mac diddy

As a support technician, I put my hands on a lot of computers and of course I’ve found that some people take care of their Macbooks better than others. After a couple of years of use they range from grungy and gunked-up to clean and pristine. I tend to fall on the anal-retentive side of the spectrum to the point where I’ll sometimes clean a computer which I am servicing only because touching that grimy keyboard makes me want to scrub the skin off of my hands.

Occasionally I’ll get questions from users about how to safely clean a Macbook. Others want to know how to get the most life from their battery. And so I present part one of a few observations and tips to keep your Macbook looking unsoiled and performing like a champ.

Part 1: Don’t pull the Magsafe adapter by its neck.

Let’s start with safety first. You know that innovative Magsafe power adapter which enthusiastically snaps into place on your Macbook with a satisfying click, yet comes off easily enough that you don’t hose your Macbook when you trip over the chord? Well they’re not invincible and this is a case where an ounce of prevention can save you copious pounds of cure. Prevention tip: when you remove the Magsafe adapter from your Macbook, grab it by the head, not the neck (chord).

It seems that when people repeatedly pull this adapted by its neck, the chord itself stretches and weakens in that area. Over time, this could lead to a broken adapter requiring an expensive replacement… if you’re lucky. In the worst cases, the frayed connectors can actually sizzle and catch fire! It’s all very avoidable by simply developing one good habit (grab it by the head always).

Coming soon, part deux: Cleaning your Macbook