The keyboard is one of the surfaces most exposed to germs and viruses in our daily lives. Dirt and bacteria easily accumulate between the keys, making regular cleaning essential to maintain the health and safety of users. Whether you use it at work or at home, knowing the correct way to clean and disinfect your keyboard can reduce the risk of infection and improve the efficiency of your use of the device.
When was the last time you cleaned your keyboard? It’s not something we think about when cleaning our homes, but it’s a good idea to keep your keyboard clean. Let’s explore why you should clean your keyboard and how to do it properly. You can now read on to learn how to clean your computer screen safely and easily.
Why you should clean your keyboard
First, keyboards aren’t the cleanest components in your home or office. Lots of crumbs from computer snacks find their way between the keys and accumulate underneath them. As a result, holding your keyboard upside down can remove some of the nasty residue from the past.
It's too bad your keyboard is a safe haven for germs. I mentioned Time Magazine 27% of office keyboards had an ATP count of 300 or higher, meaning they had “high levels of contamination.”
People often skip the keyboard when thinking about cleaning their office spaces, allowing germs to thrive on and around the keys freely.
General precautions when cleaning the keyboard
Before you learn how to clean your computer keyboard and get rid of all that dirt, remember the precautions you need to take when cleaning your keyboard.
1. Disconnect the keyboard from the computer.
First, make sure that no power is running through your keyboard while you are cleaning it. Unplug your keyboard from your computer while you are cleaning, as this keeps you safe from electrical problems and typing errors while cleaning.
Of course, if you are using a laptop, this will be a bit more difficult. As such, it is best to turn off and unplug your laptop before you start cleaning.
2. Flip the keyboard over the appropriate dirt catcher.
You can get rid of some of the larger pieces of dirt with minimal effort. Place your keyboard over a trash can or sink, then shake it vigorously. This easy trick should remove any large particles before you can begin the proper cleaning process.
3. Carefully remove the keys.
If you need to remove keys on your keyboard before you start, be careful when opening it. Forcing it too hard will cause more problems than a dirty keyboard. If you want, you can try a special key removal tool that will make the job easier. We recommend using WASD Keyboards Wire Keycap Puller Tool For this purpose. Check out how to clean your Windows desktop once and for all.
How to clean keyboard
Now that we’ve explained why you should clean your keyboard and provided some important safety tips, it’s time to choose which tools to use. There are a lot of options available, so take a look at them all and choose the one that best suits your needs.
1. Use compressed air
Compressed air is one of the most favorite accessories for anyone who hates dust on their electronics, and it's the best way to clean a keyboard that has accumulated a thin layer of dirt.
Compressed air is what it sounds like: a can of air holding its contents under a lot of pressure. When you press the stopper at the top, the compressed air rushes out and blows dust out the nozzle. This solution is used to remove dirt from electronic devices, such as the insides of computers.
One of the best things about compressed air cans is how compatible they are with other components. If you’re a gaming enthusiast, be sure to keep this can of compressed air on hand. It’s one of the best ways to clean dust from your PS4, which is important if you want to keep your gaming rig cool.
2. Remove dirt using keyboard cleaning slime
Slime seems like the last thing you want to put on a dirty keyboard, but cleaning with slime really helps.
A good cleaning product aims to have just the right amount of slime. It's sticky enough to pick up all the dirt and lint on your keyboard but not sticky enough to stick to your keyboard or your hands. You press the slime down onto your keyboard keys, then peel it off to remove all the dirt.
Prepare ColorCoral Cleaning Slime This is a great starting point for beginners. It's cheap, easy to use, and doesn't make your hands sticky. It also has a nice lemon scent that keeps things smelling fresh. While it won't be effective against dust under keys, it's great for quick and easy surface-level cleaning.
You can also make your own at home if you're feeling adventurous. There are a few clever ways to use DIY cleaning slime, so consider this if you like the sound of keyboard cleaning slime.
3. Perform a deep cleaning with rubbing alcohol.
Compressed air and cleaning slime are not good options if you want to learn how to clean a sticky keyboard.
