
Your laptop keyboard is one of the most used and abused parts of your device. It is constantly exposed to dirt, dust, crumbs, spills, and germs. Over time, these can affect the performance and appearance of your keyboard, as well as your health and hygiene. Therefore, it is important to clean your laptop keyboard regularly and properly.
However, cleaning your laptop keyboard is not as simple as wiping it with a cloth or spraying it with a cleaner. You need to be careful and gentle, as you don’t want to damage the delicate keys, circuits, or components. You also need to use the right tools and methods, depending on the level of dirtiness and the type of keyboard you have.
In this article, we will show you how to clean your laptop keyboard without damaging it. We will cover three levels of cleaning: light, moderate, and deep. We will also provide some tips and precautions for different types of keyboards, such as chiclet, mechanical, or membrane. Follow these steps to make your laptop keyboard look and feel like new.
Light Cleaning
A light cleaning is suitable for regular maintenance or when your keyboard is not very dirty. You can do this once a week or whenever you notice some dust or smudges on your keyboard. Here are the steps for a light cleaning:
- Turn off your laptop and unplug it from any power source. You can also remove the battery if possible.
- Use a soft microfiber cloth or a lint-free cloth to gently wipe the surface of your keyboard. You can slightly dampen the cloth with water or rubbing alcohol, but make sure it is not too wet. Do not use paper towels, tissues, or cotton balls, as they may leave behind fibers or lint.
- Use a compressed air canister to blow away any dust or debris between the keys. Hold the canister upright and spray in short bursts from a distance of about 15 cm. Do not tilt or shake the canister, as this may cause liquid propellant to come out and damage your keyboard.
- Use a cotton swab or a soft-bristled toothbrush to clean around the edges and corners of your keys. You can dip the tip of the swab or brush in water or rubbing alcohol, but make sure to squeeze out any excess liquid.
- Use a dry cloth to wipe off any remaining moisture or residue from your keyboard.
- Wait for your keyboard to dry completely before turning on your laptop or plugging it back in.
Moderate Cleaning
A moderate cleaning is suitable for occasional deep cleaning or when your keyboard is moderately dirty. You can do this once a month or whenever you notice some sticky keys, stains, or spills on your keyboard. Here are the steps for a moderate cleaning:
- Turn off your laptop and unplug it from any power source. You can also remove the battery if possible.
- Use a soft microfiber cloth or a lint-free cloth to gently wipe the surface of your keyboard. You can slightly dampen the cloth with water or rubbing alcohol, but make sure it is not too wet. Do not use paper towels, tissues, or cotton balls, as they may leave behind fibers or lint.
- Use a compressed air canister to blow away any dust or debris between the keys. Hold the canister upright and spray in short bursts from a distance of about 15 cm. Do not tilt or shake the canister, as this may cause liquid propellant to come out and damage your keyboard.
- Use a cotton swab or a soft-bristled toothbrush to clean around the edges and corners of your keys. You can dip the tip of the swab or brush in water or rubbing alcohol, but make sure to squeeze out any excess liquid.
- If you have some sticky keys or stains that are hard to remove, you can try using some mild dish soap or vinegar diluted with water. Apply a small amount of the solution to a cloth or swab and gently rub it on the affected area. Do not use harsh chemicals, bleach, ammonia, or abrasive cleaners, as they may damage your keyboard.
- Use a dry cloth to wipe off any remaining moisture or residue from your keyboard.
- Wait for your keyboard to dry completely before turning on your laptop or plugging it back in.
Deep Cleaning
A deep cleaning is suitable for rare occasions or when your keyboard is very dirty. You can do this once every few months or whenever you notice some major dirt buildup, grime, or spills on your keyboard. However, this method involves removing some of the keys from your keyboard, which may void your warranty or damage your device if done incorrectly. Therefore, we recommend that you only do this if you are confident and experienced in handling electronics. Here are the steps for a deep cleaning:
- Turn off your laptop and unplug it from any power source. You can also remove the battery if possible.
- Use a soft microfiber cloth or a lint-free cloth to gently wipe the surface of your keyboard. You can slightly dampen the cloth with water or rubbing alcohol, but make sure it is not too wet. Do not use paper towels, tissues, or cotton balls, as they may leave behind fibers or lint.
- Use a compressed air canister to blow away any dust or debris between the keys. Hold the canister upright and spray in short bursts from a distance of about 15 cm. Do not tilt or shake the canister, as this may cause liquid propellant to come out and damage your keyboard.
- Use a cotton swab or a soft-bristled toothbrush to clean around the edges and corners of your keys. You can dip the tip of the swab or brush in water or rubbing alcohol, but make sure to squeeze out any excess liquid.
- If you have some sticky keys or stains that are hard to remove, you can try using some mild dish soap or vinegar diluted with water. Apply a small amount of the solution to a cloth or swab and gently rub it on the affected area. Do not use harsh chemicals, bleach, ammonia, or abrasive cleaners, as they may damage your keyboard.
- Use a small flat-head screwdriver or a plastic pry tool to carefully remove some of the keys from your keyboard. Start with the larger keys, such as the spacebar, enter, shift, and backspace. Then move on to the smaller keys, such as the letters, numbers, and symbols. Do not force or pull too hard on the keys, as you may break them or damage the clips underneath. You can also refer to your laptop manual or online guides for specific instructions on how to remove your keys safely and correctly.
- Place the removed keys in a bowl of warm water with some mild dish soap or vinegar. Let them soak for about 15 minutes, then scrub them gently with a cloth or brush. Rinse them well and dry them with a towel or paper towel.
- Use a cloth, swab, or brush to clean the exposed areas of your keyboard where the keys were removed. You can use water, rubbing alcohol, dish soap, or vinegar as needed. Be careful not to get any liquid into the holes or slots where the keys attach.
- Use a dry cloth to wipe off any remaining moisture or residue from your keyboard.
- Wait for your keyboard and keys to dry completely before reattaching them to your laptop. Make sure they snap into place securely and function properly.
- Turn on your laptop and test your keyboard.
Tips and Precautions
Here are some tips and precautions for different types of keyboards:
- Chiclet keyboards: These are keyboards that have flat and square keys with spaces between them. They are common in laptops from Apple, Asus, Dell, Lenovo, and others. They are easier to clean than other types of keyboards, as they have less gaps and crevices where dirt can accumulate. However, they are also more fragile and prone to breaking if you apply too much pressure or force when removing or cleaning them.
- Mechanical keyboards: These are keyboards that have individual switches under each key that provide tactile feedback and sound when pressed. They are common in gaming laptops from Razer, MSI, Alienware, and others. They are harder to clean than other types of keyboards, as they have more gaps and crevices where dirt can accumulate. However, they are also more durable and resistant to breaking if you apply moderate pressure or force when removing or cleaning them.
- Membrane keyboards: These are keyboards that have rubber domes under each key that provide soft feedback when pressed. They are common in older laptops from HP, Acer, Toshiba, and others. They are somewhere in between chiclet and mechanical keyboards in terms of difficulty and durability when cleaning them.
Conclusion
Cleaning your laptop keyboard is an essential part of maintaining your device and your health. By following these steps for light, moderate, or deep cleaning, you can keep your keyboard free from dirt, dust, crumbs, spills, and germs. You can also improve the performance and appearance of your keyboard, as well as extend its lifespan.
However, cleaning your laptop keyboard requires some care and caution, as you don’t want to damage it or void your warranty. You also need to use the right tools and methods for different levels of dirtiness and types of keyboards. If you are unsure or inexperienced in cleaning your laptop keyboard, you can always consult a professional or seek help from someone who knows how to do it properly.