No matter how clean you keep the keyboard, there will be dust accumulation in places you can’t see. If you don’t pay attention to the environment, the keyboard may become dirty faster, seriously affecting its lifespan and feel The keyboard can become dirty after long-term use, especially when users have the habit of eating or smoking regularly near the computer. If the keyboard is too dirty, its performance can be affected. Common problems that can occur include keyboard malfunction or stuck keys and repeated typing while typing. Therefore, regular cleaning is the only way to ensure keyboard life and feel. If you don’t know how to clean your keyboard, this keyboard cleaning guide is yours.
How To Clean Keyboards?
1.Preparation before cleaning
What should I prepare before cleaning? Undoubtedly, it is our tools for cleaning and disassembling keyboards: key pullers, screwdrivers, cleaning agents, pots, cotton swabs, alcohol, brushes, and fiber cloth (without any other alternatives)
2. Take photos before removing the key cap
There are many key positions on the keyboard. Although you often use it, there may still be times of confusion during actual installation. Therefore, taking photos in advance to determine the original state of the keyboard can effectively avoid this
3. Disconnect all power connections, including data cables, batteries, etc
When cleaning our mechanical keyboard, it is necessary to ensure that we are working with the cable disconnected and powered off. If it is wireless, please turn off the power switch or remove the battery
4. Remove all key caps using a key puller
As explained here, there are two types of key pullers, one is short plastic, and the other is long. The key cap is pulled out through a metal wire
When pulling out the large key, it is necessary to pay attention not to make excessive movements. Generally, there is a balance bar or satellite shaft under the large key, and excessive movements can easily damage the feel of the large key
5. Soak the key cap in a basin mixed with warm water and detergent
Place the removed key caps in a basin filled with warm water in order to avoid losing them. Personally, it is recommended that the water level be below the key cap and ensure that the temperature of the warm water is not too high. Then, add an appropriate amount of detergent to stir and soak for a period of time. During this period, we can clean our keyboard body
6. Remove the top shell and disassemble it
Keyboard models, designs, and disassembly methods vary. It is recommended that the large keys be disassembled according to their own models. When disassembling, students who cannot disassemble can use a cotton swab and alcohol to clean the dust on the keyboard surface. If you have a Daryou A series and use a magnetic suction frame, disassembly is not so troublesome
Prepare a precision screwdriver or tweezers, push it into the left edge of the keyboard and push it like a lever from the inside out, then the frame will deform slightly At the same time, grab the outer hook with your left hand and pull upward Insert tweezers into the open spaces on the top and outside and slide firmly The bottom also operates in the same manner, with the frame falling off itself Use alcohol and a towel to wipe the removed outer frame in turn
Then we’ll talk about removing the bottom shell and pcb board
Observe the fixing position of the screws on the top plate and use a precision screwdriver to remove all screws Be careful not to lose the fixed screws, and prepare a small box in advance to install the written screws After removing all screws, remove the PCB board and place it properly
If you have cleaned the bottom shell, there may be a lot of dirt accumulated on the bottom shell. You can clean it with water or alcohol and wipe it dry
7. Clean the dust from the gap with a brush
If your keyboard supports hot swapping, you can also unplug the shaft body, which is more convenient for cleaning. If not, it doesn’t matter. Just like me, use a cotton swab dipped in alcohol to slowly wipe it After cleaning, use a brush or brush to remove any debris that enters the finer gap. Finally, use a blower to dry the surface of water to avoid secondary damage caused by cleaning
8. Dry the key cap
Soak the cleaned key caps, rinse the remaining detergent on the surface with clean water, then take out the key caps one by one, and dry them with a dry towel. Be sure to wipe them dry to avoid damage to the keyboard caused by residual moisture. If you are not in a hurry, place them in a ventilated place and naturally blow dry for an hour
9. Install and restore the keyboard to its original state
After the key cap is dry, we can install it one by one according to the original appearance of the keyboard we took photos of at the beginning
Cleaning Methods for Non Removable Keyboards
Use an air cleaner to blow off dust and dirt
Blow air through small gaps on the surface of the keyboard to remove dust and dirt that seep into the interior. In particular, be careful to spray the small gaps around the key top.
Wipe off the dirt with a wet paper towel containing alcohol
After spraying the air cleaner, gently wipe the entire keyboard with a wet paper towel containing alcohol. For small areas, it is recommended to soak the cotton swab in an alcoholic liquid such as anhydrous ethanol and wipe it off.
Tips
-The space bar is best left untouched. Because it is the most difficult to install back and is the most vulnerable to damage.
-The notebook keyboard is slightly difficult. It is usually not necessary to remove keys in order to clean the notebook keyboard. Propanol plus cotton swabs or compressed air is usually sufficient to cope.
-If there is a malfunction or doubt, sealed rice can be used to absorb moisture. Rice has excellent water absorption, and if it is sufficient and does not have new moisture, it can absorb almost any moisture.
-“The keys on notebooks are difficult to replace, especially the space bar and the return key, which have separate brackets underneath and need to be installed together with the keys.”. In addition, removing the keyboard from the notebook can cause malfunctions or make it difficult to replace.
-You can remove all the keys from the keyboard, put them in a small bag (such as socks), and then put them in the washing machine to wash with other clothes. Clean the keyboard frame with a vacuum cleaner and a wet cloth.
-You can also use a digital camera to take a picture of the keyboard in advance, so that when you reinstall it, you can know their location.
-Some people even wash their keyboards in the dishwasher. Don’t do this unless you are willing to risk losing your keyboard. If you use the dishwasher to clean the keyboard, make sure the keyboard is dry when you use it. The wireless keyboard must not be washed like this.
-If you forget the key sequence on the keyboard, start your computer. On the Windows operating system, click Start>All Programs>Control Panel>Keyboard. For Mac systems, immerse in Menu>System Settings>International>Input Options, view the keyboard preview, open the menu in the upper right corner, and select View Keyboard Preview. This way, you can see the order of each key on the screen, and then arrange it in alphabetical/numerical/character order.
-A hairdryer can be used instead of compressed air. Whether the hot air is turned off may have some impact. It can also be used for dust removal.
Warning
-If you remove all buttons, make sure to stay away from pets and children. Misswallowing scattered keys can cause suffocation.
-Do not inhale compressed air contents. It can be used safely in a ventilated environment, and its contents are toxic and harmful to humans, even causing death.
-When injecting compressed air, do not invert the nozzle. This will spray liquid propellant onto the keyboard, damaging the keyboard.
-If using rice to absorb moisture, make sure that no small grains of rice fall into the gap in the bond, and carefully check for any dry substances (such as the sugar content of cola, coffee grounds, or any other spillage from liquids).