Restoring My Toughbook After a Culinary Catastrophe: Seeking Deep Cleaning Advice

Recently, I found myself in an unexpected predicament involving my company-issued Toughbook FZ-55. While working on my laptop, a mishap occurred involving some broccoli cheese soup (BCS) – a situation entirely beyond my control! As one could imagine, ensuring that no evidence of this culinary disaster remains is of the utmost importance.

The Toughbook is known for its durability, and I’m aware that it’s moderately water-resistant. However, despite my confidence in its ruggedness, I am concerned about the extent of cleaning required. Unfortunately, BCS seems to have infiltrated every tiny crevice of this device, and I’m afraid that a simple wipe-down may not suffice.

I know I can remove the keyboard, which is a great start, but I’m contemplating how much cleaning I can do without risking permanent damage. Conventional wisdom suggests that I could detach the battery and hard drive (noting that there is no disk drive), and use hot water combined with a mild detergent and a scrub brush for thorough cleaning. My plan includes allowing the laptop to dry under a fan for a couple of days afterward.

Before I proceed, I want to ensure I’m taking all necessary precautions. Are there any additional steps I should consider? Perhaps certain products or techniques that would be safer or more effective? Any insights or recommendations from fellow tech enthusiasts would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you in advance for your help!