Hello,
I have had my Macbook Pro for almost 7 years. I have never once had it internally cleaned for dust, etc... Does Apple's Genius Bar do free cleanings? Or, where would be the best place to take it for cleaning? The only places around me is Apple, Best Buy, or independent repair shops who are authorized to work on apple products.
⚠️ Don't try "blowing out."
People toss "blow out" around like it is harmless. NOT! Except for pro-grade compressed air delivery systems, other methods can and will combine water vapor for the air and inject is into your logi board. That is hazardous to your Mac's longevity.
The worst offenders are the "canned air" products. Properly used, fine, but about 104% of consumers do it wrong. If you shake the can even a little, they spray super-cold propellant that picks up a lot of moisture. That forms ice on the surfaces they hit, which quickly turns into the aforementioned damaging water.
The component likely to be noisy is a dirty fan (or fans, depending on your Macbook Pro model). Improper removal of the fans can a) cause electrical shorting, or b) destroy the logic board. A third issue is the stripping of the tiny screws and/or their sockets that secure the bottom plate.
I would use the Apple locator page to find an independent Apple Authorized Service Provider. Since you don't need parts, they might be willing service the fans in an older model. With the requisite skills the woul have, its not a onerous task.
⚠️ Don't try "blowing out."
People toss "blow out" around like it is harmless. NOT! Except for pro-grade compressed air delivery systems, other methods can and will combine water vapor for the air and inject is into your logi board. That is hazardous to your Mac's longevity.
The worst offenders are the "canned air" products. Properly used, fine, but about 104% of consumers do it wrong. If you shake the can even a little, they spray super-cold propellant that picks up a lot of moisture. That forms ice on the surfaces they hit, which quickly turns into the aforementioned damaging water.
The component likely to be noisy is a dirty fan (or fans, depending on your Macbook Pro model). Improper removal of the fans can a) cause electrical shorting, or b) destroy the logic board. A third issue is the stripping of the tiny screws and/or their sockets that secure the bottom plate.
I would use the Apple locator page to find an independent Apple Authorized Service Provider. Since you don't need parts, they might be willing service the fans in an older model. With the requisite skills the woul have, its not a onerous task.
chdsl wrote:
Do you have an issue— if so you never stated what is the issue you are having(?)
Should I have an issue? 😀 I know how to open a MacBook and a Windows laptop, and I’ve seen how dirty some of them are!
The only times I've ever seen an excess build up of dust in a laptop is when the user has pets which shed, or they work in an extremely dirty environment such as a wood shop. Otherwise, the dust build up is minimal. If someone happens to fall into categories like, then having the laptop checked & cleaned for excess build up of dust may be warranted.
Since the Apple laptops are not easy to open up these days, such a check & cleaning should only be done by a professional. I work on Apple laptops daily and even I have issues removing the Bottom Cases of some of these Apple laptops with USB-C ports.....definitely not something for the average user to attempt.
Have the computer examined by an authorized service center. Unusual or new sounds coming from the fans may indicate the fans are failing. The service center will likely charge you for their support.
"If it ain't broke don't fix it."
And doubly so on modern Apple portable electronics which are practically “poured”
into their cases; where one errant move can effectively “disable” an otherwise perfectly functional device.
xKiYoMiNaTiONx wrote:
Hello,
I have had my Macbook Pro for almost 7 years. I have never once had it internally cleaned for dust, etc... Does Apple's Genius Bar do free cleanings? Or, where would be the best place to take it for cleaning? The only places around me is Apple, Best Buy, or independent repair shops who are authorized to work on apple products.
What symptoms are you seeing that would indicate that "internal cleaning" is needed?
"Internal Cleaning" is not a recommended maintenance action that I am aware of.
?
Cleaning inside is typically not done by any standard.
7 years is not a justification for cleaning. These request are typically denied unless there is a hardware issue.
Is there some issue you have not stated???
