What is the best way to clean a keyboard without taking it apart?

Question

i think there is a breeding ground of bacteria in my keyboard.

Answer 1

u could use a vacuum hose to suck it away or a can of compressed air (most stores have them, but the cleanest and most air is in the stuff at places like best buy.) If u don't have compressed air, they go for around 15 dollars anywhere. neither will get everything, so depending on how bad it is, u might need to just get a new keyboard for about the same price as a can of air. but if u want 2 stick with the original, u can unplug it, wash clean it all, let it all dry off for a few days (IDK how long, so it's a guess 2 be rly safe), then keep using it.

hope this helped

Answer 2

Shut down your computer and disconnect the keyboard.

For a superficial cleaning, wipe the outer surface and the tops of keys with a lint-free cloth that's moistened with a mild solution of soap and water.

Turn the keyboard upside down and use compressed air to blow debris from in between the keys.

If you have sticky keys, or just want to perform a more thorough cleaning, you'll have to remove the keyboard keys. A key can be pried off of the keyboard by applying a gentle, even force to its bottom edge. Prying on both sides of a key at the same time works best. (Computer shops have special tools for removing keyboard keys, but a blunt object like the broken tip of a pencil should work fine.) caution

Almost all keyboards have removable keys, but some keys are sticker than others. Never apply too much force to a key; the key should pop off easily. Forcing a key may break the underlying fastener. Remove and clean one small section of the keyboard at a time. It's easy to lose track of what key goes where. If you want to remove all the keys at once, make a digital photo of the keyboard or use a second keyboard as a reassembly guide.

Clean the underlying surface with a Q-tip that's been moistened with a mild solution of soap and water. Dry thoroughly before reassembling.

Answer 3

Best Way To Clean Keyboard

Answer 4

You're right! Keyboards are filthy!

1. Unplug it.

2. Hold it over a wide mouth trash can and shake like crazy.

3. Spray it generously with 409, Lysol Anywhere Hard Surface

or Windex Multi-task while holding it upright.

4. Scrub with a clean cloth. Use a moist, folded paper towel

to get between the keys and in the crevices.

5. Lay it face down to dry for about 3 hours.

You may also want to clean that mouse while your at it.

Cheers!

Answer 5

The keyboard will be at its cleanest if you pick the keys off following kikikicombobreaker's instructions.

For not taking it apart...

Items needed:

1) A bottle of 91% isopropyl alcohol (70% variety has too much water in it to do a decent job)

2) Package of at least 150 cotton swabs. I know it sounds like alot but if your keyboard is really nasty you'll probably use each end of one swab per key. The typical Windows keyboard has 104 keys.

3) Time and patience

Instructions:

Damp the swab in alcohol and use it clean the outside and surface of each key. Before you do the cleaning make sure the cotton is only damp, not soaked. Once the swab is dirty toss it and get another one.

I recommend unplugging the keyboard from the computer and taking it to a well-lit area to do this so you can see if you missed a spot.

Answer 6

This may may not be the best advice in the world, but this is what I do: I ran an airhose permanantly into the house from my compressor in the garage. Spending $5 for cans of air just got rediculous.I mean you can get an air compressor for less than $100 and you can use it for a million different things. Just make sure you read up on how to care for an air compressor. Or if it is that nasty just throw it away. Treat yourself to a brand new one.I got a brand new wireless Dell keyboard and mouse on ebay for aroud $30.

Answer 7

Air can is good. Unplug the keyboard and turn upside down so loose debris fall out of the board and don't become lodged in under keys. After that, I like to use Maxell Disc & Electronic cleaner. spray on to a soft cloth on small sponge to wip down the keyboard. Follow up between keys with Q-Tips.

Answer 8

Compressed air or a small vacuum type device with a slim attachment. Also take a Q-tip with a small amount of rubbing alcohol and clean the keys and the spaces between to get rid of bacteria and stains.

Answer 9

This is what I did on my Microsoft keyboard:



unplug it, run shower (water) through the keys. Allow At least 2 days for it to dry (put in airing cupboard.) Then when it's dry it'll feel like new. Microsoft keyboards have a protective layer against fluids but I think that if no elec goes through keyboard while it's wet then you can wash it out that way.

Answer 10

Yes keyboards are amongst the dirtiest surfaces we come in contact with daily. The compressed air does not disinfect and can blow particles in further.

Unplug and turn it upside down, give it a tap.

wipe up the junk that comes out.

