Liquid and electrical parts are a bad combination. If you forget the order keyboard keys go in, boot up your computer and search for an image online. How to Free Up Space on Your iPhone or iPad, How to Save Money on Your Cell Phone Bill, How to Find Free Tools to Optimize Your Small Business, How to Get Started With Project Management, five handy ways you can clean your keyboard, How to Copy Your Windows Installation to an SSD, The Best Apple AirPods Pro Tips and Tricks, Corsair K60 RGB Pro SE Mechanical Keyboard, Cooler Master ControlPad Mechanical Keypad, Razer BlackWidow V3 Pro Wireless Mechanical Gaming Keyboard, PNY GeForce RTX 2080 XLR8 Gaming Overclocked Edition Review. You can also use a topical cleaner, but spray it onto a soft cloth or paper towel and then clean your keys. One simple trick will clean it all out. Don't reactivate the machine until it is dry. Clean Out Keyboard Crumbs. Scrub the rest off with isopropyl alcohol. Next, use compressed air or a dust vacuum to clear away any stubborn debris between the keys. Learn to use Zoom in this beginner-friendly course. To protect your hardware from damage, shut off your computer first before attempting to clean the keyboard. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. James Sears. You may unsubscribe from the newsletters at any time. Hold it so that the keyboard is at a 75-degree angle, tipping slightly backward. Then you can turn it upside down to shake out the debris, use compressed air to blow out any dust, and use cotton swabs to disinfect small spaces. Make sure the cloth isn't dripping or else some of the moisture may reach the electronic components. Take a quick picture of the keyboard with your phone before pulling off the keys. After that, sit them out to air-dry completely, so you don't short out your keyboard's electronics with dripping-wet caps. Face it towards you at first, then rotate it to either side. Expert Interview. This article was co-authored by our trained team of editors and researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness. Remove them, then put them in a container. They shouldn’t feel mushy or sticky anymore, and if they do it’s probably because they either didn’t set properly in the base or … Even though you won’t be putting liquids directly onto your laptop, you should turn the power off completely to make sure nothing gets damaged if a little moisture does get inside. If things still look grungy, keep reading. All you have to do is insert the straw-like plastic hose inside the nostril of the can and you're ready to blast away. This will loosen any dirt that stayed behind after a pat on the back. Next, use a vacuum to get any stubborn bits of debris. Blow compressed air in and around your keycaps. Expect a cascade of crumbs, poppy seeds, and the like, depending on your breakfast favorites. How can I clean the laptop, not the keys? The best way to clean keyboard dirt off the computer keys is with cotton swabs and a solution of alcohol and water. It's best to do this outdoors, or perhaps over the bathtub. Spray the keyboard with compressed air, moving the can from left to right. When all that sludge and silt becomes too much, you'll have to undertake that most thankless of PC tasks: cleaning your keyboard. If it's a specific key (or keys), take them off and clean them one by one. That might mean buying a few cheap cleaning supplies. PCMag, PCMag.com and PC Magazine are among the federally registered trademarks of Ziff Davis, LLC and may not be used by third parties without explicit permission. It can also be caused by a defect in the circuitry, which means getting a new mouse or a new laptop. Since it's easier to break, consider leaving it in place as you clean. Then finally clean the keyboard by dampening a microfibre cloth with a special keyboard cleaning liquid, then passing it several times over the keys and the entire surface. If you click an affiliate link and buy a product or service, we may be paid a fee by that merchant. Your subscription has been confirmed. With that in mind, read on for five handy ways you can clean your keyboard without spending much, before you replace it or ditch it. Just press the tape between and underneath the keys so the dirt sticks, then toss it. Dampen each swab lightly. You might need nothing more than a small screwdriver. You might need to use a pipe cleaner or a cotton bud to soak that up. So without further ado, let's take a look at the most efficient ways to do a keyboard scrub down. Get between the keys and wipe them down with a paper towel or disinfectant wipe. If so, you may need a stiffer brush. Doing this with a non-USB keyboard may damage your computer, so if you're unsure, always shut down