Tips for Cleaning Mechanical Keyboards - Laptop Keyboards Fastest

1. Prepare cleaning tools

Tools to prepare to clean the keyboard are very simple, you can use some of the following items

- A small basin of water: for you to soak and wash the keycaps.

- Keyboard cleaning glue roller: For dust particles and food particles that cannot be cleaned in the cleaning cloth slot, use a keyboard cleaning glue roller. Using this tool is very safe, you do not need to worry about getting wet or getting water on it, causing interference with the internal circuit.

- Mini vacuum cleaner for computer keyboard: relatively strong suction can suck up dust particles, food particles in the slots of the computer keyboard. The usage is also very simple and the cost is not expensive.

- Key puller, towel, tissue, cotton swab: Key puller is used to hold keycaps, towel and tissue should be soft.

- Brush or scrubber: you should use a brush or scrubber with soft bristles to avoid damaging the machine.

In addition, if you do not want to buy each tool separately, you can buy a very popular 3-piece keyboard cleaning set including: a brush, a vacuum cleaner, and a soft cloth to clean the screen.

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2. Clean laptop keyboard

Step 1: Turn off the computer, make sure to turn it off completely, not hibernate or turn it off temporarily. Remove all connections such as external keyboard, mouse, USB, charging cable, etc.

Step 2: Turn the device upside down and gently tap the back of the device, shake it gently to let the dust on the keyboard fall off.

Step 3: Use the mini blower in the cleaning kit to blow away any remaining dust in the gaps between the keyboard. You can use a keyboard vacuum cleaner to improve efficiency.

Then use a broom to sweep away the dust.

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Step 4: Use a damp cloth with the cleaning solution included in the cleaning kit and wipe off all stains on the keyboard surface.

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Step 5: Dry to prevent water from leaking onto the circuit board, causing damage or keyboard short circuit.

3. Cleaning the mechanical keyboard

First you need to prepare the following tools:

– 1 keycap puller.

– 1 soft brush (you can use a toothbrush but choose a soft one).

– 1 handheld computer vacuum cleaner. (If possible)

– 1 basin of water.

– Cotton swabs, soft towels, tissue paper.

Let's get cleaning!

Step 1: Use Keycap puller to remove all keycaps.

For tightly attached keycaps, do not try to pull them out. Instead, combine pulling and rotating to lift the keycap out without affecting the switch inside.

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Step 2: Pour the keycap into a basin of water and soak for about half an hour, then take it out and use a brush to gently scrub all surfaces clean. Then rinse again and turn the keycap upside down to drain and dry in the sun. Do not expose it to direct sunlight, just dry it.

Note: Use clean and cold water, do not use detergent because it can corrode plastic or fade the keycap color.

Step 3: For the keyboard case, use a soft brush to clean off the dust on it. Or you can use a handheld vacuum cleaner for faster and cleaner cleaning.

Step 4: Use a cotton swab soaked in cleaning solution to wipe the gaps between the switches. Then use a dry swab to absorb all the water in those areas.

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Step 5: Let the case dry naturally for about 1 hour and then put the keycap back in. Before installing, check carefully to see if the keycap and case are completely dry.

So that completes cleaning the mechanical keyboard.

4. What should be noted when cleaning the keyboard?

When cleaning your keyboard, you need to keep in mind the following points:

- Do not rub too hard: this will scratch, wear out the keyboard and make it unsightly.

- Do not use detergents: only use products approved for use on keyboards. Using other detergents will damage the color and shape of the keyboard.

- Do not install keycaps or keyboard while it is still wet: let the keycaps dry before installing to avoid getting the keyboard wet.

Micah Soto

Update 17 January 2025