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Why does the computer keyboard get dirty?
The main reason a keyboard attracts dirt to itself is due to its very construction. It’s made up of dozens or, in the case of full-size keyboards, even a hundred or so different keys. In order for the individual keys to move freely, each key is separated from each other by large gaps, between which hair, food debris, dust and even exfoliated human skin fall.
Such conditions are great food for all sorts of bacteria and viruses, which can multiply in peace. Unfortunately, such ‘stowaways’ contribute to infections and can cause allergic reactions. That’s why regular laptop and PC keyboard cleaning is so important.
It’s also worth remembering that properly cleaning the keyboard on your laptop will also help to extend the life of your equipment. Clean mechanical switches will operate smoothly and their guides will not wear out. The same goes for membrane keyboards, where the risk of dust trapping under the switch dome and causing annoying key locks will be completely eliminated. So how do I clean my keyboard?
Cleaning a laptop keyaboard step by step
The vast majority of laptops don’t offer easy, tool-free key removal. Fortunately, there are a few proven ways to clean the keyboard.
The first step is to remove any debris – food debris, dust, loose particles, and pet or hair – from the surface. You can use a hoover or a blower to do this, but be careful not to damage anything.
Do not allow the end of the hoover pipe to touch the keys directly, as the vacuum could pull them off their hinges.
An even better and safer idea is to clean the keyboard with compressed air, preferably in the form of a special spray. You can also use a portable compressor, but you need to reduce the working pressure, as too much air rush could also tear the keys out of their hinges.
Once all foreign matter has been removed, you can move on to the next step, which is how to clean the keyboard of grease residue and dried-on dust. You will need cotton buds, a microfiber cloth and a bottle of isopropyl alcohol (IPA).
You start by dipping the cotton buds in the alcohol and then use the dampened tips to tackle the dried-on dirt. IPA is a natural degreaser and disinfectant, so it should quickly remove even the most stubborn stains.
If the keys are very dirty, it is a good idea to clean the dissolved dirt with a cloth on a regular basis. This will make the job easier and prevent the residue from smearing on other keys.
Finish cleaning your laptop’s keyboard by wiping its case with a clean piece of microfiber dampened in isopropyl alcohol. Pay particular attention to the palm rest, sides of the keyboard and speaker grille. This will ensure a great result and restore your laptop to its former glory.
How to clean the external keyboard?
For devices that plug into the computer via a USB port or other communication interface, the process of removing dirt is in most cases similar to cleaning the keyboard on a laptop. However, it is a good idea to disconnect the keyboard from the computer before starting work.
In addition, some peripherals, particularly modern gaming keyboards equipped with mechanical switches, allow you to easily remove the keys. To do this, you only need to use a special tool, which leverages the individual keycaps.
In order to thoroughly wash and disinfect the removed keycaps, they should be placed in a bowl with a prepared solution of water and kitchen detergent – it can even be ordinary dishwashing liquid. Keycaps should soak for a few hours, and then each of them should be manually rinsed with clean water and left to dry.
The final stage of the work is to reassemble the keycaps. Most keycaps only need to be pressed into the mechanical switch guides, but for larger keys such as space bar or enter, additional metal plates may be required.