the computer first. Make sure the computer parts are in a secure spot so they don't fall on the floor or get lost. You should be able to use alcohol to clean most of it off. Unless you spilled plain water, chances are some of the keys will be sticky. Isopropyl alcohol is still a great cleaning choice, but the laptop's delicate hardware is right underneath the keyboard. Spills are more damaging, so dry out your keyboard immediately. Whether you're a gamer, a hard-working professional, or both, you're bound to get your hands on something gunky prior to clicking and clacking away at your keyboard. It's a good rule of thumb to clean your keyboard at least weekly. This newsletter may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. To prevent damage to your computer or keyboard, treat spills right away. (Toothbrushes are pretty good for dislodging that caked-on stuff.). Do not spray the cleaner directly onto the keyboard. Computers seem to be a magnet for dust, lint and sticky fingers, but unlike with household appliances, you can’t just douse them with all-purpose cleaner and scrub them clean. You can reuse the blob until it turns to a dark gray, or until you can't bear to look at or touch it anymore, which will probably be sooner than that. If you're knowledgeable about electronics, take apart your laptop to give it a deep cleaning. To learn how to clean the inside of your keyboard, scroll down! Unplug the power cord if you're working on a laptop. To clean the key caps, turn off the laptop and then use a pencil eraser to rub off the crud and buildup. My keys come up slowly and sometimes type repeated characters. A laptop keyboard can accumulate a lot of dirt. The final step here would be to sweep the dirt and debris bit off the desk or table with a brush and dustpan...and try not to get too queasy while you reflect on snacks long past. To put the keys back on, just place them over their correct position and press them until you hear a snap. You can get it at most drug stores and general stores. Gently tap the bottom of the chassis to dislodge any stubborn particles. All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published. Available in cleaning kits or on their own, nylon cleaning brushes can resemble a small handheld duster, an ink pen, or even the brush on a car-window ice scraper. If your keyboard is very grimy, soak the faceplate and keys in soapy water for up to 6 hours. Don't let moisture drip underneath the keys. Gently wipe the laptop's keyboard, touchpad and keys using a damp cleaning cloth. They will not stick or fall off if you put them back on in the tracks correctly. Canned air won't eliminate all of the dirt under the keys, but it will blow away everything that's visible, and the debris will scatter across your desk and floor in a nasty cloud. Avoid using a lot of it. Try flipping your keyboard upside down and shaking out any loose dust or debris. It's as easy as filling up a container with water, squirting in some hand or dish soap, and scrubbing your keycaps with a small brush or rag once they've had a good soak. Take the keys off afterward, if possible, to give the faceplate a more thorough cleaning. Be cautious when working on a laptop. Some cleaning methods may void the warranty. It’s the perfect place for skin and dust and hair to collect and is quite easy to clean. Then, hold up the keyboard, flip it so that the keys are facing a surface you don't mind getting dirty for a moment, and tap the bottom (not too hard), holding it at a variety of different angles. If you have a laptop, direct the liquid to the keyboard to keep it away from the motor and other vital parts. Next, disinfect the entire keyboard with your alcohol spray or wipes. While typing, why does the cursor "jump" elsewhere in a document? Keep them inaccessible to children or pets so they dry out fully. To give your laptop a thorough cleaning, you will need: - A cup or container large enough to hold all the keys on your keyboard - Rubbing alcohol - Cotton swabs … Keyboards become dirty after extended use even if you don't regularly eat or smoke near them. How do I repair a key that has worn away? There are a few other things you can do. This article was co-authored by our trained team of editors and researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness. Also, the gel itself gets dirty, so you have to keep replacing it, and even if it's still technically usable, the half-used wads of it are, to put it simply, muy gross. If you have a non-USB keyboard, always turn off the computer before unplugging the keyboard. Stick to the manufacturer's recommendations or get a professional cleaning to avoid this. Find one online or at an electronics store. You