The Best Ways to Clean a Computer Keyboard
As computers become more central to everyday life, the keyboard we all use to interact with these machines can take on a disgusting appearance. Even if you manage to avoid spilling your coffee or soda onto the keyboard, just daily use can cause dirt and grime to build up on top of the keys and beneath them. There are a host of keyboard-cleaning methods, with some used for surface cleaning and others for deep cleaning.
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Cloth and Brush
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A simple cloth is often the best way to clean a dirty keyboard. A lint-free cloth won't leave small pieces of the cloth behind in and around the keyboard. For heavier cleaning, slightly dampen the cloth, but be sure the cloth is only damp, and not dripping, to avoid damaging the keyboard. Disconnect the keyboard from the computer and scrub the keys vigorously. To get between the keys, you can pull each key off or use a small brush, like an old toothbrush. Keep the toothbrush dry if you plan to use it between the keys.
Alcohol
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Cleaning with alcohol is almost the same as cleaning with a cloth and brush, just with the added cleaning power of the alcohol. With isopropyl alcohol that is at least 98 percent alcohol, you can wet the cloth and the brush, adding even more cleaning power. As long as the keyboard is unplugged, you don't have to worry about getting alcohol inside the keyboard; it will evaporate within a few minutes. Alcohol is also effective if you remove the keys because you can soak the entire key in alcohol to really get it clean. Be aware that alcohol may wear away the symbols on the keys over time.
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Compressed Air and Vacuum
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Compressed air is excellent at forcing old dirt and grime from underneath the keys. Hold the can at a 45-degree angle to the keyboard, and move it along the gaps between the keys to force out the dirt. Also, hold a vacuum attachment above the keys to suck up the dirt as it is expelled, otherwise it will just spray all over the room. A vacuum tool is also effective if you remove the keys. Use the vacuum in combination with a brush to pick up all the dirt that may be stuck in the corners of the keyboard.
Complete Disassembly
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Sometimes, a simple cleaning is just not enough, even if you remove all the physical keys and clean the entire area underneath the keyboard. This is especially true if liquid was spilled on the keyboard. To clean the inside of the keyboard, you will need to open it up with a screwdriver. This will give you access to the circuit board, which you can then clean with alcohol. Never use water or anything damp from water on a circuit board. Look for damage on the circuit board, which will show up as a green or white paste on the metal components, and scrub it vigorously with an alcohol-soaked brush.
Cleaning Putty
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Cleaning putty is an alternative to scrubbing or compressed air, and can actually pick up a lot of dirt. The putty is designed so that dirt and dust particles will stick to it and come off your keyboard. Since the putty has no set shape, it is easy to force the putty into the cracks in the keyboard, giving you a full cleaning without having to pry off any of the keys.
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References
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