Do you have a successful way to clean your keyboard without ruining it?

Question

Also see the Answers blog piece I've written related to this question.

Answer 1

First thing to do is to make sure that your pc and all peripherals are turned off. Take a triple-sized cotton ball, dampen it with plain rubbing alcohol. If you put too much alcohol on the cotton ball, be sure to squeeze out the excess. I quickly slide/rub the cotton ball over the top keys first, because they are not used as often. Then I go straight across the key board, ending with the space bar. You may need to repeat the process using clean cotton balls again if your keyboard is extremely dirty. I try and clean it once-a-week, but that doesn't usually happen. Also, do the same thing with the mouse. That really gets dirty. Even though I am the only person who uses my pc, I always do this when I have been sick. I also use a slightly dampened Q-tip with alcohol on the on/off buttons of the monitor, pc, and printer. If you use a calculator, do that as well. I only use a swiffer duster for the flat screen monitor. If you have a regular monitor, even if it is coated with glare resistance, you may use alcohol as well. However, use a computer cloth dampened in alcohol for the monitor screen. It's safe to use alcohol becaue I have anti-reflective lenses, and the cleaner for these types of lenses contain alcohol.

NOTE: If you happen to accidentally get the alcohol inside or between the keys, either get a piece of cardboard or index card and fan the keyboard or don't turn the pc on until it looks dry. Alcohol by nature can be drying so it should not harm the keys. DO NOT USE Alcohol on FLAT SCREEN Monitor/LCD Monitor!

Answer 2

There is only one good way to get all those food crumbs out from underneath the keys and not to mention the Mountain Dew drops that accidentally fall on the keyboard.

Take that puppy apart. Popping the keys off isn't that much of a hassle once you get past the first one. After your left with a pile of keys you can then get them really clean. Might as well take the rest of the keyboard apart while the keys are soaking in some water and clear out anything else that is in there. Crumbs can get in the weirdest spots. If you used that canned air occasionally, where do you think the stuff that doesn't come out goes? It doesn't magically disappear.

Get everything clean and pop the keys back in.

There are two ways to do that though, either the order they came off in or randomly :)

There is nothing worse then having a key get stuck or not go down when your in the middle of some gaming.

Answer 3

Most often, I just hold it upside down and shake it (like erasing an Etch-A-Sketch). Once in a while, I'll use a brush to clean in between the keys, or a shot of canned air.

There are such things as low-power vacuum cleaners that are specifically designed for cleaning keyboards, but so far I've gotten along fine without one.

Answer 4

Depending on your keyboard - you can pop off each of the keys and wash them in soap and water and then when they are thoroughly dry put them back on. In the meantime use Q-tips with Lysol or alcohol - you can also lightly spray Lysol over your keyboard at any time. It also helps to cover the keyboard with a plastic cover when it's not in use. You can also use alcohol swabs to gently clean the surface at anytime. You can get them in any store a hundred for about a buck. Using a fluffy brush or even run the vacuum attachment across it - air in the can gets to be pricey.

Answer 5

Now I use plastic keyboard covers they are great. Before I started using them I would use air cans and once a week I would use the wipes I have for the screen and clean the keys and my mouse. Then I would put some antibacterial hand sanitizer on a towel and go over the keys.

Answer 6

i use a piece of cloth and a little brush.
i wet the brush a little - very little moisture then i gently brush my keyboard..then wipe it gently with my cloth. That's what I do. It's the best way, not to use chemical and other expensive things to clean keyboards.

Answer 7

You can use either a spray(canned pressurized air) or a soft bristle brush. I had been cleaning mine with a brush.I don't have time to buy a spray. Also, put a lid to your keyboard so that it lessens the dust and dirt that falls inside and stucks in the keys.

Answer 8

I start off by wiping the keyboard with moist Lysol wipes. I then turn it upside down and scrub it using a wet sponge soaked in water and liquid soap to get rid of any food particles or smudge.

Answer 9

No. I turn it upside down every three or so months... That's about it. I honestly had NO clue people cleaned their keyboards so often, or even that people thought about this kind of stuff!!

P.S. I know this isn't really a good answer, but I seriously was shocked by the answers... Wow.

Answer 10

Use a little rubbing alcohol in a wash rag. Don't spray or apply directly to the keyboard. Wet the wash rag and then rub it on the keys.