Helping people with computers... one answer at a time.
Spilling liquid into your laptop or keyboard can cause serious damage. The first step is to dry it thoroughly, and we'll look at one possible solution.
While I was asleep, my cat must have tipped over a part full cup of water on my new laptop computer. The computer lid was closed and the AC power cord was connected when my daughter tried to turn it on in the morning. It did not turn on (and it hasn't ever since, even after leaving it to dry out for a couple of weeks). There was also a small pool of water under the computer (about 5cm in diameter) and drips of water come from the keyboard when tipped over. What should I do to maximize my chances of getting it working?
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I'm going to recommend an obscure long shot as something to try.
I'm also going to ask for help.
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First, readers, if you have any suggestions to help in a situation such as this, please feel free to leave it in a comment below. I'm particularly interested in techniques that you've tried that have been proven to work.
Which is unlike what I'm about to suggest. 
First, I need to set a some expectations.
The problem is that water conducts electricity. So the moment you turned the computer on while it was still wet inside, the computer likely experienced a number of short circuits and crossed connections. It's possible, perhaps even likely, that some of the electronics were damaged. The only solution, if that's the case, is to isolate and replace the damaged components. That'll require someone looking at the machine and attempting to diagnose the specific failure.
It's worse if what was spilled is anything more than plain water. If it's soda, coffee, tea, milk ... whatever ... when it dries it's going to leave a residue. Be it a sticky sugary residue, powder of some sort, or who knows what else, anything but plain water is going to be much worse, and much less likely to be fixable.
Now, on to my off-the-wall idea.
It's actually not that off-the-wall, as I've heard it recommended repeatedly for people who've dropped their cell phones in water. But I'll throw it out there to use at your own risk...
Rice.
Place your laptop in a sealed container filled with uncooked rice for a few days.
My concern with this approach, of course, is that rice grains are small enough that they might end up in your laptop instead of around your laptop, which is what you really want. Perhaps you should bag the rice in nylon or some other very porous material.
The theory, that apparently works well for cell phones, is that the rice acts as a desiccant - absorbing moisture out of the air. If the container is properly sealed, the only place that moisture can come from is your laptop.
It's a long shot, but given that the laptop's not working, and as long as you can keep the rice outside of your machine, it couldn't hurt.
But as I said, I'm interested in what other ideas people might have. This is not an uncommon situation.
Article C3610 - January 3, 2009 « »
Leo A. Notenboom has been playing with computers since he
was required to take a programming class in 1976. An 18 year career as a programmer at Microsoft soon followed.
After "retiring" in 2001, Leo started Ask Leo! in 2003 as a place for answers
to common computer and technical questions. More about Leo.
February 22, 2012 7:55 AM
@Insaf
The most important thing to do is to not turn it on until it is totally and completely dry.
February 28, 2012 10:38 AM
But i turned it on and after à Day it stopped. Now its working.if i pût thé charger on thé charger Thére is à light when i pût thé wire into thé laptop. Thé light blink stopped
May 27, 2012 3:48 AM
I spilt a cup of plain water onto my mum's mac book pro laptop. Will it work?
27-May-2012
August 6, 2012 9:18 PM
Water fell on my laptop and it stopped working..at present in in a village..so service centre is nt available right wat todo...
March 24, 2013 11:27 AM
without disturbing the system allow it to dry for a day or 2. i tried that. Its working now..