What’s more, if you eat food at your desk, crumbs can fall between the keys, never to be seen again. Before you know it, the keys feel sticky and there’s visible dust collecting which you just can’t reach. While cleaning a keyboard may seem like a chore, you’ll need to do it carefully. Similar to how to clean an iPhone’s charging port you don’t want to risk breaking it, especially if you own one of the best gaming keyboards. The good news is, it’s easier than you’d think and takes no time at all. Here’s how to clean a keyboard to get rid of grime and dust.
Check out how to clean a mousepadHere are 7 things you should never clean with white vinegar
How to clean a keyboard — wired and wireless
- First, unplug and switch off your keyboard before you clean it or remove the batteries. Canned air Cotton swabs and towels Rubbing alcohol Microfiber cloth
- Turn your keyboard upside down and gently shake it so the loose debris naturally falls out. You might want to do this outside as it can be messy.
- Now it’s time to clean the keyboard. If your keytops are removable and you did this earlier, you can actually wash them individually in warm, soapy water, using a sponge or small brush. Just make sure they’re completely dry before reassembling.
- Alternatively, you can use a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol to work your way around the keys. Just make sure the swab’s not overly wet and you wipe dry with a towel as you go. Remember to change the swab as it picks up dirt as well.
- Once your keyboard is dry, polish it with a microfiber cloth for the finishing touches.
How to clean a laptop keyboard
- First things first, make sure it’s powered off and unplugged.
- You should follow what your manufacturer recommends for cleaning a laptop keyboard, in case you invalidate the warranty. For instance, Apple (opens in new tab) recommends that for a Macbook or Macbook Pro, you simply apply compressed air while the laptop is held at a 75 degree angle. But, if no advice is given, follow these steps.
- While it’s open, carefully rotate your laptop keyboard upside down, so that any loose debris falls out. You can tap it, but don’t shake it aggressively in case you lose grip.
- You might need two people for this part — while the keyboard is held in an upright angle, spray between the keys with compressed air to blow away any remaining dust. Do not spray it directly under the keycaps as it could damage the electronics.
- Place your laptop on a flat surface again. You can use a dedicated cleaning brush to shift any debris you can still see from the keys. You could also use cleaning slime as mentioned above.
- Next, follow step eight above, running a towel dampened with rubbing alcohol over the keys with light pressure. You can also use disinfecting wipes, but don’t use ones which contain bleach. Don’t overwet the keyboard and make sure you dry it immediately after.
- Finally, polish with a microfiber cloth to make it look like new.
How often should I clean my keyboard?
This really depends on use and preference. If it’s just you using the keyboard and you only use it semi-regularly, then once a week is fine. But, if you share it with others and you don’t want to spread germs, then it will need cleaning between uses. Keyboards are something we all forget to clean, but these actually carry a lot of bacteria and so should be incorporated in our cleaning routine. For more computer cleaning guides, make sure you read how to clean a mechanical keyboard and how to clean a computer screen.
