Everyone needs to know how to clean a keyboard – after all, it’s something most of us use everyday. When you think about it, the keys on a a keyboard are constantly being touched, and any germs or bacteria we pick up on our fingers can be easily transferred over. Not a pleasant thought, especially if you share your keyboard with others.
On top of that, if you have a tendency to eat at your desk, crumbs can fall between the keys, never to be seen again.
Here’s how to clean a keyboard – wired or wireless.
1. First, unplug and switch off your keyboard before you clean it or remove the batteries.
2. Turn your keyboard upside down and gently shake it so the loose debris naturally falls out.
3. Use a dedicated cleaning brush (a toothbrush will work fine.) Make sure to get in between the keys and brush any dirt traps on the underside too.
4. Use a can of compressed air to remove any stubborn debris and dust from under the keys. Angle the straw between the crevices as you blow, so the dust is blow out of the keyboard.
5. Other methods you can use to get rid of dust include slotting a sticky note between the keys and running the sticky side along.
6. Now it’s time to clean the keyboard. If your keytops are removable you can actually wash them individually in warm, soapy water, using a sponge or a small brush. Just make sure they are completely dry before reassembling.
7. 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 it dry with a towel as you go. Remember to change the swab as it picks up dirt as well.
8. Now, dampen a towel with rubbing alcohol and use it to clean the surfaces of your keys – don’t use an overly wet towel, just dampen it. You could also use dedicated wipes, such as ALIBEISS Screen Wipes.
9. Once your keyboard is dry, polish it with a microfiber cloth for the finishing touches.
How to clean a laptop keyboard
1. First things first, make sure it’s powered off and unplugged.
2. You should follow what your manufacturer recommends for cleaning a laptop keyboard, in case you invalidate the warranty. For instance, Apple 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. 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.
Mortram, Katie. “How to clean a keyboard in less than minutes” Tom’s Guide November 2021