Matti Haveri wrote:
Allan Jones wrote:
[...]"canned air" products. Properly used, fine, but about 104% of consumers do it wrong. If you shake the can even a little, they spray super-cold propellant that picks up a lot of moisture. That forms ice on the surfaces they hit, which quickly turns into the aforementioned damaging water.
Thanks for the warning. I guess that applies also to cleaning keyboards:
How to clean the keyboard of your MacBook or MacBook Pro - Apple Support
You are most welcome! I find canned air a bit less bothersome on freestanding boards because you can adjust the angle of the board without disturbing the contents of the can so much. However not on my laptops I'm too clumsy to maneuver a 4-pound laptop that way so, for most of my cleaning inside and out, I use non-static pastry brushes made with natural bristles and wood handles.
A moisture-damaged freestanding keyboard can be replaced at a modest cost; a laptop board, not so much.
Dust on the fans is not considered as any part of preventative maintenance...
Depending on the environment the computers are used in: when the fan draws air in, it doesn’t filter anything, so all kinds of particles pass through. They aren’t just fine dust or powder. Open up a computer a few years old and you’ll see that for yourself. For some people, just a few months in their conditions would be enough to clog the air vents and fans. Then the computer starts overheating when it shouldn’t, which causes other problems too.
Do you have an issue— if so you never stated what is the issue you are having(?)
Should I have an issue? 😀 I know how to open a MacBook and a Windows laptop, and I’ve seen how dirty some of them are!
Allan Jones wrote:
[...]"canned air" products. Properly used, fine, but about 104% of consumers do it wrong. If you shake the can even a little, they spray super-cold propellant that picks up a lot of moisture. That forms ice on the surfaces they hit, which quickly turns into the aforementioned damaging water.
Thanks for the warning. I guess that applies also to cleaning keyboards:
How to clean the keyboard of your MacBook or MacBook Pro - Apple Support
Allan Jones wrote:
However not on my laptops I'm too clumsy to maneuver a 4-pound laptop that way so, for most of my cleaning inside and out, I use non-static pastry brushes made with natural bristles and wood handles.
How do you clean the inside with such brushes without taking the back cover off? Dirt of the fans is the usual culprit for heating.
chdsl wrote:
Dirt of the fans is the usual culprit for heating.
Sorry but I disagree. Macs typically overheat due to high processing loads, clogged vents, blocked airflow from using it on soft surfaces like beds, or background apps running out of control.
BobTheFisherman wrote:
chdsl wrote:
Dirt of the fans is the usual culprit for heating.
Sorry but I disagree. Macs typically overheat due to high processing loads, clogged vents, blocked airflow from using it on soft surfaces like beds, or background apps running out of control.
Of course, they are culprits too. But dirt on the fans prevents the heat from being blown out efficiently. If you’re not living in a desert, the humidity in the air will cause dust to glue on the fan blades, gradually reducing the airflow through the laptop’s obvious channels. With Apple using thinner fans in MacBooks, the space between the fins gets smaller all the time. Sure, an aluminium body of the MacBook helps to dissipate heat, but with clogged fans it becomes inevitable.
chdsl wrote:
Of course, they are culprits too. But dirt on the fans prevents the heat from being blown out efficiently.
Dust on the fans is not considered as any part of preventative maintenance...
Do you have an issue— if so you never stated what is the issue you are having(?)
The standard rule of thumb: "If it ain't broke don't fix it."
leroydouglas wrote:
chdsl wrote:
Should I have an issue? 😀
I would find something else to fixate on.
Being here longer doesn’t mean they give good advice. 😉
Keep your Mac in a clean working environment and keep it clean. Keep your workspace clean too. I have a 15‑inch (lovely thin) MBP running for nearly eight years, and it isn’t heating up even today — which is what keeps me from buying an M‑chip MBP. And I’ve never had to open it at all.
(I have a M4 Mac Mini too, and it doesn't heat up either.)
Offices are usually clean working environments.
Since the Apple laptops are not easy to open up these days, such a check & cleaning should only be done by a professional.
That I agree.
But, there are a lot of self-made professionals all over the world. 😀
Where to get MacBook Pro internally cleaned for dust?
