Tip: do not use soap and water
How to Powerwash/Factory Reset a Chromebook
Chromebooks are cheap, convenient, and don’t have the pitfalls of many other laptops. Chrome OS is beloved by writers and developers for its long battery life and compatibility with Android and Linux apps.
Unlike most other laptops, you don’t have to completely reinstall the operating system to perform a factory reset (also known as a powerwash). If you’re buying a used Chromebook or something goes wrong with yours, powerwashing a Chromebook is a quick and easy process.
If you get a used Chromebook, you should always do a full reset to make sure nothing remains from the previous owner. If you already have the Chromebook and are trying to fix crashes or strange behavior, there are a few steps you can take before powerwashing a Chromebook: