Does your keyboard need cleaning after a long period of use? We’ll show you how to remove the dirt.
Over time, debris will accumulate on the keyboard surface and between the keys. The reason for this is, for example, the food at work and, quite simply, dust; as a result, a lot of bacteria settle in, and the keyboard no longer looks appealing. In our tips + tricks, we will show you how to clean your keyboard and remove dirt.
1. Remove loose dirt
First of all, you must disconnect the keyboard from the PC, i.e., pull out the cable or switch off the keyboard. Otherwise, you could accidentally execute unwanted commands on the PC. Have a handheld vacuum cleaner handy or put some newspaper on the desk. To remove the coarse dirt, turn the keyboard and shake it until the loose dirt has loosened. You can also try using a compressed air spray to remove the dirt. However, never use the vacuum cleaner directly on the keyboard; this can damage the sensitive technology!
2. Thoroughly clean the buttons
Use either isopropyl alcohol or another disinfectant to remove bacteria and other debris from the keyboard. You have several options here to clean the keyboard with the aid of the agent. But be careful: you should use isopropyl alcohol sparingly, especially with laptops, as there is sensitive hardware below the keyboard. So don’t let moisture drip under the keys.
- Use a cotton swab and dip it in the alcohol solution. Then use it to clean the spaces between the keys.
- Soak a rag or cloth with the alcohol and use it to wipe the surface of the keyboard.
- Finally, it would help if you wiped the keyboard dry again with a microfiber cloth or other lint-free cloth.
3. Complete cleaning of all buttons
Many keyboards allow you to remove all keys individually. Most mechanical keyboards come with a handy tool for removing the keys. Otherwise, a blunt butter knife or a slotted screwdriver is recommended. To do this, place the tool under the edge of the key and lift it carefully. Now you should do the following:
- Before dismantling, take a photo of the keyboard layout so that you can reassemble all keys in the right places afterward.
- Now, using the tool of your choice, gradually remove all buttons.
- Clean all buttons with alcohol or under running water.
- Dry the keys with a dry cloth. To be on the safe side, let the keys air dry for a few more hours to have no more water on the keys.
- Also, clean the bare keyboard again with a cloth or a compressed air spray. Be careful not to touch the pressure sensors on the buttons directly. It would help if you were careful with mechanical keyboards in particular.
- Another tip from our users: You can also put the removed buttons in a laundry bag in the washing machine in the short program for 15 minutes.
- When the keys are dry again, carefully put them back in place.
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