How to Clean a PC Keyboard
Level of difficulty: Easy
The computer keyboard is the most widely used input device which utilizes an arrangement of buttons or keys that work as electronic switches or mechanical levers. It is used for typing text or numbers into programs like text editors and word processors. Because we handle them a lot, computer keyboards can become quite dirty very easily. Cleaning your computer keyboard will not only make it cleaner and prevent the spread of germs, but it will make it last longer for years to come.
Materials Needed:- Lint-free cloth
- dry cloth or duster
- computer cleaning fluid
- cotton buds
- can of compressed air
- flat tip screwdriver
Step 1
To begin, shut down your PC and unplug the keyboard from the computer. This will prevent any accidental electric shock during cleaning.
Step 2
Hold the keyboard upside down and shake it a couple of times to allow any loose particles in between the keys to fall off. Pressing the keys while the keyboard is upside down also helps clear out any debris.
Step 3
Using a can of compressed air, blow any debris from around and under the keys. If canned compressed air is unavailable, you can also use the hose of a vacuum cleaner to suck out the debris. However, be extra careful when using a vacuum on the keyboard as it may damage the keys.
Step 4
Take a couple of cotton buds and place a couple of drops of cleaning fluid on it. Use these to clean the sides of the keys for any sticky residue.
Step 5
After cleaning the sides of the keys with the cotton buds; use a lint-free cloth and dampen it with a few daubs of cleaning fluid. Give the surface of the keyboard (with the keys included) a good wipe using the cloth to trace the various contours of the keys. Make sure that you do not put any cleaning fluid directly onto the keyboard.
Step 6
For a more thorough cleaning, you can also opt to remove the keys from the keyboard one by one. Once you have made a note of the positions of all the keys on the keyboard, gently detach each of the keys using a small screwdriver. Do not bother removing the large keys such as the Spacebar and Return key as they are very difficult to reattach. After the keys have been removed, wipe the keyboard clean using a clean moist cloth. Reattach all of the keys to their proper positions once the keyboard has been cleaned and is already free of moisture.
Step 7
Using a feather duster or dry cloth, clean the exterior and underside of the keyboard. Also, check if any of the screws underneath the keyboard is loose, tightening them with a screwdriver if necessary.
Step 8
Re-attach the keyboard to the CPU and boot up the computer. Check if all of the keys on the keyboard are in working order.