The keyboard of your laptop can accumulate food crumbs and debris underneath the keys. If you use your computer frequently, the chances are that you munch on snacks right near the keyboard.
It is not unusual for you to use your laptop’s keyboard with greasy, sticky fingers. For example, if you’re watching a film or you work through lunch, the residual oil and grease from your fingers can find their way beneath the keys.
If you do not clean the dirt and grime, it will build up over time, and the keyboard will become sticky.
The keys will not function properly. That is why you must clean your laptop’s keyboard every once in a while.
Ways to Clean Your Laptop Keyboard Without Removing the Keys
Your keys have stopped working, and they also stick every time you touch them? Removing the keys can be difficult, and there is a possibility that you end up with loose keycaps. To avoid this, you shouldn’t take out the keys.
We have other ways, such as compressed air or alcohol swabs, through which you can clean your keyboard thoroughly without breaking the keycaps.
How to Clean a Laptop’s Keyboard With Compressed Air
If you use your laptop frequently and clean it yourself, then canned air is your essential purchase. You can use a can of compressed air to clean the keyboard without removing the keys.
The cans also come with straws that can direct the air blast to the keys. These air cans are available at nearby local stores and are easy to use.
First, you will have to turn off your laptop and disconnect it from the power source. Then you have to tilt your laptop on one side.
Make sure that the crevices of the keyboard are visible to you. Attach the straw to the can before you start to spray. Insert the nozzle of the straw into the gaps between the keys. Spray near the edges to blow out any dust.
Also, spray between the keys to clean dirt. This compressed air will also blow out the dust and grime to the other side. Make sure that you move along the keyboard to spray thoroughly between the keys.
You have to carefully use compressed air as it can push the crumbs further into the keyboard, leading to more problems. You can also use a blow dryer for this.
Alternatives to Compressed Air
Compressed air is not suitable for a liquid spill as it spreads out the liquid, which can damage your keyboard. Other alternatives are toothbrushes, microfiber cloths, alcohol swabs, or melamine sponges.
How to Use a Toothbrush to Clean a Keyboard
Using a toothbrush is an easy yet cheap method. It only requires a toothbrush or any other gentle brush with short bristles.
Firstly, tilt your laptop upside-down. Shake it gently. This step will knock over the crumbs or any other dust particles.
Now place the laptop on a flat surface. Start to brush the keys from one side of the keyboard to the other. Move the brush in a forward and backward motion as you move along the keys.
Try to insert the bristles into the crevices gently. Be cautious, as you can also loosen the keycap.
To thoroughly clean the keyboard, press each key and work your way around it. You can also use a stick to press down on every key before using a toothbrush around it.
Cleaning a Keyboard With a Microfiber Cloth
Another efficient yet effective way is to use a microfiber cloth. You can dampen the microfiber cloth and rub all the keys.
Make sure you gently rub each key to get rid of any residual oil and grime.
You can also dampen it with isopropyl alcohol because it will evaporate quickly. Otherwise, make sure you use a dry cloth afterward to wipe the keyboard.
If you don’t want to use a microfiber cloth, lint-free cloth is a great substitute.
Cleaning a Keyboard With a Sticky Tape
You can use clear tape to clean debris. A low adhesive tape would work best because it will not ruin your keys.
This trick is simple: you only have to tear off some tape to get rid of dustballs.
An ideal way to use this tape is that you tear it off three inches from the reel.
Fold it in half and make a ring out of it. You can place your finger in this ring, which will contact the nonsticky surface of the tape.
Put your finger near the edges of the keys and try to stick the tape in them.
You can also place a piece of tape underneath the keys. Once you take off the tape, you’ll notice the dirt that sticks to it. Repeat this step a couple of times to remove all the dust and food crumbs.
Using Isopropyl Alcohol to Clean a Keyboard
The best option to clean a sticky keyboard is to use alcohol swabs.