can also press cleaning slime into the spaces between your keys, which sticks to and picks up debris. To clean your keyboard, unplug the laptop. Make sure, however, that in doing so you don't get any soap or water on the key switches or any circuits. Turn off the computer first before unplugging a non-USB keyboard to prevent damage to the hardware. How to Clean a Computer Keyboard. To clean the laptop’s keyboard, use a small, portable vacuum. Typing can be such a messy business. You've probably dislodged debris and pushed it into other places within the keyboard body at this point. Want to be Steve McQueen in The Blob? House Cleaning Professional. Experiment, but keep a little distance to prevent harming your keyboard. You may also be able to find an on screen keyboard or keyboard viewer in your computer's settings. You could either order a replacement key, or use a correction mistake pen to write the letter on the key and cover with clear nail polish (presuming it's a black keyboard) to protect it. From a simple chassis shakedown to removing all the keycaps and the outer shell and giving certain bits a bath, these tips range from beginner to intermediate-enthusiast level. Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. Read the warranty when you buy a keyboard or laptop. That assumes the gunk isn't stuck to the sides of the keys themselves, as is often the case. No, you can easily put them back into place. How do I get the stiffness out of my mechanical keyboard keys? This first solution may seem obvious, but not everyone knows how best to handle their tech peripherals. If you have a wrist-rest, remove that, as well, and clean it thoroughly. A piece this last one that is key that is clean because, really, it works very poorly when it is dirty. If your keyboard doesn't work, take it apart again. Shut down the computer and detach all connecting cables. When you have a computer, whether desktop or mechanical, or a laptop, it is common always to clean the screen and forget about accessories and components such as the mouse and, above all, the keyboard. You can also use hot water. Nasty! For an easy way to remove keys, get a wire keycap puller. If that isn't the problems, adjusting the mouse settings on your computer may help. We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. Keep the laptop open and upside down, tilting it towards you to force the liquid towards the keys and out. Tilt the keyboard around to help draw out the liquid. For keyboards in particular, it can blow much of the dust out of your way without much effort. Some people prefer to clean the keyboard by using a can of … If you can't remove the keys, you usually can remove the faceplate. Whilst keeping it upside down, pass a soft bristle brush over the entire surface. Last Updated: December 8, 2020 During an emergency, you may not have the opportunity to hunt down the correct cloth, so grab the best thing you have available. Scrub and rinse off everything when you're done. Touch a key to make sure the computer is completely off. https://www.pcgamer.com/how-to-clean-your-keyboard/, https://theoutline.com/post/2402/the-new-macbook-keyboard-is-ruining-my-life?zd=1&zi=ux4ac3rr, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5-Z_R9-jJc&feature=youtu.be&t=50, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9w9EuuavAb4&feature=youtu.be&t=165, https://www.theguardian.com/technology/askjack/2012/jul/05/drink-spilled-on-laptop, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tw_tpElJbxY&feature=youtu.be&t=285, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZPx_VqHkHw&feature=youtu.be&t=378, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tw_tpElJbxY&feature=youtu.be&t=355, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhBapGWSNVA&feature=youtu.be&t=42, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O2Z2_5ouyDo&feature=youtu.be&t=73, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tw_tpElJbxY&feature=youtu.be&t=430, ทำความสะอาดแป้นพิมพ์, कीबोर्ड की सफ़ाई करें, consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Dirty keyboards are such a plague that specially designed keyboard brushes exist in all shapes and sizes to help you sweep out the crumbs, hair, and other forms of crud you'll find amid your tainted QWERTY layout. To fully clean the keyboard, blow at it from different angles. It will help you put the keys back in the correct order later. If rinsing isn't enough to clean the keys, try using a liquid dish soap. The keyboard is the filthiest part of the laptop and needs extra cleaning attention. Fill a bowl with warm water, then mix in 1 US tbsp (15 mL) of dish soap to create soapy water. 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