How to Clean Your Computer Keyboard

Keyboards get really grungy over time, clean 'em up!

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Glass Cleaner
• Paper Towels
• Wastebasket
• Canned Air

1. Unplug the keyboard. It is plugged in at the back of your computer CPU unit. Just give it a gentle tug and it will come out. Take notice of the connector location so that you can replace it easily. It's not absolutely necessary to power down your entire computer but you may do so if you wish.

2. Turn the keyboard upside down over a large wastebasket and slap it a couple of times gently with your hand. A bunch of crud may fall out. Give it a couple of gentle shakes too.

3. Turn the keyboard sideways over the wastebasket and spray it with the canned air. Try to get any gunk out of the crevices between the keys.

4. The final step is to use glass cleaner and a paper towel to finish the job. Spray the glass cleaner on the paper towel and carefully clean the keys and the plastic surfaces of the keyboard.

Tips & Warnings

• Take this opportunity to clean your computer screen and your mouse as well. They can get pretty dirty too.
• Do NOT spray the keyboard with glass cleaner directly, you may damage the electrical contacts.

Resources

• Computer Accessories

[perceptive]

on 10/11/2009 Very useful advice! You can also remove the keys, soak in water/glass cleaner til clean- air dry and replace. You CANNOT do this, however, on a laptop. Hence, I am still missing my 8/* key! :o( 5***** thanks for sharing!

[1InternetSmarty]

on 4/16/2009 I need to do this. Thanks for the great tips on how to clean my computer keyboard. Five stars.