Comments on: Options for Cleaning Keyboards

By: doug mitchell

doug mitchell — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 12:47:26 +0000

When overly schmutzy, toss, replace. If apple keyboard, take out loan then replace.

By: scott gray

scott gray — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 12:41:40 +0000

i’ve found that my local salvation army and goodwill stores sell used keyboards for two bucks each, so coffee’d keyboards get tossed and replaced.

By: Steve Hollasch

Steve Hollasch — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 08:37:53 +0000

Take two paper clips. Open each one up so that it looks like a tall skinny ‘S’. Use the small “hooks” on each side of a key to reach under the keycap. Pull up to pop the key off. Wide keys (especially the spacebar) will have a metal torsion bar underneath that you’ll have to carefully unhook before removing the key all the way.

Remove all keys this way. Vacuum and wipe the keyboard. Take the keys and put them in a Nalgene bottle with a bit of dishwashing detergent and water, and shake them for about a minute (work those martini muscles). Rinse, then dump them out on a towel. Hit any nasty blobs that didn’t clean off in the bottle.

Snap the keys back in place, and you’ll have a spotless keyboard to work with.

By: Neon

Neon — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 08:11:28 +0000

The dishwasher method does work rather well but it does depend on your board. Some of them will break when you take them apart.

Also for spillages, watch out for sugar, as this will corrode the contacts and kill the board. Managed to blow up a £60 Eluminx board with a cup of tea using this method ;)

I think one of the best tips is just don’t eat or drink at your pc!

By: VMGillen

VMGillen — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 12:47:12 +0000

An excessively clean keyboard is suspect… in use, or for show only? I just turn mine over and smack the back to get rid of the loose stuff. Everything else is just “personality.”

By: Gemma

Gemma — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 11:23:28 +0000

Small makeup brushes are good for delicate dusting. I keep one for dusting the tops of books on my shelves. I haven’t yet tried it on a keyboard, however, although I imagine a mascara wand might reach deep between the keys.

By: Peter

Peter — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 11:00:27 +0000

I just turn it over and bang it on my desk. It’s amazing how much crud falls out. By the time it’s really grubby on the outside, just get a new one. Keyboards are cheap and you’ll spend more time and effort not really getting it clean than its worth.

By: senhaku

senhaku — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 02:08:30 +0000

I just use sellotape to glide between the keys to get the dirt/hair/bits out. Finish that off with a wet-wipe to get the grease/stains out. Don’t forget to clean the small plastic pads on the bottom of the mouse too. And while you’re at it, use wet-wipe on the handset and the keypads on the office phone.

By: Jay

Jay — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 23:27:26 +0000

Yep, the little vacuums seem to be nothing more than cutesy junk.

By: James Doc

James Doc — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 22:34:23 +0000

I spilt coffee all over my aluminium apple keyboard, everything went nasty and sticky. Solution, bucket of cold water over night on one end and then over night for the other end. Put in airing cupboard for a couple of days until completely dry works perfectly!

Same goes for wireless, just make sure you take the batteries out!!! As long as there are no moving parts or electrical currents it should be fine! I’ve heard of people who have put motherboards through the dishwasher and run off it without issue.

By: gbear

gbear — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 22:13:17 +0000

Checkout the Seattle local Artensia, where the motto is "Clean desktops for quick minds" www.artensia.com Comes in a nice package * smells great.

By: Shawn

Shawn — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 22:12:40 +0000

Windex. Hands down. I’ve got grubby mitts and have to do this more than the average bear. Windex is where its at.