Regularly cleaning your keyboard can prevent sticky keys and dirt buildup. Clean every 5-6 months in a clean environment, and every 1-3 months near food, pets, or multiple users. Use compressed air and rubbing alcohol to clean, and take precautions such as turning off the keyboard and avoiding spray cleaning fluid. For a more thorough cleaning, remove keys and clean the base with a damp cloth.
Any keyboard can get dirty with use, although keyboards used by multiple users or around food will tend to get dirty quicker. If you clean a keyboard regularly, you can avoid the problems of sticky keys and unsightly dirt. In a relatively clean environment, clean a keyboard every five to six months. If your keyboard is near food, pets, small children, smokers, or multiple users, plan to clean it every one to three months.
There are two types of keyboard cleaning, depending on how dirty the keyboard is. Most keyboards can make do with a quick clean most of the time and a thorough cleaning of the keyboard periodically. To clean a moderately dirty keyboard, start by unplugging it from the computer and removing power from the keyboard. Using a can of compressed air, spray between the keys to remove hair and dirt, then gently shake the keyboard upside down to loosen any trapped material. Next, dip a cotton ball in rubbing or isopropyl alcohol and use it to dab the top and sides of the keys. Finish with a lint-free cloth, cleaning the keyboard.
Cleaning a keyboard more thoroughly involves a slightly more complex process, although it also starts with unplugging the keyboard. Take a picture or map of the keys and then remove them, keeping them all together so you don’t lose any. Then clean the keyboard base with compressed air or a vacuum cleaner, removing all dust and dirt from inside the keyboard. Use a damp, lint-free cloth to clean the keyboard, setting it upside down to dry completely.
Clean the keys with rubbing alcohol and a cotton swab and let them dry completely before reattaching them to the keyboard. The result will be a clean keyboard with no sticky keys or uncomfortable sensations under your fingers. This type of keyboard cleaning is appropriate once or twice a year, unless the keyboard is in an especially dirty area. Clean a keyboard like this with care: take the time to sit down and do the job properly, and don’t rush.
You need to take some precautions when cleaning a keyboard. Make sure the keyboard is turned off while you clean it. Clean a keyboard with a damp lint-free cloth or cotton swab—never spray cleaning fluid directly onto the keyboard. If you use a vacuum cleaner to clean a keyboard remember that it is not suitable for the inside of your computer as it generates static electricity. If your keyboard is in a high-traffic area, you may want to consider getting a plastic keycap to protect it.
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