Here is a guide on how to clean out your keyboard for a thorough refresh.
Keeping your keyboard clean not only improves hygiene but can also extend its lifespan and ensure smooth operation. A deep clean involves more than just wiping the surface; it gets into the nooks and crannies where dust, crumbs, and grime accumulate.
Over time, debris settles under the keycaps and around the switches. This buildup can affect typing feel, potentially cause keys to stick, and turn your keyboard into a breeding ground for bacteria. A comprehensive cleaning restores its look and feel, making typing a more pleasant experience.
Step-by-Step Guide to Deep Cleaning Your Keyboard
This process is particularly effective for mechanical keyboards where keycaps can be easily removed.
Essential Supplies
Before you begin, gather these items:
- Compressed air can
- Cotton swabs
- Isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol)
- Warm water
- Mild dish soap
- A container (like a bowl or tray)
- Towels (microfiber works well)
- Optional: Keycap puller (makes removing keycaps easier)
The Cleaning Process
Follow these steps for a thorough clean, incorporating the techniques from the provided reference:
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Preparation: Unplug and Document
- Unplug the keyboard from your computer to ensure safety and prevent accidental key presses.
- (Optional but Recommended) Take a photo of your keyboard before removing keycaps. This serves as a map for putting everything back in the correct place, especially if you have a non-standard layout.
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Remove All Keycaps
- Carefully remove each keycap. You can use a keycap puller or gently wiggle and pull them off by hand. Keep them in a safe place, like the container you'll use for soaking.
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Clean the Keyboard Base
- With the keycaps off, the keyboard base and switches are exposed.
- Use compressed air to clean the exposed switch plate. Angle the air nozzle between the switches and around the edges to blow away loose dust, crumbs, and hair. Work over a trash can.
- For stubborn grime and spills clean between switches with a cotton swab dipped in isopropyl alcohol. Wring out excess alcohol from the swab so it is damp, not dripping, to avoid liquid damage. Gently clean around the base of each switch and along the surface of the base plate. Isopropyl alcohol evaporates quickly.
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Clean the Keycaps
- While the keyboard base dries, clean the removed keycaps.
- Soak keycaps in warm, soapy water for 30 minutes. Fill your container with warm water and a small amount of mild dish soap. Drop the keycaps in and let them soak to loosen dirt and oils.
- After soaking, rinse the keycaps thoroughly under clean running water to remove all soap residue.
- Dry keycaps completely before reassembling. Spread them out on a towel and let them air dry completely. Ensure there is no moisture left inside the keycaps before putting them back on the keyboard. Rushing this step can lead to moisture damage.
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Reassembly
- Once the keyboard base is dry (especially if you used alcohol) and the keycaps are completely dry, it's time to put everything back together.
- Refer to the photo you took (if you took one) or the standard keyboard layout to place each keycap back onto its correct switch stem. Gently press down until you feel or hear a click, indicating it's seated properly.
Important Tips
- Never spray liquids directly onto the keyboard base. Always apply cleaning solutions to a cloth or cotton swab first.
- Ensure everything is completely dry before reconnecting the keyboard to your computer.
- Be gentle when removing and replacing keycaps to avoid damaging the switches or keycaps.
Following this process will leave your keyboard looking and feeling significantly cleaner, providing a much-improved typing experience.
