Are you interested in learning how to clean your Laptop keyboard now that the epidemic has probably made you more cautious about germs and perhaps even viruses? Even if you don’t take cleanliness very seriously, you might notice that your keyboard feels sticky and is covered in oils and particles, or that one particular keycap became caught and stopped operating.
The good news is that it’s actually incredibly simple to clean your laptop keyboard. There are several methods you can use to clean things up. We’ll go over simple wipe down techniques as well as more advanced techniques like key removal. With this guide, we’ve got your back, but not before a word of caution. Please always make sure to switch off your laptop and unplug it from the power source before continuing any of these actions. You don’t want to put your laptop at risk.
Compressed air – You can clear any debris that might be stuck under the keys by using a compressed air can. The keyboard on your laptop is also secure. This is available online or in a business supply store.
A moist microfiber cloth is ideal for cleaning electronics because it is soft and absorbent. Dust and other material that may be hiding between your keys can be picked up by it. Be sure to lightly dampen the cloth with water (not soak it) so it’ll be extra easy to pick up dust.
Isopropyl alcohol is a powerful disinfectant and germ-killer for surfaces. Additionally, it helps take away the sticky sensation from a filthy keyboard. Additionally, it protects electronics better than water. Ensure that it is ranked at 70%.
Cotton swabs or cotton balls can be used in addition to alcohol to clean up blemishes on your keyboard. Just softly dunk these objects in the liquid, being careful not to soak them thoroughly.
A smartphone camera will be helpful if you wind up taking the keys out because you can use the picture to remember how to put them back.
Step 1: A simple clean
We advise starting with a simpler clean while cleaning your laptop keyboard. This entails shaking, flipping, and unplugging the laptop from all power sources. Here’s more on the process.
Make sure your laptop is off and not linked to any power sources.
Shaking the laptop while holding it in both hands in the air will help remove any larger objects or debris that may be stuck inside the keyboard of your computer.
Typically, turning the laptop on its side and shaking it should assist release whatever is stuck in the keyboard. If it doesn’t work and you can still feel sticky keys or see objects under the keycaps, proceed to the next step.
Step 2: Use compressed air
The second step deals with a keyboard that is unclean or has jammed keys. Apple actually recommended this as a fix for stuck keys on the butterfly keyboard on earlier MacBook models. You’ll be blowing dust or debris out of the keycaps of your keyboard with compressed air. Just be mindful not to spray the can backwards.
Put the straw inside the air compressor.
Hold the compressed air can up close to your laptop keyboard, pull or press on the trigger to activate the can (depending on the model of the can), and point it towards the region under the keycaps on your keyboard.
Make your way around the keyboard deck quickly, spraying and releasing the air as you go, till
Any substantial debris and dust should be removed from your keyboard after using the compressed air. The following step can now be focused on cleaning the keycaps.
Step 3: Clean the keycaps and keyboard deck with a damp microfiber cloth
A damp microfiber cloth is used to wipe off the keyboard as a further step in the cleaning procedure. Oils, residue, and smaller dust particles that compressed air may have missed will be removed in this way.
Water should be lightly dripped onto the microfiber cloth. Make sure the water flow from the faucet isn’t too powerful and avoid soaking the cloth.
Use the cloth to gently clean the keyboard deck. Make sure the cloth touches both the keycaps and the spaces in between them.
Continue rubbing the keys as you repeat the process. After that, let your laptop to dry.
Most of the dust and debris ought to be removed from the keyboard deck now that you’ve cleaned it. However, we still have an idea for a more thorough cleaning.
Step 4: Use Isopropyl alcohol and cotton swabs or cotton balls
You’ll need some extra instruments for this phase, such as cotton swabs or cotton balls and isopropyl alcohol. Your keyboard will feel clean after doing this and will be completely free of bacteria and oils.
Dip the cotton swab or cotton ball just a little bit into the alcohol solution. It should only be moderately damp, not completely drenched.
Make careful to thoroughly cover all of the surfaces by rubbing the swab or ball all over the keyboard deck, covering the sides of the keys.
After finishing, let the keyboard air dry a little.
In general, cleanup should end with this. If your keyboard is still not clean, proceed to the final step even though it ought to have cleaned the keyboard and the keycaps.
Step 5 (Optional:) Remove Keys to clean if your keyboard allows for it
We saved the best for last because this final phase isn’t suitable for everyone. Only advanced users and in the worst case scenario should utilise it. Additionally, not every keyboard keycap can be taken off. It is therefore important to check with the manufacturer of your laptop first and look up the procedure online before proceeding to this stage.
- Take a photo of your keyboard so you can remember where the keys go back in.
- Use a flat instrument or your fingernails to gently pry up on the keys to remove them.
- In the same sequence as you took them out, arrange the keycaps on the surface.
- Utilize a microfiber cloth, cotton swabs, cotton balls, or alcohol-soaked cotton swabs to clean the keyboard deck’s surface. The exposed rubber keycap domes are located here. Wipe the surface, then allow it to dry.
- Replace the keycaps when finished, making sure they click on securely.
- Once more, this is a very drastic action that we do not advise you to take. Usually, only performing steps one through four is sufficient.
Conclusion
You should have a clean and functional keyboard after completing all of these instructions. If everything else fails, you might ask for assistance from the company that made your laptop. Keyboard failure or damage is normally not covered by warranty, however they might be able to help you clean your keyboard the way we did.
