How To Clean Your Keyboard [Do's and Don'ts of Cleaning a Computer Keyboard]

The keyboard is that peripheral that messes very easily but at the same time it is difficult to clean. This is especially sensible if you consider that you touch it with your hands. Even more so if it is shared (in a school or a workplace) so it is being used by others.

Note that as much as it sounds incredible, all research shows that in most cases a keyboard is dirtier than a toilet. In fact, it can hold up to 400 times more bacteria and microorganisms than the dirtiest point in the house. Some of them are highly pathogenic like staphylococcus or streptococcus.

Good Practices

You should clean your keyboard at least once a week, and if you are talking about shared computers, cleaning should be done every 2 to 3 days (especially in the flu season).

Of course, if you do not have the time to do it in detail according to the instructions that follow, then make sure to clean it at least from the dust, but do not touch your eyes, nose and mouth with your hands. Also, good idea is to disinfect your hands frequently.

On cleaning, the first step is to shut down the computer and remove it from the socket (especially if it is a laptop). Then start with a dusting. Ideally you can use a swiffer cloth to magnetize and not disperse dust. Then, you can turn the keyboard upside down so that any small trash can fall between the key slots.

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But the most important thing is to buy and use compressed gas. The right thing is to sprinkle all the points, corners and slits methodically and always at an angle, because dust and dirt will go away more easily.

Alternatively and in combination with the foregoing you can use a (soft) brush, vacuum cleaner or a dryer for the same purpose. Of course, the broom is advantageous since it will suck and will not scatter garbage and dust.

Additionally, you can make a solution with equal amounts of water and alcohol, then with a clean microfibre cloth or with a cotton swab to clean the toughest spots. Have your mind, so do not drop the solution directly on the keyboard. The logic of the cotton swab is not to fill the keyboard with liquid, but also to get tougher corners.

Keep in mind that there are special cleaning solutions or cloths on the market for this job, and practical screen cleaning wipes help. Finally, if you are a perfectionist, you can carefully remove all the keys for a more methodical cleaning.

What to avoid

Under no circumstances should you put water or some of the classic household detergents and cleaners directly on the keyboard. The vethex does not help even hard wipes with a rough surface.

Wipes or hand disinfection wipes are not exactly suitable for this job. Finally, if you intend not to use the PC for some time then save the keyboard somewhere or cover it with something. Even if you turn it upside down, you're shredding some of the dust.