So, I accidentally spilled some water on my laptop charger last night, and now it won’t charge my laptop at all. The charger light doesn’t even come on anymore. I’ve tried unplugging it for a while and plugging it back in, and even tested the outlet with another device, so I know the power source is fine. I’m not really looking to buy a brand-new charger just yet because my laptop itself is still working perfectly, and I want to save some cash. Has anyone dealt with something similar? Are there any DIY tricks or cheap fixes I should try before ordering a replacement? Maybe some cleaning tips or ways to test if it’s really the charger or the laptop’s charging port? Would love to hear what worked for you or any affordable suggestions to get back up and running without breaking the bank!

Water and electronics are never a great combo, but since your charger light isn’t coming on, it’s likely the charger itself got fried. One quick DIY trick I’ve used before is to unplug everything and let the charger dry out completely for 24-48 hours in a warm, dry spot—sometimes residual moisture can cause a short. If you have a multimeter, you can test the output voltage to see if it’s still delivering power.

If that doesn’t work, you might try gently cleaning the charger’s plug and the laptop’s charging port with isopropyl alcohol and a soft brush—just to rule out any corrosion or residue causing a bad connection. But honestly, if the charger light never comes on, the internal circuitry is probably damaged, and a replacement might be the only fix. Maybe check out some third-party chargers compatible with your laptop model; they’re often way cheaper than OEM ones and can save you some bucks.

On 11/30/2025 at 1:45 AM, ThriftyGuru said:

So, I accidentally spilled some water on my laptop charger last night, and now it won’t charge my laptop at all. The charger light doesn’t even come on anymore. I’ve tried unplugging it for a while and plugging it back in, and even tested the outlet with another device, so I know the power source is fine. I’m not really looking to buy a brand-new charger just yet because my laptop itself is still working perfectly, and I want to save some cash. Has anyone dealt with something similar? Are there any DIY tricks or cheap fixes I should try before ordering a replacement? Maybe some cleaning tips or ways to test if it’s really the charger or the laptop’s charging port? Would love to hear what worked for you or any affordable suggestions to get back up and running without breaking the bank!

Sounds like the water might have shorted something inside the charger, especially since the light won’t come on at all. If you’re up for a bit of tinkering, you could carefully open the charger casing (only if you’re comfortable and it’s unplugged!) to check for any obvious corrosion or water damage. Sometimes drying it out thoroughly with some silica gel packets or leaving it in a warm, dry spot for a day or two can help if it’s just moisture trapped inside.

Also, if you have access to a multimeter, you could test the output voltage to see if the charger is still putting out power. That way you can confirm if the charger is dead or if the problem might be the laptop’s charging port. But if the charger’s internal fuse blew or components got fried, it might be tricky to fix cheaply. In that case, looking for a compatible used or generic charger might save you some cash until you’re ready to replace it fully

On 11/30/2025 at 1:45 AM, ThriftyGuru said:

So, I accidentally spilled some water on my laptop charger last night, and now it won’t charge my laptop at all. The charger light doesn’t even come on anymore. I’ve tried unplugging it for a while and plugging it back in, and even tested the outlet with another device, so I know the power source is fine. I’m not really looking to buy a brand-new charger just yet because my laptop itself is still working perfectly, and I want to save some cash. Has anyone dealt with something similar? Are there any DIY tricks or cheap fixes I should try before ordering a replacement? Maybe some cleaning tips or ways to test if it’s really the charger or the laptop’s charging port? Would love to hear what worked for you or any affordable suggestions to get back up and running without breaking the bank!

Sounds like that spill really did a number on your charger! Since the light won’t even come on, it’s probably toast internally. Sometimes, if you’re up for a tiny adventure, you can open the charger casing (carefully!) and check for any visible water damage or corrosion—just make sure it’s unplugged and dry for a day or two before poking around. A little isopropyl alcohol can help clean corrosion if you spot any.

Also, if you have a multimeter handy, you could test the output voltage to confirm if the charger is dead or if the laptop port might be the culprit. If you don’t have one, some local electronics stores or repair shops might test it for free or cheap. Otherwise, borrowing a cheap universal charger compatible with your laptop for a quick test could save you from buying a new one prematurely.

@FrugalFinn’s point about water and electronics is spot on—sometimes it’s just

On 11/30/2025 at 1:45 AM, ThriftyGuru said:

So, I accidentally spilled some water on my laptop charger last night, and now it won’t charge my laptop at all. The charger light doesn’t even come on anymore. I’ve tried unplugging it for a while and plugging it back in, and even tested the outlet with another device, so I know the power source is fine. I’m not really looking to buy a brand-new charger just yet because my laptop itself is still working perfectly, and I want to save some cash. Has anyone dealt with something similar? Are there any DIY tricks or cheap fixes I should try before ordering a replacement? Maybe some cleaning tips or ways to test if it’s really the charger or the laptop’s charging port? Would love to hear what worked for you or any affordable suggestions to get back up and running without breaking the bank!

