Sticky keys on your MacBook after a spilled drink

Cola, sweetened coffee, tea or juice went over your MacBook. You dried it, but now keys stick, feel stiff or come back up slowly. Sticky keys on a MacBook after a spilled drink are annoying, but the bigger risk is often under the keyboard: the liquid can reach the logic board there. This article explains what to do right away, how to clean the keys carefully and when the MacBook needs opening.

Blue Apple repairs MacBooks with water damage in Amsterdam.

Right after the spill

1. Turn the MacBook off immediately and unplug the charger.
2. Hold it open in a tent shape or upside down, so liquid can run out.
3. Dab the outside with a dry, lint-free cloth.
4. Do not turn it on to test, do not charge it and do not use a hair dryer.

Also read liquid spilled: what now.

Why do the keys stick?

Sugar and other substances in drinks dry under the keycaps and in the small hinges underneath. They then move stiffly or get stuck. Water alone leaves hardly any residue; soft drinks, sweetened coffee, juice, wine and beer do.

Cleaning it yourself: carefully

• Only clean the outside with a cloth lightly moistened with isopropyl alcohol (preferably 90 percent or higher). Not dripping wet.
• Work around the keys, not under them. Do not pry caps off: especially on the butterfly keyboard they break easily.
• Never use water or cleaning products; they wash the liquid further inside.

Also see cleaning the keyboard safely.

Why opening it is often needed

On a MacBook the logic board sits right under the keyboard. Liquid running between the keys often reaches the logic board, battery or cables. Corrosion forms there, even if the MacBook seems to work at first. That can cause problems days or weeks later. See water damage: problems that come later.

Which drink is worst?

• Water: the least bad, but water also causes corrosion if it reaches the logic board.
• Coffee and tea with milk or sugar: leave sticky residue.
• Soft drinks and juice: lots of sugar and acid, which speeds up corrosion.
• Beer and wine: sugar and acid, and often a larger amount.

For a repair, always say what was spilled and how much; it helps with the cleaning.

Signs it has gone further

• Keys type by themselves or do not respond.
• The trackpad behaves oddly.
• The MacBook does not charge or will not turn on.
• Marks or lines at the bottom of the screen.
• A strange smell.

What happens in a repair

The MacBook is opened, the battery disconnected and the logic board and keyboard examined. Liquid and corrosion are removed with special cleaning. Then everything is tested to see what still works. If the keyboard is permanently damaged, it is replaced. See replacing a MacBook keyboard.

The sooner, the better

The shorter the liquid stays in the MacBook, the smaller the chance of corrosion. So have it checked as soon as possible. A MacBook that was switched off immediately and cleaned quickly can often be saved.

What we do at Blue Apple in Amsterdam

We open the MacBook, clean the logic board and keyboard, test all functions and tell you what is needed and what it costs. More on our page about MacBook water damage repair.

Frequently asked questions

Does rice help?

No. Rice does not remove sugar or corrosion and can leave dust in the MacBook.

My MacBook still works. Should I still have it checked?

With a sugary drink, yes. Corrosion works slowly and can still cause damage later.

Can I have just the keycaps replaced?

Sometimes, if only the caps stick. Usually the mechanism underneath is affected too.