You can buy alcohol swabs from a nearby pharmacy or dampen a cotton swab in one tablespoon of isopropyl alcohol. Rubbing alcohol also eliminates germs from the surface of your keyboard.
You can place the alcohol swab on a key for this trick and use a toothpick or a Q-tip to push it further into the edges gently.
If you do not have an alcohol swab, try to use a lint-free cloth. Dip it into isopropyl alcohol and individually rub the keys. Make sure that you do this with a gentle hand so that the key doesn’t come off.
It is the best method to get rid of sticky keys.
Using Keyboard Cleaning Slime
A gooey cleaning tool is something new for a lot of people. However, it has been advertised a lot and gained popularity as a good keyboard cleaner.
First, you have to roll your slime into a ball. Dab this ball at the edges of the keyboard. Please do not leave the slime on the keys for longer because it can seep into the crevices.
Try to dab it at the edges and the keys very thoroughly. The slime will pick up the lint and dust.
This is an excellent method to get the lint out of nooks and crannies.
Lastly, wipe your laptop’s keyboard with a dry cloth.
How to Clean a Liquid Spill?
Have you ever accidentally spilled coffee or a beverage on your keyboard? Well, then you’re aware that it is challenging to clean it.
Gladly, you don’t have to take your laptop to a repairer as these tips would help you clean the most of it.
The most effective method to clean a spilled liquid is to use cotton swabs or a piece of cloth.
First of all, unplug the power source and shut down your laptop. If it is possible to remove the battery, that would be a good idea.
Secondly, tilt your laptop to one side to drain the liquid. Let the keyboard dry.
If you spilled a sweet beverage, the keys are going to get sticky. To clean the keys, dampen a cotton swab with isopropyl alcohol and clean between the keys.
A microfiber cloth can also help you remove the sticky substance. You can maneuver the fabric under the keys to withdraw a maximum of the liquid.
Try to clean the laptop two-three times after you have spilled something for a thorough clean.
How to Clean Grease From Your Laptop’s Keyboard?
When you eat your lunch simultaneously as you work on your laptop, it can make your keyboard greasy. Moreover, this grease finds its way to the edges and makes a mess.
A dry piece of cloth or a dust remover cannot do the job correctly.
You can make a warm solution of water and a dishwasher.
Keep this mixture in a bowl farther away from the laptop to not accidentally spill the cleaning agent on the keyboard.
Now, dip the cloth into the solution and wring it before you clean the keys.
The dishwasher helps to wipe away the grease. Clean the keyboard with a dry cloth afterward.
Disinfecting the Keyboard of Your Laptop
Did you sanitize everything but not the keyboard? Well, viruses aren’t present only in the software.
If someone with a viral infection recently used your laptop, or if you took it to the hospital by any chance, it is wise to disinfect the keyboard.
For this purpose, you can use a saturated solution of 75% alcohol to kill germs, bacteria, and viruses. Dip a microfiber cloth into this solution and wipe your keyboard.
Other ways to disinfect the keyboard include the use of Clorox wipes.
Things to Keep in Mind When You Clean a Laptop Keyboard
- Don’t use a vacuum cleaner to suck in the dirt because some loose keys can come off. It can also damage the keycaps.
- Don’t spray the compressed air directly at the keyboard as the propellant may seep into the circuits.
- If your cleaning slime does not roll into a ball, don’t use it for electronics.
- Always unplug your laptop from the power source before cleaning.
- Never use a dripping wet cloth to wipe the keyboard.
Final Words
It would be best if you considered cleaning your keyboard more often to avoid the accumulation of dirt and dust. It takes less effort to wipe away the keyboard weekly than to take out every key for a clean-up after six months.
You can use wipes or alcohol pads to wipe away grease right after using your laptop while having a meal. A keyboard cover can protect the keys and ensure that dirt doesn’t form dust balls in the crevices.
I hope these tricks help you to clean your laptop’s keyboard without removing or damaging the keys.
