First few minutes
Just happened? Do this first
- Treat sweat stains promptly, because they can weaken most fibers.
- Keep heat away, including hot air, until the stain is gone.
- Unplug the device and remove all cables before you wipe.
- Pretest any cleaner on a hidden spot and stop if color transfers or changes.
A sweat mark on a keyboard, mouse, or phone starts as body residue that dissolves in water, but electronics can take water only with care, and moisture getting inside is the real risk. If the device has a leather case, that case can pick up marks from water and oil, and cleaning it may change the color. Stop as soon as you see liquid seep into an opening.
Unplug the device and wipe sweat stains on a keyboard or mouse with a barely damp microfiber cloth. Keep the cloth away from vents and ports, and don't spray cleaner directly onto the device. Sweat stains on a phone come off best with a dry cloth first, and a slightly damp one only if that fails.
Before you start
What electronics & screens can take
Use with care2
- Water
- Solvents (alcohol, spot removers)
Avoid4
- Soaking
- Chlorine bleach
- Oxygen bleach
- Scrubbing and abrasives
4 items
What you'll need
Tap an item to get it on Amazon, or tick what you already have.
- Soft, dry, lint-free clothFor the first wipe, with no added moisture. (opens Amazon)
- Soft, slightly damp, lint-free clothFor a mark that stays after dry wiping. (opens Amazon)
- Screen cleaner intended for screensApplied to the cloth for displays only. (opens Amazon)
- 70% isopropyl alcohol or 75% ethyl alcoholFor hard, nonporous casings and keys. (opens Amazon)
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6 steps
Step by step
Step 1 of 6
Unplug and remove all cables
Unplug the device and remove every cable and external power source before you touch the stain. Pretest any cleaner on a hidden spot before you use it anywhere visible.
Step 2 of 6
Wipe with a dry cloth first
Wipe the stain with a soft, dry, lint-free cloth, using light strokes rather than pressing hard. Check the spot after a few passes before you move on.
Step 3 of 6
Try a barely damp cloth
If the mark is still there, dampen a soft, lint-free cloth until it is only slightly damp and wipe the spot again. Work across the surface rather than into it, and keep the cloth away from every opening.
Tip. Wring the cloth out well so no drips form.
Careful. Liquid in ports, key gaps or speaker holes can cause damage that wiping can't fix.
Step 4 of 6
Use screen cleaner for displays
For screens, apply a cleaner intended for screens to the cloth, never directly onto the display. Wipe gently, then go over the screen once with a dry lint-free cloth. Skip this step on keyboards and mice.
Careful. Cleaner sprayed directly onto a device can run into its openings.
Step 5 of 6
Wipe hard smudges with alcohol
On hard, nonporous casings and keys, gently wipe the smudge with a cloth moistened with 70% isopropyl alcohol or 75% ethyl alcohol. Keep the cloth moist rather than wet, and let the surface dry before you reconnect anything.
Careful. Keep alcohol off screens and out of openings; use the screen cleaner there instead.
Step 6 of 6
Get help if liquid got inside
If liquid has made its way inside the device, stop wiping and get help from a certified repair technician. Continuing to wipe at the openings can push moisture further in.
If you'd rather buy than mix
Best products for sweat on electronics & screens
Choose a screen cleaner made for screens and a 70% isopropyl alcohol wipe for the hard parts of the device. Pick a soft, lint-free cloth rather than paper towels for every pass.
Amazon Basics Microfiber Cleaning Cloths
How we picked these: each product is made for this type of stain, its maker doesn't warn against using it on electronics & screens, and its directions fit the steps above.
Finished the steps? How does it look?
Nice work. Let it dry completely and check it again in good light. Here is what done looks like:
How to tell it's really gone →A faint mark usually needs one more round, not a stronger product.
If the stain was already dried or set, the method changes.
Old, dried or set-in stains →When to call a professional →How to tell it's working
The stain is gone when the cloth comes away clean and the surface looks even with the rest of the device. If the cloth picks up color or the finish looks dull or changed, stop and go back to the dry wipe rather than pushing on.
What changes for yours
Adjust for your electronics & screens
Sweat on a keyboard
Keyboards hold sweat in the gaps between keys, so work around the keys with the cloth rather than letting moisture run down between them. Wipe the key tops and frame with the damp-cloth wipe, then use the alcohol wipe on hard keycaps if the mark stays.
