HELP!! Milk in my computer.

[KGARDINER]

This is my first time posting here, i was just wondering if anyone can help me. My wife spilled a glass of milk onto my computer, and it poured right through the fan hole at the top of the case. Milk covered my video card, my motherboard, and leaked onto my processor. The computer was NOT turned on at the time. Is there anything i can do to try to clean it up, or is it not worth bothering? I dont really have the three hundred bucks for a new motherboard and vid card, much less a new processor if that one is shot.

 

[PCTC2]

Well, unplug it and wipe it down with a cloth and 90%+ isopropyl alcohol available at CVS/Rite Aid/etc. If you feel comfortable, remove the motherboard and everything from the case. Remove the heatsinks from everything, wipe with isopropyl and reapply thermal compound. Let it dry, and make sure there's no trace of the milk anywhere. Make sure it didn't get into the power supply if the power supply is on the bottom. If it did, I would recommend a new PSU. Rebuild your computer and pray.

 

[MadScientist]

Good advice. Milk is slightly electrically conductive due to it's minerals and salts content.

 

[llee]

Milk is also slightly acidic so you don't want to simply blow a fan on your components and hope they dry up.

 

[KGARDINER]

i cleaned everything up with the alcohol, and let it dry overnight, but the milk actually stained the back of the motherboard somehow, even though it was not on there more than about twenty minutes, just long enough for me to get everything apart and cleaned up. i have wiped and wiped and wiped, but there are white stains that refuse to come off, and when i put everything back together, it wouldnt boot up at all. so im assuming the motherboard at the very least is shot. after i replace that, i'll be able to check all the other components. lucky me.

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

Time to buy a new rig and your wife can't say anything about it.

 

[KillerBee]

if you have rental or home insurance give 'em a call - you may be able to get a whole new replacement and get back some of those premiums

 

[Elisa521]

you could dry it

 

[Elisa521]

if you have rental or home insurance give 'em a call - you may be able to get a whole new replacement and get back some of those premiums

 

[daniel49]

This is my first time posting here, i was just wondering if anyone can help me. My wife spilled a glass of milk onto my computer, and it poured right through the fan hole at the top of the case. Milk covered my video card, my motherboard, and leaked onto my processor. The computer was NOT turned on at the time. Is there anything i can do to try to clean it up, or is it not worth bothering? I dont really have the three hundred bucks for a new motherboard and vid card, much less a new processor if that one is shot.

Add cookies and leave it for Santa...just kidding, sorry for your misfortune. sounds like you have been given good advice already, hope it works out.

 

[gsaldivar]

After the 90% alcohol cleaning, I would recommend putting the entire tower in a large trash bag with a cheap bag of uncooked white rice at the bottom. The rice need not be dispersed inside the actual case, just open it up and pour it in the bottom of the bag, then place the case on top of the rice leaving the cover off. Seal it up tight and leave it for a few days, the rice will act as a desiccant and should help dry up any liquid that has soaked into critical places.

Good luck!

 

[MadScientist]

Before you toss the MB out try baking it in the oven at ~425F for 10 minutes. If it's already dead can't hurt it. Take the CPU out and any removable plastic parts first before baking.