Is your keyboard greasy, dusty, or sticky? In this handy guide, we provide you with some tips to clean the keys you use every day.
When you first set up a new computer, the keyboard usually impresses with its cleanliness. However, a few months later, or sometimes even just a few days, the situation may be quite different. Grease quickly accumulates on the keys of your keyboard, while dust can sometimes fill the tiny spaces it can reach. According to an experiment conducted in London in 2008, a computer keyboard can even accumulate more germs than a toilet seat.
It is essential, therefore, to take more care of them. Discover some techniques here to regularly clean your keyboard.
Unplug the keyboard or turn off the computer Before anything else, make sure to power off the computer keyboard to avoid damaging electronic components or accidentally pressing keys. If it is an external keyboard, unplug it from the computer. In the case of a laptop keyboard, simply turn off your device.
Dust the computer keyboard Once the keyboard is turned off, start by removing dust using a microfiber cloth or compressed air canister. This dusting spray is particularly effective in dislodging debris stuck between the keys. If unavailable, you can also use a brush or a low-power vacuum cleaner. Ideally, tilt the keyboard or even turn it upside down to prevent dirt from settling back onto it.
Clean, degrease, and disinfect the keyboard keys After dusting the keyboard, now gently rub the surface and the edge of each key with a cloth dampened with soapy water. You can clean hard-to-reach areas with a slightly dampened cotton swab. To remove greasy stains and eliminate bacteria, use isopropyl alcohol (also known as isopropanol) or white vinegar, which have degreasing and disinfecting properties. There are also wipes impregnated with a special cleaning solution for computers.
