How To Clean A Keyboard
Cleaning your computer’s keyboard is never a job one looks forward to however, here are some tips to make a little easier and maybe even fun. First, you want to unplug your keyboard from your computer. It’s easier not to but could cause problems later and just slow you down.
A product that will make it go by quicker is an aerosol can with compressed air. Most of what gets caught between your keys will be light weight and a blast of air will take a lot of it away immediately.
Another simple yet often over looked procedure is checking your owner’s manual. If the manufacturer has provided specific instructions, follow them.
Next, use compressed air to clean between the keys. Spray at an angle to dislodge dust and grime Shake loose dust gently out of the keyboard. If you’re using an aerosol cleaning fluid, follow the manufacturer’s instructions. Otherwise, spray a small amount of fluid onto a rag then wipe the keys and the chassis.
Wait until the keyboard is dry before reconnecting it to the computer. In some offices after a few months or even a few weeks there is so much dust built up the keyboard becomes difficult to use. Instead of doing an all inclusive clean up of the keyboard you can use a a small soft-bristled dusting brush for daily maintenance.
Daily use can create all sorts of different kinds of filth on your keyboard. Be careful of disinfectant sprays; many are very strong and you don’t want to keep your hands in contact with the solution for very long. An excellent option is regular household rubbing alcohol on some cotton batting and wipe away the dirt. You can also dampen an old rag or a paper towel with it. Do not pour it directly into the keyboard. Scrub it over the tops of the keys, and use a wet cotton swab to go down in between them.
To get rid of sticky keys, we’ll need to pop off the keys and clean the keyboard more thoroughly. The process is basically the same if you spilled a glass of juice on your keyboard 15 seconds ago or 15 days ago. If you have a standard keyboard, it’ll be easy to find where all the keys should go back on once you’ve cleaned it.
For custom keyboard, you might want to draw a map or take a quick picture so you know where all the keys belong when you put it back together. Make sure to use a knife or instrument with a dull, flat tip as you don’t want to damage the keyboard unnecessarily.
If you find one particular grimy spot (or many) use the end of an eraser on a pencil to scrub it off. Just make sure you hang the keyboard upside down to shake of the eraser bits. You don’t want them falling in between the keys and having to clean them out! So, in conclusion, daily habits of brushing off your keyboard and avoiding spills will go a long way to keeping your computer working well and looking good.