I accidentally spilled a small amount of ramen water over roughly one-fifth of my keyboard, reaching about as far as the D key. I immediately shut down and unplugged my Legion laptop, then removed the keycaps and wiped the surface. I need it for studying, so what is the shortest reasonably safe amount of time to wait before turning it back on?
2 Answers
Don’t power it on until you’re confident the inside is completely dry. For a laptop, I’d leave it shut down and disconnected for at least 24 hours, preferably 48 hours after a liquid spill. Prop it upside down in an inverted V so any moisture can drain, and use airflow rather than a hair dryer or direct heat.
Since it’s a Legion laptop, the safest approach is to keep it unplugged and, if you’re comfortable doing so, disconnect the battery after opening the bottom panel. A small spill can still reach the keyboard circuitry, and turning it on too soon can cause a short. Waiting several hours is risky; 24–48 hours is a much better minimum. If the ramen water had oil, seasoning, or salt in it, it should eventually be inspected and cleaned because residue can cause corrosion even after it dries.
How can I tell whether the inside is actually dry? I can only see the area under the keycaps.