Protect the screen, not the battery

Keeping a calculator alive for years comes down to one thing: take care of the screen and the buttons, because those are what actually wear out.

Protect the screen. A cracked screen is the classic calculator killer. A cheap protective case or even just a soft pouch makes a huge difference. Don’t fling it loose into a backpack with keys and pens. If it has a slide-on cover, use it.

Keep the buttons clean. Over time, crumbs and dust get under the keys and make them sticky or unresponsive. Wipe the calculator down with a slightly damp cloth now and then. If the buttons get really grubby, rubbing alcohol on a cotton swab works wonders—just don’t flood it. And don’t press the buttons with a sharp object, because that damages the membrane.

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