How to clean your computer keyboard

In this guide we will show you how to clean your keyboard thoroughly as well as how to give it a quick once over. We will guide you through with the aid of photos and diagrams.

The first part is for keyboards that just need a quick clean and is also suitable for laptops, notebooks and netbooks. The second part is for membrane keyboards (most desktop keyboards) and includes removing the keys for a thorough cleaning.

To keep your keyboard in top condition the moderate cleaning could be done weekly and the more thorough cleaning could be done every 2 months.

What you will need:

Lint-free cloth.
Dry cloth or duster.
Suitable cleaning fluid (isopropyl alcohol).
Cotton buds.
Can of compressed air or vacuum cleaner with a brush attachment.
Flat tip screwdriver (optional for thorough clean).

Before you begin

Desktop computers
If you have a wireless keyboard then remove the battery cover and take out the batteries. If your keyboard has a cord, shutdown your PC, remove the mains plug and then unplug the keyboard.
Turn the keyboard upside down and run your fingers over the keys to release any trapped debris from inbetween the keys.

Laptops, notebooks and netbooks.
Shutdown the system and remove the power cord and any other devices which you may have connected. If accessible, remove the battery cover and take the battery out.
To release any dust or debris from inbetween the keys, turn the device upside down and run your fingers across the keyboard.

Moderate cleaning (quick and easy)

Suitable for standard keyboards as well as laptops, notebooks and netbooks.

If you have a can of compressed air then use it to carefully blow any debris from around and under the keys. If you do not have any compressed air, then you can hover the brush attachment of a vacuum cleaner just above the keyboard to remove the dust.
Take one of the cotton buds and put a couple of drops of the cleaning fluid on one end of it (never put fluid directly onto the keyboard). If you do not have cleaning fluid then you can use some distilled water. Use the cotton bud to clean the sides of the keys as seen in fig 1.1 below.
After cleaning the sides of the keys take your lint-free cloth and dampen it with your cleaning fluid. Give the surface of the keyboard a good wipe over using the cloth to trace the contours of the keys (see fig 1.2 below).
When you have finished give the keyboard a wipe over with the dry cloth/duster. You should now have a nice clean keyboard, to clean it more thoroughly follow the guide below.

Thorough cleaning

Standard keyboards only, not suitable for laptops, notebooks or netbooks.

This procedure takes time and requires patience as it involves removing the keys from the keyboard.

Although all of the keys can be removed, the larger keys (space bar, enter key, shift keys, backspace, caps lock, etc) can be difficult to put back so you may want to avoid removing them.

If you do want to remove all of the keys then make a note of their position, or better still, take a quick photo of the keyboard to use as a reference. Alternatively, just remove the letter keys A - Z from the keyboard which is where the most of the dust/debris will be, and refer to fig 1.3 below as a guide to put them back.

To remove the keys, ease the tip of the screwdriver under the bottom edge and gently apply leverage until the key pops off. You can see an example of this in fig 1.4. Once you have removed the first key, the neighbouring keys will be easier to access.
When you have removed all of the keys (except any keys you wish to avoid) use the compressed air or vacuum cleaner to remove any dust and debris from inside the keyboard.
Now is the time to give the keys a proper clean. For best results clean each one individually with the cloth and cleaning fluid, when they are clean wipe them over with the dry cloth. If they have very stubborn marks then soak them in a bowl of luke-warm water with a mild soap/detergent for several minutes.
Take your lint-free cloth and dampen it with your cleaning fluid. Give the surface of the keyboard a good wipe over ensuring to clean as much as possible any keys that you haven't removed.
Once the keyboard surface is done we can replace the keys. To put the keys back on, position the key in place and press gently but firmly until it clicks home. Check their position according to your notes or photo. If you have just removed the letter keys use fig 1.3 below as a guide.
After replacing all the keys give the keyboard a quick wipe over with your dry cloth and you have a nice clean keyboard. Always ensure the keyboard is completely dry before it is plugged back in, or in the case of a wireless keyboard before the batteries are reinserted.