How to Clean Your Computer Keyboard

Okay, so maybe I do a little “light snacking” while sitting at my desk.  And maybe, just maybe, that occasionally means that I have to de-crapify by keyboard.  I know that I can’t possibly be the only one who has this problem, though.

I use a laptop, so some of these suggestions don’t really apply to me, but if  you need to clean your keyboard up a bit, here is how you do it so that you leave no evidence of your snacking behind:

For a standard keyboard:

1. Start by shutting off the computer.
2. Tip the keyboard upside down and gently shake it.
3. If you have one, a can of compressed air can get some of the stuck on bits.
4. To sanitize, dip a cotton ball or q-tip in rubbing alcohol.  Gently swipe each key.  Don’t saturate the cotton ball, just get it damp enough to do the job.  {It’s probably a good idea to test it first, so that you make sure you don’t take off any of the letters on your keyboard.}
5. Take a clean cloth and wipe off any remaining alcohol and dust.
6. Plug it back in, and run and grab yourself a snack while your waiting for your computer to boot back up 🙂

For a laptop:

1. Start by shutting off the laptop.
2. Tip the laptop upside down and gently tap the back of it to remove any loose debris {read:  cookie crumbs}
3. Using the upholstery attachment, vacuum out any remaining crumbs.  If you have one, a can of compressed air can get some of the stuck on bits.D
4. Dip a Q-tip in rubbing alcohol and gently clean around all of the keys and the base of the keyboard.
5. Take a clean cloth and wipe off any remaining alcohol and dust.
6. Use a CLEAN, dry microfiber cloth to clean the screen.
7. Plug it back in and boot her up.

If your keyboard is really, really gross you can take of the keys using a butter knife and wash them in a mild soap detergent.  Allow them to dry completely before you reassemble your keyboard.  Honestly, I would take a picture of my keyboard before starting.  You might think you know where everything goes, but putting it back together could potentially become like solving a rubik’s cube {read:  impossible}.

I’m pretty sure if I would commit to doing this once a month, my keyboard would look mostly clean, most of the time.  How about you, how often do you clean your keyboard?

~Mavis