How to clean the plastics on your Mac

  • Last Modified: June 06, 2008
  • Article: HT1804
  • Old Article: 30889

Summary

This article tells you what you can use to clean the translucent plastics on newer Apple products.

This article tells you what you can use to clean the plastics on Apple products. Do NOT use these instructions to clean your display. If you need to clean an LCD display, see article 60446 How To Clean an LCD Panel.

 

Products Affected

Portable Computers, Desktop Computers

Do's

Follow these general rules when cleaning the outside of your Apple product:

Be sure to turn off your Mac, unplug the power cord from the wall or power strip, and remove the battery from notebooks before you start cleaning.

Use a damp, soft, lint-free cloth with mild non-abrasive soap or detergent. It is also safe to use isopropyl alcohol and iKlear. Remove any surface dirt gently with your bare hand before proceeding with cleaner and cloth. After washing, dry the plastic with a soft, lint-free cloth.

Don'ts

DO NOT do any of the following:

  • use window sprays or cleaning products containing ammonia, alcohol, or abrasive ingredients
  • use rough towels or cloths to dry the plastic
  • Spray cleaner directly onto your computer (Liquid could drip inside the case and cause an electrical shock and/or electrical malfunction.)

Additional Information

If you're cleaning an iMac computer, see this article or see this article for iMac (Flat Panel). If you're cleaning an Apple keyboard, see this article.

Important: Information about products not manufactured by Apple is provided for information purposes only and does not constitute Apple’s recommendation or endorsement. Please contact the vendor for additional information.

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