Is it a problem if small bits of toilet paper get on the motherboard?

[sltech]

I had a HP repair tech come over to replace a part on my laptop. I am a bit OCD when it comes to computers, so before he opened up the laptop, I asked him to wash his hands in the bathroom. I heard him grab a bunch of toilet paper to dry his hands. When he opened up the laptop, I noticed there were a few bits of toilet paper stuck to his hands. While he was unscrewing and removing a bunch of parts, I noticed a couple of bits of toilet paper had fallen off his hands onto the open laptop, and I removed those.

But what if there were some bits of toilet paper that fell into the laptop that I didn't notice? Given how hot the inside of a laptop can be, is it possible they could catch on fire and damage the motherboard or other components?

 

[SOFTengCOMPelec]

But what if there were some bits of toilet paper that fell into the laptop that I didn't notice?

I think you might be worrying about this, a tiny little bit too much.

There was probably nothing else which fell in, the temperatures are usually considerably below a point, which would set fire to most stuff.

Even if a tiny bit was in it (probably not anyway), and it did catch on fire, much of the PCB (motherboard) and its components, are relatively fire proof, so that I doubt it would catch fire that way.

If you are worried (about ANY fires in general, since I have tried to point out that the laptop should be ok), then hopefully you have got decent/working/regularly-tested smoke alarms to alert you if there was a problem ?

Also that you have fire extinguisher(s) handy to put out any minor fires ?

 

[dave_the_nerd]

Don't scare him.

A few tiny specks of TP are of no concern (especially hypothetical specks of TP.). Once the laptop fan kick on, they'll probably get drawn out and spit out, or stuck in a dust filter where they belong.

 

[SOFTengCOMPelec]

Don't scare him.

What makes you think I'm scaring them ?

The first part of my post attempts to put their mind at rest, that it is not a significant fire risk.

The second part reminds them that if they are worried about fires in GENERAL (but INCLUDING their laptop), they should make sure their smoke alarms and fire extinguisher(s), are present and ok.

Maybe I should have been clearer, in my response. That I meant ALL fire risks. NOT that the laptop was especially a fire hazard now ?

 

[Sheep221]

Computers are not running hot enough to set fire on any papers on the components, PCB are frequently labeled with multiple stickers that are very much same type of paper as the toilet paper. Toilet paper is only slightly less dense but that's all.

Motherboards and video cards usually carry several stickers on them denoting parameters, serial numbers, model number or batch number and also a bios version. No to mention in laptops additional paper parts maybe used that do isolate HDD from its metal tray or other parts from each other.

Hope that was clear enough.

 

[sltech]

Thank you everyone. I was thinking of opening up the laptop and using compressed air to blow on everything to try to get any potential bits out, but it sounds like it won't be a problem if there are a few bits lying around in there.

 

[mauiblue]

But did the repair tech guy use soap when he washed his hands? I would be concerned about crap getting on the mobo, screws, etc. Ha!

 

[lenjack]

Should be OK, as long as the tp was unused. Sorry...couldn't resist.