We love a Microsoft Surface computer, be it the Surface Pro, Surface Book, or a Surface Laptop. And when the upgrade time comes, you can always trade in your older Surface. However, if you want to recover the most value out of your gadget, it is important to keep it properly maintained and neat at all times. 

Yet, there are things you can do right now to maximize the trade-in value of your used Microsoft Surface. Please keep reading to learn what those are. 

How to Care for Your Microsoft Surface?

If you know you will trade in your Microsoft Surface computer down the line, start caring for it right out of the box. This means keeping it clean, investing in a protective cover, monitoring the battery health. So, what can you do to extend your Microsoft Surface’s life and preserve its resale value as much as possible? 

Touchscreen Care

The touchscreen display is one of the main Microsoft Surface features. But scratches, dust, and fingerprints can affect the touch digitizer’s performance in the long run. So here is what you can do to protect your screen and prevent it from lagging.

Try to clean your Microsoft Surface touchscreen frequently using a cleaning wipe or soft, dry lint-free cloth. If necessary, dampen the cloth with one of the following: a mix of the isopropyl alcohol and water solution or an eyeglass cleaner. And because the display is coated, you don’t need to worry about water-damaging your Surface. 

In addition, keep your Microsoft Surface computer or a tablet out of direct sunlight or UV light, as it can damage the display. Instead, have a cover for it handy. The screen protector also does the job.

Keyboard Cover Care

Whether you have the keyboard cover for your Surface Pro or a detachable keyboard on your Surface Book, the maintenance process is more or less the same. Use a lint-free cloth dampened in water and mild soap to clean it. The trick is not to apply water directly onto the gadget. If you clean it periodically, it will be easier to keep your Microsoft Surface computer looking new over time and preserve its trade-in value. 

When magnetic keyboard connectors get stained, apply a small amount of rubbing alcohol to a soft, lint-free cloth to clean. Rub it gently, with very little pressure. And while some Microsoft models have a spill and absorption-resistant Alcantara material, you don’t want to damage it by rubbing too hard with pure alcohol. 

Battery Health

To extend the life of your battery, use the following tricks: 

• If possible, let your battery drain below 50% before re-charging it.
• Avoid having your Surface plugged in 24/7.
• Store your device in a cool and dry room when you are not using it.

Cord Maintenance

If you repeatedly twist or bend your cord, it can get damaged. For that reason, we suggest keeping it flat as much as possible. Also, try not to wrap your power cord too tightly, especially around the power brick base, where the wire can become exposed more easily. Instead, you can wrap it using loose coils rather than tight rubber bands. 

Be mindful of the AC connector tip. Many people pull on the power cord when unplugging their Microsoft Surface from the power supply. However, not only are you risking damaging the cable itself, which is relatively easy to replace, but you can also break the DC jack (a much more expensive fix). So instead, we suggest gently removing the connector from the charging port to prevent potential breakage. This is particularly important for future Microsoft Surface trade-in because a damaged charging port is a damaged motherboard. And a Surface with system board problems is hardly worth anything. Thus, having your device and its power brick working and free of damage significantly increases its resale price. 

So, Where Can You Trade-in a Used Microsoft Surface?

Generally, there are two ways to go about it. You can trade-in your Microsoft Surface for an upgrade credit or trade it in for cash. The former can be done directly on the Microsoft site when shopping for a new device. But what if you don’t want to buy another Surface? Luckily, many online buyback companies will take it in exchange for money. Alternatively, you can list the device yourself on a marketplace such as eBay or Craiglist. 

But if you are in for a quick and hassle-free cash transaction, Gadget Salvation is happy to oblige. We will quote you online in minutes and will pay through PayPal, Zelle, Venmo, or check once the Microsoft Surface is inspected. For more details, please check out our How it Works page.

Bottom Line

Caring for your Microsoft Surface is an ongoing process. But when preparing it for trade-in, use the tips and tricks described in this post to maximize the gadget’s resale value. Whether you decide to trade-in your Microsoft Surface for store credit or resell for cash, those will come in equally handy.