# Help: end of laptop charger cord got wet **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 27, 2017, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-end-of-laptop-charger-cord-got-wet/797421 "2017-09-27T14:25:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2017, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-end-of-laptop-charger-cord-got-wet/797421/1 "2017-09-27T14:25:43Z")
That about says it. The cat was feisty and running around, the end of the charger cord for my MacBook got dragged through spilled coffee. The tiny green light at the end was on. I unplugged the unit from the outlet and dried it off with a tissue - there are tiny teeth and two tiny holes in the end. It’s still unplugged, and I blew on it for a while. I don’t know what to do now. Try it out, plug it back in, bury it in a box of rice, buy a new charger cord? Will I get a shock or wreck the laptop? ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2017, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-end-of-laptop-charger-cord-got-wet/797421/2 "2017-09-27T15:20:17Z")
As long as it is dry everything should be fine (assuming no damage initially). Also, the rice thing doesn’t really help and is more likely to do bad things by introducing rice dust into your components. ---
**Author:** ![OldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/3bc359/32.png) [@OldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldGuy)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2017, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-end-of-laptop-charger-cord-got-wet/797421/3 "2017-09-27T17:04:38Z")
If you have a can of compressed air (often used to clean computers), it shouldn’t hurt to blow that into the opening and it might help. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2017, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-end-of-laptop-charger-cord-got-wet/797421/4 "2017-09-27T17:27:22Z")
The real problem is the 5 tiny pogo pins getting gunked up and not extending correctly. Once it’s completely dry (leave it in the sun for a day or so), exercise the pins with a toothpick, and make sure they move without binding. If not, clean with contact cleaner or 100% alcohol. ---
**Author:** ![Enola\_Gay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/3ab097/32.png) [@Enola\_Gay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enola_Gay)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2017, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-end-of-laptop-charger-cord-got-wet/797421/5 "2017-09-27T22:42:05Z")
This happened to me a while back (but no cat was involved) & I soaked up as much water as I could with a tissue, then used a blow drier to dry up anything the tissue couldn’t get to. I plugged it in a few hours later & it worked just fine. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2017, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-end-of-laptop-charger-cord-got-wet/797421/6 "2017-09-27T23:09:06Z")
You can just dunk it again in rubbing alcohol. That will help force the water out and it will dry very quickly. ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2017, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-end-of-laptop-charger-cord-got-wet/797421/7 "2017-09-28T01:36:46Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#): > > You can just dunk it again in rubbing alcohol. Yes - but denatured alcohol (near zero % water) will be more effective than rubbing alcohol (typically 30% water). ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2017, 7:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-end-of-laptop-charger-cord-got-wet/797421/8 "2017-09-28T07:13:08Z")
Some cables I use for work equipment are $1750 or so and simply recommend dipping in ethanol. ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2017, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-end-of-laptop-charger-cord-got-wet/797421/9 "2017-09-28T12:32:08Z")
Did the coffee have milk and/or sugar? If it did, you’ll almost certainly want to clean it instead of just trying it after it dries. Both of those will leave non-conductive residue behind. Heck, even if it was black coffee you should probably clean it before trying it. ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2017, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-end-of-laptop-charger-cord-got-wet/797421/10 "2017-09-28T15:59:14Z")
OK. Thank you all… I looked up info online, of course, and some said OMG get a new charger or you and/or the laptop will die. Some said, wait a day and try it out. I will give it a little cleaning with some alcohol and wait another day or so…how about vodka? Straight unflavored vodka? ---
**Author:** ![bardos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bardos/32/1069_2.png) [@bardos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bardos)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2017, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-end-of-laptop-charger-cord-got-wet/797421/11 "2017-09-28T16:23:53Z")
In the past I have thoroughly washed my keyboard with a hose, then put it in the sun for a day or so and it dries out fine. Take advantage of the sun, it’ll dry it out in no time. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2017, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-end-of-laptop-charger-cord-got-wet/797421/12 "2017-09-28T16:27:56Z")
> [@salinqmind](#): > > OK. Thank you all… I looked up info online, of course, and some said OMG get a new charger or you and/or the laptop will die. Some said, wait a day and try it out. I will give it a little cleaning with some alcohol and wait another day or so…how about vodka? Straight unflavored vodka? Vodka is more water than alcohol. Good excuse to look for Everclear. You want the 190 proof version. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2017, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-end-of-laptop-charger-cord-got-wet/797421/13 "2017-09-28T16:36:44Z")
> [@salinqmind](#): > > OK. Thank you all… I looked up info online, of course, and some said OMG get a new charger or you and/or the laptop will die. Some said, wait a day and try it out. I will give it a little cleaning with some alcohol and wait another day or so…how about vodka? Straight unflavored vodka? Just get rubbing alchohol from a supermarket or drug store. Much higher alcohol percentage, and a lot cheaper. ---
**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2017, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-end-of-laptop-charger-cord-got-wet/797421/14 "2017-09-28T16:40:59Z")
> [@muldoonthief](#): > > Just get rubbing alchohol from a supermarket or drug store. Much higher alcohol percentage, and a lot cheaper. just don’t confuse the two later … 😉 ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2017, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-end-of-laptop-charger-cord-got-wet/797421/15 "2017-09-28T17:37:09Z")
So I lightly swabbed the end of the charger cord with a bit of rubbing alcohol, and an hour later plugged it in. It works fine! I am thinking it didn’t get thoroughly soaked with coffee. Thank you all for the advice.