# Help Me Clean My iBook **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 12, 2005, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-clean-my-ibook/284354 "2005-01-12T06:14:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![MidnightRadio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecd19e/32.png) [@MidnightRadio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MidnightRadio)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2005, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-clean-my-ibook/284354/1 "2005-01-12T06:14:27Z")
I have an iBook and I love it dearly, but the palm-rest area of the casing is starting to look really grungy (oh, how I wish they’d make a black iBook). I’m afraid to try to clean it with any kind of household cleaner, but I’d like to get it clean _somehow_. So, what can I do? ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2005, 6:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-clean-my-ibook/284354/2 "2005-01-12T06:30:52Z")
I generally use Windex to clean my portable electronics - it’s safe on all plastics that I know of, and leaves no residue. Spray some onto a cloth (do NOT spray onto the device to be cleaned), just enough to dampen the surface, and wipe gently. Go over it with another cloth to dry it. ---
**Author:** ![aeropl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f05b48/32.png) [@aeropl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aeropl)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2005, 6:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-clean-my-ibook/284354/3 "2005-01-12T06:44:03Z")
If you are paranoid, there are reccomendations in the manual for how to clean it and they even sell a “special” cleaner at the Apple stores. Otherwise, what **Q.E.D.** said. ---
**Author:** ![MidnightRadio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecd19e/32.png) [@MidnightRadio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MidnightRadio)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2005, 7:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-clean-my-ibook/284354/4 "2005-01-13T07:38:16Z")
Cool. Thanks, guys. ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2005, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-clean-my-ibook/284354/5 "2005-01-13T15:51:32Z")
Tut tut. This is The Straight Dope. It’s not called “special” Apple cleaner…heh. It’s called [Apple Polish](http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/AppleStore.woa/71202/wo/mm5dZBwnsoT82azS1wF2jR7SJOh/2.0.11.1.0.6.25.7.11.0.3), and does very well on my PowerBook G4 Titanium. Cleans my tracpad nicely as well as the LCD screen and casing. YMMV. Offer not good in all areas. 😉 Cartooniverse