues later on. Soda takes longer to evaporate than water, and it leaves behind corrosive residue that can damage components. The right way to handle this is to completely disassemble and clean it with isopropyl alcohol.
He mentioned I might have to pay fees if it doesn't work.