Published · October 2026
The Bezel & Key Standard
What we always do, what we never do, and the manufacturer guidance behind it. Share this page with your IT and facilities teams.
Safety rules
- Powered off, never plugged in. Devices stay powered off the whole time. We never connect a charger, cable, dock, or USB device.
- No liquid on the device. Cleaner is applied to the cloth, damp but never dripping. Nothing is sprayed onto a laptop, and no moisture goes into openings.
- Manufacturer-safe products only. We use 70% isopropyl alcohol or the cleaner the manufacturer approves for that device. We respect brand-specific rules: Apple, for example, specifies water only for MacBook screens, and Dell advises against ethyl alcohol on its products.
- No harsh chemicals. No bleach, hydrogen peroxide, ammonia, acetone, or other solvents, and no abrasives or paper towels.
- Lint-free microfiber. Fresh, color-coded cloths by zone (screen, keyboard, body) for every device.
- Canned air only. Held upright, in short bursts. We never use an air compressor.
- Never opened. We don't remove screws or keycaps, and we don't take anything apart.
- No logins, no data. We never sign in, wake, or browse a device.
- Fresh gloves for every device. Disposable gloves are discarded after each one.
- Chain of custody. Every device is logged in and out by asset tag and stays in the room you choose.
- Fully dry before return. Surfaces air-dry before the lid closes or the device goes back to its owner.
The process
- Check-in. We record the asset tag and serial number and note any existing wear or damage.
- Prep. We confirm the device is powered off and disconnect any peripherals.
- Dry pass. Soft brush and short bursts of canned air across the keyboard, external vents, and ports.
- Keyboard & trackpad. Each key is cleaned and disinfected by hand, with swabs for the gaps.
- Palm rest, lid, base & bezel. Every surface is degreased and disinfected.
- Display. Dry microfiber first, then a screen-safe method for that manufacturer, wiped top to bottom.
- Ports & hinge line. Swab and air only. No liquid.
- Dry, buff & inspect. A final inspection before the device is checked out.
- Report. A record for every device, with an optional clean-date tag.
Trade secrets. This Standard publishes our safety rules and outcomes. Our exact sequence, timing, tooling, product selection, and quality checks are proprietary trade secrets and are not disclosed.
Built on manufacturer guidance
| Rule | Manufacturer basis |
|---|---|
| Power off and unplug before cleaning | Apple, Dell, HP, Lenovo |
| Never spray liquid directly onto the device | Apple, Dell, HP, Lenovo |
| 70% isopropyl alcohol on a cloth | Apple, Dell, HP |
| Soft, lint-free or microfiber cloth only | Apple, Dell, Lenovo |
| Canned air in short bursts, no air compressor | HP, Dell, Lenovo |
| No bleach, peroxide, ammonia, or solvents | Apple, Dell |
| Air-dry before powering on | Dell, HP |
| Disposable gloves, discarded after use | Dell |
Source: Apple Support, How to clean your Apple products
Source: Dell, Guidance for Keeping Your Dell Technologies Equipment Clean
Source: HP, How to Clean Your Laptop
Source: Lenovo Support, Keeping your computer clean
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