Tips to clean and care for your Surface device

Just like your pet or car, you’ll need to care for your Surface Pro, Surface Book, or Surface Laptop device as well so as to avoid needlessly visiting the vet clinic, or car mechanic workshop, or in this case, an authorized Surface device repair shop, thereby saving yourself a couple of extra bucks and time too. In this post, we will share some helpful tips to clean & care for your Windows-powered Surface device.

Tips to clean your Surface device

The areas we will be covering useful tips on, as prescribed by Microsoft, is listed as follows:

General cleaning.
Battery health.
Touchscreen care.
Cover and keyboard care.
Alcantara material care.
Power cord care.

Now, let’s delve into the details.

1) General cleaning.

To keep your Surface looking and working great, use a soft lint-free cloth (microfiber cloths work great) dampened with a little bit of mild soap and water (Pro Tip: Don’t apply liquids directly to your Surface), or screen wipes. Clean every 3-6 months or whenever needed.

2) Battery health.

All rechargeable batteries wear out eventually.

Here’s how to get the longest life from your battery:

Once a month, let your battery drain below halfway before charging it.
Avoid having your Surface plugged in 24/7.
Store your Surface in a cool, dry room when you’re not using it.

If you plan to store your Surface device for an extended period of time, charge it to 50% every six months to help make sure it stays chargeable.

3) Touchscreen care.

Scratches, finger grease, dust, chemicals, and ultraviolet light can affect the performance of your touchscreen.

Here are a few things you can do to help protect the screen:

Clean frequently – The Surface touchscreen is coated to make it easier to clean. You don’t need to rub hard to remove fingerprints or oily spots. Use a soft, lint-free cloth (either dry or dampened with water or eyeglass cleaner—never glass or other chemical cleaners) or a screen cleaning wipe to gently wipe the screen.
Keep it out of the sun – Don’t leave your Surface in direct sunlight for a long time. Ultraviolet light and excessive heat can damage the display.
Keep it covered – Close the cover when you’re taking your Surface with you, or if you’re not using it.

4) Cover and keyboard care.

There’s not much you need to do to keep the Touch Cover or the Type Cover working its best. To clean it, wipe with a lint-free cloth dampened in mild soap and water. Don’t apply liquids directly to your Surface device or to the cover. Do this often to keep your Touch Cover or Type Cover looking great.

If the spine or magnetic connections of your cover get dirty or stained, apply a small amount of isopropyl alcohol (also called rubbing alcohol) to a soft, lint-free cloth to clean.

5) Alcantara material care.

Some Surface devices and accessories feature spill and absorption-resistant Alcantara material. So check your product guide.

Regular care – To keep the Alcantara looking good, wipe it with a lint-free white cloth dampened with a mild soap and water solution or a screen cleaning wipe whenever needed.
Stain removal – If you spill something on the Alcantara material, try to clean it within 30 minutes to help prevent any stains from setting. Use swirling motions, gently clean with a white lint-free cloth dampened with soap and water. A simple solution of two parts water to one part mild soap (like hand soap) will do. Wipe dry using a clean light-colored cloth.

6) Power cord care.

Power cords, like any other metal wire or cable, can be weakened or damaged if repeatedly twisted or bent in the same spot.

Here are a few things you can do to keep your power cord from being damaged:

Avoid twisting or pinching your power cord.
Don’t wrap your power cord too tightly, especially around the power brick. Instead, wrap it using loose coils rather than tight angles.

Inspect your power cord regularly, especially where it joins the power brick.
Avoid pulling on the power cord when unplugging your Surface. Gently removing the connector from the charging connector can help prevent damage to your power cord.