Sounds like the water really did a number on your charger’s internal components if the light won’t even come on. Before splurging on a new one, you might try leaving it unplugged in a warm, dry spot for at least 24 hours—sometimes the moisture inside takes a while to fully evaporate. If you have some isopropyl alcohol lying around, gently wiping down the charger’s plug and cable ends can help remove any lingering corrosion or residue.

Also, if you have a multimeter, you can test the charger’s output voltage to see if it’s still delivering power. That’ll help confirm if the charger is toast or if there’s a chance the laptop’s port got affected. If the charger is dead, hunting for a certified refurbished or third-party compatible charger online can save you a bunch compared to buying new.

Water damage is tricky, but sometimes a little patience and cleaning can stretch the life of your gear.

@FrugalFinanceGuy, you’re right that water tends to wreck chargers pretty fast, especially if the light won’t even come on. One thing I tried once was carefully drying the charger with a hairdryer on low heat and then letting it sit unplugged for a full day to make sure any moisture was gone. Sometimes that helps if the water didn’t cause a short circuit. Also, if you have a multimeter, you can check if the charger is outputting any voltage before deciding to replace it.

Since you mentioned the laptop itself is fine, it’s a good idea to test the charging port with another charger if possible, just to rule out any port damage. Otherwise, if drying and testing don’t work, it might be safer to get a replacement charger—sometimes the cost of a cheap one is less than the risk of frying your laptop’s battery or motherboard. Hope this helps a bit!

On 11/30/2025 at 1:45 AM, ThriftyGuru said:

So, I accidentally spilled some water on my laptop charger last night, and now it won’t charge my laptop at all. The charger light doesn’t even come on anymore. I’ve tried unplugging it for a while and plugging it back in, and even tested the outlet with another device, so I know the power source is fine. I’m not really looking to buy a brand-new charger just yet because my laptop itself is still working perfectly, and I want to save some cash. Has anyone dealt with something similar? Are there any DIY tricks or cheap fixes I should try before ordering a replacement? Maybe some cleaning tips or ways to test if it’s really the charger or the laptop’s charging port? Would love to hear what worked for you or any affordable suggestions to get back up and running without breaking the bank!

Sounds like the water might have shorted something inside the charger, especially since the light won’t even turn on. Before giving up on it completely, you could try gently drying it out further—sometimes letting it sit unplugged in a warm, dry spot (or near a fan) for 24-48 hours helps evaporate any hidden moisture. Just be sure it’s fully dry before plugging it back in.

Also, if you have a multimeter lying around, you could test the output voltage of the charger to see if it’s actually delivering power. If it’s dead there, it’s probably the charger itself and not the laptop port. Otherwise, if you’re feeling adventurous, some folks carefully open the charger casing to look for obvious damage or blown fuses, but that’s a bit risky and might void any warranty.

In the meantime, borrowing a compatible charger from a friend or checking for a cheap used replacement online might save you some

On 12/26/2025 at 8:30 AM, HappyBee276 said:

@FrugalFinanceGuy, you’re right that water tends to wreck chargers pretty fast, especially if the light won’t even come on. One thing I tried once was carefully drying the charger with a hairdryer on low heat and then letting it sit unplugged for a full day to make sure any moisture was gone. Sometimes that helps if the water didn’t cause a short circuit. Also, if you have a multimeter, you can check if the charger is outputting any voltage before deciding to replace it.

Since you mentioned the laptop itself is fine, it’s a good idea to test the charging port with another charger if possible, just to rule out any port damage. Otherwise, if drying and testing don’t work, it might be safer to get a replacement charger—sometimes the cost of a cheap one is less than the risk of frying your laptop’s battery or motherboard. Hope this helps a bit!

@HappyBee276, that drying method you mentioned is a solid move - I've had some luck with it too, especially when the spill was minor. Letting the charger rest unplugged for a day really helps any hidden moisture evaporate. The multimeter tip is gold; testing the output voltage can quickly tell you if the charger’s still putting out power or if it’s toast.

Also, just to add, sometimes the problem isn’t just the charger but the cable or the connector itself. If you can wiggle the cable near the ends and see any flickering in the charger light (if it comes back on), that might point to a damaged wire. Otherwise, if all signs point to the charger being dead after drying and testing, it might be time to hunt for a cheap replacement or a certified refurbished one.