Dust accumulating in a laptop’s vents, fan or heat sink can restrict airflow and cause thermal throttling, reducing processor performance to control temperatures. Routine cleaning usually does not require dismantling the laptop: switch it off, unplug it and use short bursts of electronics-safe compressed air through the vents.

Lenovo suggests cleaning every three to six months, depending on the environment, while ESD-safe brushes, non-static cloths and bulb blowers are alternatives. Deeper cleaning may require removing the base, but laptop designs vary considerably; accessing some cooling assemblies can involve removing storage, the battery or system board, and may expose delicate thermal materials, so the model’s service manual should be consulted. WD-40 should not be used, and heat sinks or vapor chambers should only be removed by those equipped to handle thermal paste, pads and possible electrical risks.