You touch your computer keyboard almost every day (or maybe several times a day) but when was the last time you cleaned it?
Since your computer keyboard is probably one of the most germ filled items in your home, it should be cleaned regularly - at least once a month, but probably more like once a week.
Here are the steps to properly clean your computer keyboard at home.
photo courtesy of Marcie Casas flickr.com/photos/marciecasas/5347580266/Unplug
Before cleaning your computer keyboard, unplug it from your computer.
Take it to a well lit area where you can see the dirt and debris better.
Dump
To get loose particles out of your keyboard, turn it upside down over your trash can and give it a slight shake.
You can also use a light spray of compressed air to free stuck debris.
Vacuum
Use a gentle vacuum to get more of the dust and debris out of your keyboard.
Do not use a strong vacuum that may detach the keys or hurt the electronics.
Disinfecting Wipes
Disinfecting wipes kill germs and bacteria on your keyboard, but do not confuse them with baby wipes that do not disinfect.
You can use disinfecting wipes on a daily basis to gently wipe down your keyboard for a quick and easy end of the day clean up.
Ensure that the wipes are not overly wet so they do not drip into the keyboard.
Do not use any disinfecting spray that could drip into the keyboard.
Rubbing Alcohol
Use rubbing alcohol and a cotton swab to gently clean each key on the top and sides.
Make sure the cotton swab is barely wet so it does not drip liquid into the keyboard.
The alcohol may remove the lettering on the keys, so test it in an inconspicuous area before using it on every key.
Remove Keys
If your keyboard allows you to remove the keys, you can pop them off using a butter knife or flat head screwdriver to clean them better (ensure that your keys are removable before attempting this step since it may cause your keyboard to not work).
Do not remove the keys from laptop computers or mechanical keyboards.
Keep track of the location of each key, else you can look up a keyboard layout online if something gets out of order.
Do not remove the large keys, such as tab, caps lock, and the space bar since they are difficult to reassemble.
You can put your keys in a bucket of warm soapy water to clean them.
Make sure they are totally dry before putting them back on the keyboard.
You will also be able to clean under the keys better when they are removed, but be careful not to harm the electronics.
New Keyboard
Worst case scenario, if your computer keyboard is beyond being cleaned, purchase a new keyboard as a replacement.
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