How to keep a Laptop Cool

This is the article the site was built around. Laptops run hot because they are thin, the vents are small, and they spend their lives on beds and sofa cushions.

What usually causes it

Dust in the inlet, outlet, or fan.
Vents blocked by a soft surface.
Software — including spyware — pinning a core.
Power settings left on “high performance” for no reason.

What to do

Shut down, unplug, and if you can, remove the battery. Blow the vents with compressed air (a straw helps). A vacuum on low can lift dust at the grille; do not jam the nozzle into the fan.
Sit the machine on a hard, flat desk so air can move.
A cheap tray or stand is enough for many machines. A powered cooling pad helps some models and does nothing for others.
Drop the Windows power plan so the CPU is not racing when you are reading email.
Scan with a current anti-malware tool if the fans start for no obvious reason.

Loud fans and a machine that slows itself down are the usual warnings. Manufacturer utilities or a small temperature monitor will tell you whether you are looking at 60°C or 90°C.