While cleaning your computer keyboards is largely instinctual, some of us — namely me! — forget to do it often enough and things can get very dirty. If your keyboard is in need of a thorough cleaning, all you need is three minutes, a little finesse, and some around-the-office supplies.
I've found the best options for cleaning your keyboard are a lint free cloth, Q-tips, cleaning fluid (isopropyl alcohol) or dust buster spray and clear tape. To start your cleaning process, shut down your computer and remove the main plug, unplug the keyboard, and hold it upside down to release any large dust and food clumps that have been caught in keys (pressing the keys is a good way to release it). If you have a can of compressed air blow out any junk from around and under the keys; if not, you can use a little vacuum to clean it out. I opt for using Q-tips with a couple of drops of cleaner on them to take off the soda spills.
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Take your cloth and dampen it with your cleaning fluid (don't put the liquid directly on the keyboard) and then give the surface of the keyboard a good wipe over. When you have finished give the keyboard a wipe over with the dry cloth/duster, you should now have a nice clean keyboard, to clean it more thoroughly follow the guide below. Do this once every two weeks.
Duccio Del Duca
Peacocks
Anna Sui
I have iskin for my iBook, it protects from debris and especially the natural oils from our fingers.
www.iskin.com
1I just got the black macbook a couple of months ago and I am having a hard time wiping my fingerprints off of it. Anyone have any ideas as to the most appropriate way to clean fingerprints?
2This is such a good idea. People don't realize how many germs are on their own keyboards. A LOT.
3Any additional tips for cleaning out laptop keyboards? Mine is filthy, but I'm afraid the flatter, wider keys will make it harder to get in between them. Plus, I can't separate it from the rest of the computer, and I'd hate to do some damage to the inside bits that make it run.
4I've done alot of temp work in my day & wow, do some people have dirty keyboards! Eeek! I felt like taking my own lysol & windex with me. (never spray directly on machinery)
5I think I need to forward this to the majority of women I work with!
6I know, dirty keyboards are the worst!
7Laptop users: If you are careful enough, you can often slide your keyboard up/out and give it a little shake to get the funky debris off. If you are squeamish about that - or have never taken your computer apart - try the Qtip cleaning for smudges (use an inexpensive computer cleaner from an electronics or office supply store) and don't forget you can run your vacuum over the computer for suction of gross items that can get lodged in those oh-so-tiny spots.
Ok--I'm dumb. You can use the rubbing alcohol on the laptop screen too? I spilled lemonade on mine. The keys have loosened up but the screen is still sticky.
8Oh my gosh, I need this lesson so badly! I have risked many mistakes in cleaning, and using the wrong liquids can really impact the life of the whole computer. I'll log this info away for sure
9The keyboards at my work are a fright! I need to do this pronto.
10canned air is all i ever use.
3sweeties, i didn't know you had a job. what do you do?
11Okay...I've found little chunks of chips or whatever in my keyboards, but I have NEVER spilled a drink in them! And I'm klutzy!!! You girls made me laugh. I will admit, though, with embarassment, that I often type and THEN realize I had something (lotion, food, whatever) on my hands, so I think the qtip thing will work good for me!!!
12NO NO NO do not use rubbing alcohol on your screen. Get a LCD screen cleaner. Usually comes w/ pads & solution.
13This is not endorsed officially, but we've done it and it worked well. If you have a separate keyboard from your mac and it's pretty darned dirty, you can wash it in the dishwasher.
Only do this IF you follow the instructions carefully and are aware of the risks. You also have to let the keyboard dry for more than a few days to really make sure it's dry. (And personally, we dried it horizontally, upside-down, not vertically.) But it totally comes out like brand new.
You CAN Put Your Keyboard in the Dishwasher
If you're into some detailed work and don't want to wait for days of drying (or are freaked out by what your dishwasher may do to your keyboard), you can also take all of the keys off and get down to some nittygritty cleaning like this step by step:
14HOW-TO: Cleaning the Apple Keyboard
I use window cleaner for my screen (I use a PC) and yesterday i used washing up liquid stuff and cotton bud and it did the trick!!
15I totally wish I knew how to take my laptop apart, desktop no problem. My keyboard is filthy espically since I always put on lotion and immediately touch the keys and can see the little crumbs between the keys which the canned air really doesn't seem to help.
Thanks for all the tips though. They're great!
16this post is great!
17RIP-OFF !!!
http://www.helpwithpcs.com/maintenance/cleaning-keyboard.htm
18Thanks so much for this!
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