For a deep clean of your keyboard, you’ll need something strong. Rubbing alcohol (scientifically known as “isopropyl alcohol”) is your best bet for cleaning your keyboard. Make sure to choose a solution that contains at least 70% alcohol to give it the ability to kill any germs.
Rubbing alcohol is one of the trickiest ways to clean a keyboard. Take a cotton swab, dip it in the liquid, and run it along the side of the keys. You may need to remove each key to get a thorough cleaning. While it’s not as easy to use as compressed air or slime, it’s the best way to remove stubborn, sticky grime.
4. Sterilize the keyboard from bacteria and viruses
We briefly mentioned above how rubbing alcohol can help defeat bacteria and viruses. While it does the job, you may not want to treat your entire keyboard with strong alcohol. Fortunately, there are other ways you can clean your keyboard from germs.
First, if you’ve ever wondered if you can use Clorox wipes on your computer keyboard, you’re in luck. Wipe down the keyboard, and don’t be afraid to remove the keys to get the entire surface even cleaner. Just make sure not to use any cleaning wipes that contain bleach, as that can do more harm than good.
You can also use a UV sterilizer wand to clean your keyboard. It emits ultraviolet light, which destroys bacteria and viruses to the point where they die. Tested American Journal of Infection Control UV light has been effective on hospital keyboards and I have found it useful for cleaning keyboards with minimal interruption.
How to clean a laptop keyboard
Regular keyboards make it easy to remove the keys and clean the gaps. However, if you are using a laptop, there is a good chance that these devices are built into the system and are difficult to clean.
Double-check to see if you can remove the keys. We don’t recommend running tests on the keys; instead, check your laptop manufacturer’s documentation to see if they have any advice on cleaning the keyboard. If they don’t, it’s best to leave the keys alone and play it safe.
Once you’ve checked, turn off your laptop and unplug it from the power source. Then follow the manufacturer’s instructions if you have them. If you don’t, use keyboard cleaning slime to get rid of larger particles and isopropyl alcohol to remove more stubborn stains.
You can also turn your laptop upside down and shake it to remove dirt. Do this over a sink or trash can to catch all the dust that falls.
In addition to being hygienic, cleaning the keys is one of the basic tips for fixing faulty laptop keyboards. It is worth trying if your keys are not working as they used to.
How to clean your Mac keyboard
If you want to know how to clean your MacBook keyboard, Apple has Apple She has documentation explaining these things. In short, she advises against using cleaning solutions that use a lot of moisture and aerosol sprays.
As such, it's best to use Apple's advice: lightly dampen a lint-free cloth and wipe it across the keyboard surface. For dry dirt, you'll have better luck using a cotton swab and isopropyl alcohol; be sure not to soak the swab in alcohol before cleaning, or you'll do more harm than good.
Interestingly, this is similar to the advice Apple gives for cleaning your iPhone speaker. Cleaning your phone is one way to fix a faulty iPhone speaker, so make sure you keep these cleaning tools handy.
How to clean a mechanical keyboard
Mechanical keyboards can be a bit more complicated than membrane keyboards, due to the complex switch mechanisms underneath each key. For the best cleaning, use a key remover, some cotton swabs, and some isopropyl alcohol before you begin.
First, remove all the keys on the keyboard. Be careful, though; if you can't remember the exact layout of the keys, take a picture or find a picture of them first so you can put the keys back together correctly. If you don't, typing may become much more difficult later on!
Then, take the swabs and alcohol and gently clean around the keys. If you like, you can prepare a bowl of warm soapy water and leave the keys in it for a few hours; just make sure to dry them properly before putting them back.
Spills are the biggest problem with mechanical keyboards. If you spill liquid on your mechanical keyboard, try not to tilt it, as the spill could get inside the key mechanisms.
Instead, remove the keycaps and gently wipe away any liquid that gets between the keys. Then, do a deeper clean with isopropyl alcohol to remove any stickiness.
Keyboards naturally accumulate dirt, but people often neglect it when cleaning. Now you know why you should clean your keyboard, as well as how to do it. Now you can check out the best gaming keyboards to improve your gaming experience.
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