Your new laptop may be at risk, and you have to protect it against the many dangers out there that may cut its lifespan short: soda or coffee spills, moisture building up inside the casing, and impact from being dropped, among others. The portability that makes your computer so convenient is also what puts it at risk from all these.

Now, just because your comp is portable, that doesn’t mean it’s made to withstand a lot of abuse from being moved around and used in different conditions. It still has parts that experience not only wear and tear from continuous use, but from threats that you can avoid to keep them in running condition.

First off, avoid using your laptop near liquids, especially very hot or very cold ones. High temperature liquids may be steaming, and some of that steam may find its way into your comp’s casing. It’s the same deal with very cold beverages: it may cause condensation. Be especially wary of sodas: these drinks are pretty toxic to your portable if you manage to get any on it. Sodas are especially destructive: they’re acidic, which may corrode connections, and even when they dry, they leave a sticky residue, which attracts dust.

While we’re talking about condensation, the weather is another factor that can affect the lifespan of your laptop. In regions with high humidity, like Florida or Los Angeles, moisture is especially hard to keep out of your laptop. Take precautionary measures by ising a moisture-proof case and wiping down your comp if you see “sweat” on its surface. If you take it from a very cold area (like your office) to a very hot and high-humidity one, it may fog up with condensation. Wait for your comp to dry before using it to avoid a shorted circuit.

The hard drive of your laptop can also be damaged from wear and tear- when it’s turned on, it spins up. Moving it around while it’s on can cause your hard drive to crash- if you can’t turn off your comp before putting it away and moving it around, at least put it in sleep mode, or even better, in hibernate. In these modes, the hard drive is powered down, and is safe from damage from excessive motion.

Finally, don’t use your laptop in bed and then leave it there. The bed and the pillows and sheets can prevent heat from being vented out of the sides and bottom. This increased temperature can cause permanent damage to the silicon chips in your computer.

A laptop might not be as durable as you think. While they were designed to be used in most places, they still have some components that are sensitive to things like liquid and moisture, and humidity in places like Los Angeles or Florida. Also, improper handling of the computer without shutting it down and overheating it can cause serious reductions in its lifespan.