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How to Protect Your Electronics in Lanzarote: 5 Tips Against Calima and Salitre

Living in the Canary Islands is a privilege, but for technology, Lanzarote can be a hostile environment. As experts in buying and selling electronics in Arrecife, at El Trueque we see devices damaged daily by two silent enemies: salt spray and calima. If you want to extend the life of your devices or maintain their value for a future sale, follow this preventive maintenance guide. 1. Calima in the Canary Islands: The danger of suspended dust Calima not only affects the lungs but is also lethal to laptop and console fans. Fine dust penetrates the hardware, creating an insulating layer that causes overheating. Pro Tip: If there's a calima warning, keep your devices in closed cases. If you use a desktop PC, avoid placing it directly on the floor, where more dust accumulates. 2. Salt spray and corrosion in coastal areas If you live near the coast (Playa Blanca, Costa Teguise, or Puerto del Carmen), the air carries microparticles of salt. These settle on charging connectors and USB ports, causing sulfation. Solution: Use silicone dust plugs for unused ports. It's an investment of cents that can save a phone worth hundreds of euros. 3. The rice myth vs. Silica Gel On an island with high relative humidity, the rice trick doesn't work and can leave organic residues. The real alternative: Store your cameras and lenses in waterproof bags with silica gel. In our electronics store in Lanzarote, we always recommend this method to prevent fungus on lenses. 4. Screen cleaning: Beware of sand The sand on our beaches contains minerals that scratch any glass, even those with Gorilla Glass protection. How to clean: Never rub the screen dry if you've been to the beach. First, use an air blower or a soft brush. Only then, use a specific screen cleaning liquid. 5. Thermal management: Lanzarote's sun is unforgiving Leaving your phone on your towel or inside the car in the Timanfaya parking lot can cook the battery. Extreme heat is the main cause of swollen batteries. Tip: If your device gets too hot, turn it off. Do not try to charge it if it is hot, as the charging process generates even more heat. Is your device no longer working as it used to? If humidity or dust have already taken their toll, at El Trueque Lanzarote we offer real solutions: Technical Cleaning: We remove calima and salt spray residues from connectors and fans. Guaranteed Buying and Selling: If you prefer to upgrade your equipment, we buy your used electronics and offer you refurbished devices with the best warranty on the island. Jewelry and Gold Appraisal: Remember that we are also specialists in buying gold in Arrecife, offering the best valuation based on the real market price.