How often do you clean your laptop’s keyboard? Most people don’t think to clean their keyboard all that often, but it is a must.
If you are one of the unlucky few who have spilled something on their laptop or notice some other type of liquid spillage, then it is imperative to act quickly.
In this blog post, we will go over how to properly clean your laptop’s keyboard and ensure that no harm has been done!
Prep work
Before we go about cleaning your keyboard, there are a few things to consider.
- Never use anything abrasive on the keyboard as it can scratch or chip away at precious keys.
- Pay attention to any and all warnings that come with the cleaner you will be using!
- Always unplug your laptop before proceeding.
- If you have any important data on your laptop that you need to backup, then make sure you have done so before proceeding.
How to clean your laptop keyboard
Here are some ways to clean your keyboard:
- Disconnect your laptop from any other cords or devices it’s connected to. This will prevent accidental discharge of static electricity that could damage larger items like monitors, speakers, desktop computers, etc.
- Use a dry, lint-free cloth to wipe down the outer case of your laptop.
- Take the time to carefully wipe down the area around each key on your keyboard. This will ensure that any crumbs that have accumulated in this area are picked up.
- Wipe down the keys with a damp cloth (a water/vinegar mixture is slightly more effective).
- Take care not to get any liquid on or under your keys.
- Dry by using a dry lint-free cloth or paper towel.
- NEVER use anything like alcohol, ammonia, or another chemical cleaner – this may damage your keyboard’s surface!
How to clean long-term dust?
1) Remove keys – To clean the surface of the keyboard without breaking any keys, remove individual keys by pressing in on their tabs with your finger or a butter knife. Carefully lift them up from the base. Use a can of compressed air for dust bunnies and more stubborn dirt particles under and around each key.
2) Clean with a damp rag – A damp rag will remove most dirt and dust particles from the laptop keyboard surface and underneath buttons and between spaces in between letters on each key. Don’t forget to wipe down all surfaces including surrounding plastic surfaces as well – especially if you spilled coffee or other liquid and let it dry.
3) Clean with a toothbrush – A toothbrush with a little bit of soap and water will gently scrub out dirt from in between the keys, which cleans underneath every individual button and beneath each key. You may also want to use a little toothpaste around the edges of the keys and on any sticky spots.
4) Clean with compressed air – An air can gently remove dirt from behind and underneath each key as well as all spaces between every letter. Use a q-tip to remove sticky dirt particles from around the keys and sticky areas in between each key.
5) Clean with rubbing alcohol – Alcohol is an effective cleaner for cleaning sticky dirt within the keyboard’s trackpad area and under hard-to-clean spaces like the spaces between letters. Make sure to use a cotton swab to lightly clean the surface of the trackpad.
6) Clean with hand vacuum clear – A hand vacuum is great for deep cleaning and removing larger particles from the keyboard area. It’s also an easy way to remove stubborn dirt particles and gunk when you can’t find a brush, toothbrush, or q-tip to reach it.
For grime that won’t go away
we recommend using a melamine cleaning sponge.
This tool is designed for cleaning glass and other non-porous surfaces, but it works wonders on the laptop keyboard. Keep in mind though that you should use low pressure to avoid damaging its surface.
For germs
You can use isopropyl alcohol and a bundle of cotton swabs to clean your laptop keyboard.
Wet the cotton swab with alcohol and wipe down all of the keys on your keyboard, paying close attention to crevices in between where dirt can get wedged.
For spills
Laptops are expensive and it is important to clean your laptop keyboard from spills. Spilled coffee or other drinks can cause permanent stains on the keys, making them hard to press. The good news is that there are cleaning methods for how you can remove these pesky stains off of your keyboard!
For instance, First, turn off and disconnect the power cord. You should then remove the battery if possible or if you are not sure.
You will then need a damp cloth. If you do not have an acetone-based cloth then you can use furniture polish instead.
Apply this to one or two of the keys that have been spilled on so that they are evenly soaked.
Once these keys are sufficiently wet, use a paper towel or cloth blotting solution (to avoid scratching the laptop’s surface) and gently rub them away from where they have been spilled on before switching back on your computer again and continuing with the cleanup process.
Conclusion
In conclusion, cleaning your keyboard is a simple task that should not take you more than the time it takes to enjoy a cup of tea.
It may be tedious work at first but once you get into the swing of things, this process will become second nature!