Keep the cloth just damp, and never let liquid settle in the key gaps. If sweat has reached the space under the keys, stop and see a repair technician rather than wiping deeper.
Sweat on a mouse
A mouse has buttons, a scroll wheel and a sensor underneath, and each opening is a route for moisture. Wipe the shell and buttons with the damp cloth, working around the scroll wheel rather than into it.
Keep the alcohol off the sensor window and out of the scroll wheel's gaps, and don't let any liquid soak into the cable end. If the wheel sticks or the buttons feel wet afterward, stop and see a repair technician.
Sweat on a phone
The screen is the part most people touch, so use the screen cleaner on a cloth and never spray the display. Wipe the back and frame with the damp cloth, and use the alcohol wipe only on hard, nonporous case edges.
Keep moisture away from the charging port, speaker grille and buttons, and keep the phone unplugged while you clean it. If liquid gets into a port or speaker, stop and get a repair technician to look at it.
Old, dried or set-in stains
A stain that has been sitting for a while can be harder to lift, especially where sweat has dried on a hard surface. Start again with the dry cloth, then the barely damp one, so you aren't adding moisture before you need it.
Dried sweat can leave a film that needs more than one pass. Repeat the alcohol wipe on hard casings and keys, working gently and letting the surface dry between passes.
If the mark is still there after several careful passes, stop rather than reaching for stronger cleaners. Some discoloration can remain, and that is more realistic than a perfect result. A repair technician can check the surface if it's a concern.
Vinegar, baking soda, peroxide and more
Do home remedies work on sweat on electronics & screens?
Many home remedies are built for fabric, and most of them can't go near electronics. Stick to a dry cloth, then a barely damp one, with screen cleaner for displays and alcohol kept for hard casings and keys.
Works1Skip2Avoid4
What makes it worse
Mistakes to avoid
Don't use bleach or hydrogen peroxide
Both are ruled out for electronics, including oxygen bleach products and the stronger hydrogen peroxide solution. Even a small amount on a keyboard or screen can damage the surface.
Don't reach for household cleaners
Window cleaners, aerosol sprays, solvents, ammonia and cleaners containing acetone are all off limits for displays and devices. A screen cleaner on a cloth, or a damp cloth alone, is the right choice.
Don't wipe with paper towels
Paper towels and abrasive cloths can scratch the surface and leave lint behind. Use only a soft, lint-free cloth for every pass.
Don't dry it with heat
Heat can set the stain, so keep dryers, irons and hot air away until the mark is gone. Let the surface air dry on its own.
When to call a professional
A certified repair technician is the right person to check a device that has taken liquid inside. Mention the sweat and the cleaning steps you already tried so they know what the device has been through.
Questions
Can I use vinegar on a keyboard?
No. Keep vinegar away from the keys, since it's a liquid the surface can't take. Use a soft, slightly damp, lint-free cloth for the sweat, and add the alcohol wipe only on hard keycaps if the mark stays.
Can I put bleach on sweat stains on a keyboard?
No. Whitening and disinfecting products are ruled out for electronics. Stick with a damp cloth and, if needed, a 70% isopropyl alcohol wipe on hard keys, keeping moisture out of the gaps between keys.
Should I spray cleaner on my mouse?
No. Apply the cleaner to a cloth, not the device, because liquid can run into the buttons and sensor. Use a soft, slightly damp, lint-free cloth on the shell and buttons, and keep it out of the scroll wheel gaps.
Can rubbing alcohol go on a phone screen?
Keep it off the screen. Use the screen cleaner on a cloth for the display, and save the 70% isopropyl alcohol for hard, nonporous case edges.
What if liquid got inside my keyboard or phone?
Stop wiping and get help from a certified repair technician. Sweat is water-soluble, but moisture in openings can cause damage that a cloth can't reach.
Do I need to unplug the device first?
Yes. Unplug the device and remove all cables and external power before you touch the stain. That keeps the work safe and lets you reach every surface.
Can sweat stains on electronics be removed completely?
Often a light wipe is enough, but a mark that has sat for a long time can leave some discoloration. Work gently, check after each pass, and stop if the finish changes.
Sweat on other materials
Other stains on electronics & screens
Start from the bigger picture
How we know this
Every method, amount and warning here comes from university extension services, industry bodies and product makers. We read them, check every step for unsafe combinations and changed amounts, and write it up so you can follow it.