How to Clean Your Keyboard

Many of us spend a lot of time at our computer. Your keyboard is going to get tired from constant use. Falling tortilla chips and sandwich crumbs are not the cause of dust and hair build up. We are here to assist you in cleaning up. We will show you the supplies you need and show you how to clean your keyboard step-by-step.

How to Clean Your Computer is one of the guides you may want to check out.

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There are cleaning supplies for keyboards.

If you already have things in the house that you can use to clean your keyboard, you don't have to buy special cleaning supplies. Here are some things you might think about and a few alternatives.

• Brush: I have had a pop-up brush ($7.50) for a few years, and it’s perfect for sweeping debris out of your keyboard, but you could use any soft-bristled brush you have in the home (a toothbrush or a 1.5 inch paint brush can work).
• Compressed air: A 10-ounce can of Dust-Off ($11) will last you for ages and can be very effective at blasting things loose from your keyboard.
• Cloth: You probably have microfiber cloths already, and any cloth will do, but I have found the fancy thin ones you use for glasses work best—pack of microfiber cloths ($9).
• Cleaning slime: A tub of cleaning gel ($6) can be effective for removing dust from hard-to-reach places like a keyboard, but I don’t recommend it. Apart from general ickiness, it leaves a residue, gets dirty, and deteriorates quickly, leaving you with a slimy mess that can’t be eco-friendly.
• Cotton swabs: You might have Q-Tips already, or you can snag cheap cotton swabs ($3) and use them to clean between keys. Wooden toothpicks work well for caked-on grime.
• Isopropyl alcohol: Dampening your cloth or cotton swab with water will usually do the trick, but alcohol is a very effective cleaner. This Max Professional spray ($13) is easy to use.
• Magic eraser: For scuff marks and stubborn dirt, magic erasers ($5) made of melamine can be amazingly effective. Sometimes regular pencil erasers can do the trick.
• Keycap removal tool: If you’re really going to town and deep cleaning your mechanical keyboard, you may want a keycap removal tool ($7). (This one includes a switch puller and a pair of brushes.)

Unless your keyboard is really filthy, you probably won't need most of this stuff.

How to keep your keyboard clean.

It's time to start working. Remove cables and turn off your computer. Put your cleaning tools in a place that is clear.

Shake, brush, blow, and vac.

The following steps may be enough for keyboards that are well-kept.

1. Begin by turning your keyboard upside down and gently shaking it to see what falls out.
2. Use your brush to gently sweep debris loose. It works best if you tilt your keyboard one way then another and brush down the rows.
3. If you have compressed air, use short blasts (but don’t get too close) to dislodge dirt that’s lodged in the depths. Tilt your keyboard at different angles and blow into the gaps.
4. If you have a small brush tool for your vacuum or a handheld vac, use it to suck up the dirt you’ve uncovered and run it gently over the keyboard.

ackling Stubborn Grime.

You might need to try the following steps if you have spills.

1. Use your microfiber cloth or cotton swabs to clean around keys and crevices.
2. Dip your cloth or swab in water, but dry it slightly before you try cleaning again (they should only be slightly damp – you don’t want to drip any water inside your keyboard). If water isn’t working, use isopropyl alcohol, but use it sparingly, and make sure your room is well ventilated. Spray the alcohol on the cloth, not directly on the keyboard.
3. For stubborn marks or grime, use a magic eraser. It works like very fine sand paper, so be gentle and don't use it too often. You can also try a regular pencil eraser and sweep away the bits that crumble off.
4. A toothpick can be effective for carefully scraping away anything that has refused to budge.
5. Once you’ve dislodged the grime, repeat steps 1 and 2 as necessary.

It is a deep clean.

Are you still filthy? There is one final set of steps you can try if you have a mechanical keyboard.

1. Take a photo of your keyboard.
2. Use your keycap removal tool to very carefully detach your keycaps. Some keyboards can be further disassembled, but check in with the manufacturer to ensure you know how to put it back together again before you take it apart.
3. Pop keycaps in a bowl of warm soapy water and use a sponge, cloth, or brush to give them a scrub.
4. Try spraying a little isopropyl alcohol on a microfiber cloth, rub on stubborn stains, and dunk keycaps in the soapy water again to rinse.
5. Make sure everything is completely dry before you put your keyboard back together, and use your photo to ensure you put all the keys back in the right places.

It's time to buy a new keyboard if you haven't already. We have a guide to best mechanical keyboards.