Cleaning a computer keyboard
 

Hi.
How do you clean your keyboard?
Mine seems to always have dust on the keys and in all the little crevices.

Mostly I just pick it up and shake it upside down. For some reason there are always crumbs in there. Can't imagine why, though maybe it's the morning toast, or other snacks I eat over it? When I worked mine was always full of dust and crumbs. I use a paper clip to pull out the dust bunniettes in there. Used to be able to pop out the keys and clean under them for the worst mess. Now and then I use the vacuum on it. Got one of those sets with tiny heads to put on your vacuum for keyboard and sewing machine, but rarely bother to pull them out and use them. I've heard that canned air meant to blow dirt out might actually force it into smaller crevices, so not a good idea. Hey, Ranger, I like your signature line!

sometimes just turning it upside down and giving a little shake gets out a lot!!

I unplug mine from the computer and turn it over and lightly tap it on the desk top to remove anything that will come out! Then I take a very soft brush (2x8 or 10" I use it on my lampshades) and brush over the keys to dust it. Sometimes I'll use an air can but I really do not like to do that.

I keep a small paint brush handy and when I see crumbs getting into my keyboard, I brush them out. I seem to do that a LOT.

I still use a hard plastic cover on mine. It's from many years and many keyboards ago but I put it over the keyboard when ever i leave the computer since I have three cats!!

I vacuum it out. Take outside, turn it over and softly tap the bottom.

I unplug mine, turn it over and tap the bottom edge on the desk, then tap the top edge. Then I use an old toothbrush (clean, of course!) and run it between the keys, horizontally, then vertically, then blow it out with canned air and plug it back in and hope it still works! lol hmmm...looks like I need to do mine soon!

I'd read that you can run them under warm water and hang to dry, but have never tried it, nor would I recommend it, since it IS electronics.

I use a Swifter duster on mine. Seems to pick up all the dust. I sit far enough away that I don't get crumbs on it.

If I have a phone call that goes on and on, I will sit and pop off the keys then clean under them. Otherwise, the keyboard just collects dirt. Hasn't quit working yet. I do wipe off the surface to keep it looking decent.

Like the others, I often flip mine over and tap the edge on the desk to get any debris out. I'll also wipe off the top with a wet wipe, and I'll insert the edge of the wet wipe (sometimes I have to fold in half to get a good edge) and run that between all the keys.

I tend to get a lot of hair caught in mine. I'm always amazed at the amount of hair (mine) and strangely enough, eye lashes and eye-brow hair!! You'd think I was bald.

A few months ago a co-worker asked me to show him how to do something on his computer. I sat at his desk with fingers poised above his keyboard and stopped dead. It was SO DISGUSTING! I told him to either replace it or clean it, otherwise I was not touching it.

i use the brush attachment & vacuum mine....same way i clean my sewing machines- i purchased a small vacuum attachment set from Nancy's Notions that is small brushes, wedge- everything you need to get into small spaces- made specifically for computers & sewing machines- i believe the kit was less than $20= and they attach right to the hose on my vacuum- work great!

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Thanks LynnVT, thanks for the comment about liking my signature line.
Whenever she or anyone else was facing trouble dealing with things, my Grandmother used this quotation.

And I like your the word 'bunniettes'!

I would like to thank you all for taking the time to reply.
I can always depend on QB members for help.

Helen, I just had to reply to this. I had a wonderful friend who has since passed. She had spilled something on Her keyboard so She decided to take it to the sink and wash it out. Well She did and needles to say it didn't work any more. You should have heard Her, I laughed my butt off. She was such a funny girl and I miss Her very much. Thanks for reminding me of how much fun She was. :)

I am surprised no one mentioned "canned air". I read about using this somewhere and it is wonderful. I slant the board when I spray and the crumbs all blow off. I also use my Swiffer to dust. Other than that, it's not very dirty.....

Many good suggestions above, but here's one more: take a dish cloth and get it slightly wet with a bit of soap and warm water. Lay the keyboard upside down on it and move back and forth, up and down. That should remove anything sticky that shaking, vacuuming, etc didn't get out. BTW, when electronics get wet, they must get completely dried before trying to use again. I had a friend drop her cell phone into a glass of beer. After several days of drying, it worked fine!

Thanks for the help.

I bought a thing called a "keyboard skin"...it is the best ...just a very thin layer of plastic that fits over your keyboard..you can take it off and shake the dust off, or bring it to the sink and wash it..very cheap, too..it's a real time saver, keeps the
keyboard clean, you can easily see through it, and i've had mine a couple years now, so they are very tough! Go on E-bay or google them..greatest invention ever!

Never heard of that but it sounds like a great thing to keep the keyboard clean.
Thanks.

I use canned air (one of the greatest inventions of all time IMHO) on mine, too. Plus I just turn my lap top over & shake it. Mine gets so full of dog hair (like every other square inch of my house). I think I may take an alcohol towelette & wipe the keys down, too.

I have some giant tweezers (I think they are for applique?) anyway, when I am bored - I will use those tweezers to pick the bunnies out - I think I found a small cat in there (at least it seemed like it with all the hair) - you can really get under the key very well with this device - its amazing how much crud gets inside the keyboard.

My daughter works in IT department a large private collage and she told me to use 90% rubbing alchol and a q-tip to clean around keys. Takes awhile to clean it, but it works really well.

I used canned air on my old keyboard and it left a greasy 'film' that attracts dust. On my new keyboard I just turn it upside down and give it a good tap on my desk and use my Swiffer duster.

I always use rubbing alcohol to clean the keys. I don't have many crumbs since I dislike eating while typing. I have a remote keyboard so I take the batteries out of it. On my laptop I unplug it and take the battery out.

I have an issue with my laptop, I think I've cleaned it too often, it's like the pads are dry beneath the keys, they get stuck and "click" now, and they do not pop off like PC keyboard keys. I'm wondering if there is a way to lubricate them, like contact cleaner + silicone spray or something?

I also got smart and bought a keyboard cover on ebay. It makes the keyboard on my laptop "softer" and easier to use, and I don't have to clean it as much. I just spray the cover with vinegar and baking soda, let it sit for a while, rinse it and let it dry.

I mean I take it off the laptop and wash it, both sides.

Cleaning Computer Keyboard
 

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Mine always has my white Himalayan cat fur in it, masses of it since she walks across the keyboard
and cries because I'm neglecting her. So I use a slightly curved eye lash brush which cleans it out nicely.
And horrifies me at how much she is shedding, but she hates to be brushed.

For further cleaning I use a plastic handled gum brush that really does clean out the remainder, even
after using the lash brush.

Darn cat!!~If I didn't love her so much I'd...well, not much I guess. Just keep on cleaning the keyboard.
Might even get a plastic cover for it, but she never goes near it till I'm on the computer.

Thanks again for all the replies.
You've been very helpful.

I actually found information on how to lubricate the sticky keys! I don't know if this works for PC keyboards or just laptops:

http://www.ehow.com/how_2107252_fix-...ptop-keys.html

Took a class once, instructor said put in dishwasher. I did, it didn't survive! Who'd a thunk it? LOL