Keyboards have this way of getting filthy, gross, disgusting...you get the idea. Between the dirt and oils from our hands making the keys grubby, dirt, dust, pet hair, crumbs, and the occasional coffee spill can make their way under the keys. Add the fact that those keys are a breeding ground for bacteria, and it's pretty clear that cleaning the keyboard regularly should be priority. We'll cover two ways of cleaning: a thorough cleaning, which you should do anytime you have spilled something, or when your keys start sticking. Then, we'll cover a quick-clean method to do once a week or so to keep your keyboard in good shape.
The Big Clean
Supplies: soft cloth, warm water, cotton swabs, compressed air or a vacuum cleaner with a crevice tool, small flathead screwdriver, small bowl
Step One: Unplug your keyboard from the computer.
Step Two: Use the soft cloth (dry) to wipe any surface dust off of the keyboard.
Step Three: Make note of the position of each key. Either write it out on a sheet of paper, or use the handy chart below.
Step Four: Using the screwdriver, pop each key off of the keyboard and place into the bowl. Note: don't bother with the larger keys, such as the space bar, enter key, or shift keys. These often have additional wires or springs below them that can make replacing them a pain. The dirtiest part of the keyboard is beneath the letter keys, so just removing those will be plenty.
Step Five: Use the compressed air or vacuum to remove any dust, dirt, or hair. Vacuum or blow around any keys you left on the keyboard to dislodge any dirt from beneath them. For any spills, wipe with a swab dipped in a bit of water or isopropyl alcohol.
Step Six: Use a cotton swab, either dry or slightly moistened with isopropyl alcohol, to clean around and the tops of keys you've left on the keyboard.
Step Seven: Slightly dampen your soft cloth with a little water. It should be barely damp. Wipe each key you've removed with the dampened cloth, set them aside to dry.
Step Eight: Replace the keys, according to your keyboard layout chart. You don't need to press hard--just until you hear a click. They'll only go on one way, so don't force them.
Keyboard Layout
Here is the layout for a keyboard. Use this to make sure your keys are in the right place after you've finished cleaning them.
~ 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 - +
Q W E R T Y U I O P [ ] \
A S D F G H J K L ; '
Z X C V B N M , . /
Step Nine: Plug your keyboard back in, and you're ready to work.
The Quick Clean
Supplies: Cotton swabs, isopropyl alcohol, soft cloth
Step One: Unplug your keyboard.
Step Two: Turn keyboard upside down and gently shake it over a garbage can. This will dislodge trapped dirt from under the keys.
Step Three: Wipe the keyboard down with a dry soft cloth.
Step Four: Use the cotton swab, slightly dampened with isopropyl alcohol, to clean between, around, and the surfaces of the keys.
Step Five: Plug it back in, and get back to work.
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