How To Clean Your Keyboard

Has your keyboard been acting weird? Are some keys missing? Do some keys refuse to work? Just like your other computer parts, your keyboard needs cleaning as well! Your keyboard can suffer from the accumulation of dirt and oils from your hands. Your keyboard can also get dirty if you use your computer in a dusty place or if you eat and drink around your computer. No idea how to clean your mouse? Don’t worry! After you’re done with this article, you’ll be cleaning your keyboard like a pro.

First, shut down your computer and detach the keyboard connector before proceeding with the cleaning.

• Do not remove or connect a keyboard while the computer is running because it may damage the machine if you’re using a non-USB based keyboard.
• Detaching the keyboard while the computer is running is safe when the keyboard is connected to the computer via USB.

Turn the keyboard upside down and use a can of compressed air to blow out any foreign matter.

• Do this in a place where falling debris can be cleaned up easily.
• Turn the keyboard upside down and tap on it a few times to let the dirt fall out

Clean the sides of the keys with a cotton swab dipped in isopropyl alcohol. 

For a more thorough cleaning, remove all of the keys.

What to do if you accidentally spilled liquid on your keyboard

• Immediately disconnect keyboard or turn off computer
• Turn the keyboard upside down and shake
• Dry as much as possible with a cloth while the keyboard is still turned upside down
• Leave it upside down for as long as possible (at least overnight)
• If possible, cover the bottom of a large enough container with rice. Put in the upside down keyboard and cover it with as much rice as possible.
  • Rice is extremely absorbent and can draw in virtually any moisture if there’s enough rice an no new moisture is added.

Some tips: 

• Consider leaving the space bar in place. It is the hardest to get back and the easiest to break.
• When cleaning laptop keys, isopropyl alcohol and q-tips or compressed air is enough since it is not usually necessary to remove the keys.
  • Keys on the laptop can be difficult to replace, especially keys like the space bar and the “Enter” key, which have separate support under them that needs to be installed along with the key.
  • Removing laptop keys may damage them and they make break or become impossible to replace.