Take a q tip dipped in rubbing alcohol and clean in between the keys. Wipe the keys off with a soft cloth that you've dampened with the rubbing alcohol.

Answer 11

Use canned air for underneath the key boards canned air gets dust and other things.*make sure that you don't shake the can*



Clorox disinfecting wipes will clean the keys.....



Not to mention that don't forget to have some type of hand sanitizer on hand or near you because that is one of the ways bacteria gets on your keyboard, let alone the airborne bacteria that comes your way....

Answer 12

First off, turn it upside-down and shake. You will get rid of the smaller pieces that fell inside.

Then, use an air compressor (air can) and spray in between the keys. This will blow out more crap inside the keyboard. Then, alcohol wipe (or Qtip) the keys and surface of the keyboard. Remember to Qtip in between each key.

Answer 13

Are you aware that you can get a brand new keyboard for about five dollars? After you're done buying cans of air, alcohol, and swabs you'll probably have paid way more than that! If you donate your old keyboard to a charitable institution and write it off on your taxes you'll probably break even!

Answer 14

Wipe it with a cloth damped with soapy water or alcohol. Or both, since you said that it's already a breeding ground for bacteria. Keep it clean by dusting it every so often.

Answer 15

NEVER take your keyboard apart! You could break it. The best way is to used canned air, qtips dipped in rubbing alcohol and a vacuum cleaner. Unplug your keyboard before using alcohol on it though.

Answer 16

bacteria? then take it apart and clean it.

I've used windex on a soft cloth and gone across the keys but maybe you could use lysol spray on a soft cloth.

I don't know about the suction of a sweeper but you might want to gently try that...and maybe a soft small brush dunked in alcohol and dried off then dust around the keys with that. It's what I do.

Answer 17

I use a vacuum and then q-tips and alcohol to clean the really dirty areas. If your keyboard is nasty, get rid of it and get a new one. They're not that expensive, depending on the one you get.

You can clean your mouse too. Remove the track ball and remove the gunk from the rollers with tweezers. Wipe off the ball with alcohol. If your mouse is a laser, clean the eye with a q-tip and remove any particles.

Answer 18

All the other answers are good - but me, I lift the keyboard up above the floor, turn it up-side down, and shake the dickens out of it. If enough crud falls on the floor - I don't see a need to vacuum or swab down with alcohol!



Its just a short term solution before all the little food particles and dust bunnies take up legal residence.

Answer 19

Try belkin for one of the air keyboard cleaner. shoots a blast of air at the keyboard to clean it. If your keyboard is cheap, by a new one, Logitech is a good brand

Answer 20

There is a breeding ground of bacteria there. Turn it off. Use Clorox cleaning wipes or a similar product that are fairly dry.

Answer 21

You can use a cleaner called Simple Green to clean up old hardware like keyboards. It cleans everything without affecting the plastic underneath it. As far as underneath the keys, use a can of air. Or, if you can unplug it, take it out to the garage, and give it a blast of air with an air hose.

Answer 22

I dampen a q-tip with a weak water and alcohol solution and clean each key individually. Use more alcohol than water. I unplug the keyboard from the computer for safety reasons. It works well for me.

Answer 23

First, take your keyboard & turn it upside-down & shake the crap out of it to get the small stuff out of it. Next, try using one or all of these combined (preferably with the computer turned off):



1. Vacuum (using one of the attachments of course)



2. can of compressed air



3. small paintbrush (works well! have one at home & work)



4. swiffer duster



5. Q-Tips dipped in rubbing alcohol

Answer 24

1-shut off your computer

2-get a piece of cotton[damp with water]

3-carefully clean the keyboard

Answer 25

WHEN THE COMPUTER IS TURNED OFF:

1. turn it over and shake it gently to dislodge crumbs.

2. turn it right side up and vacuum it with an attachment brush.

3. take a Lysol wipe and wipe off the keys to reduce bacteria.

Answer 26

If you eat and crumbs and actual tiny bits of food are falling on the keyboard, REPLACE the one you have and STOP eating over it...

Otherwise, get a can of compressed air, spray it out well, and then use an aerosol disinfectant on it... That should do it...

Answer 27

I always unplug my keyboard, then hold it upside down over the trash and give it a really good cleaning with a can of compressed air. if your keys are sticky you can give then a wipe down with a slightly damp cloth.

Answer 28

Q-tip and alcohol, just lightly dip the q-tip in it and then use it to wipe off the keyboard. You can do the same for phones and head sets.

Answer 29

Can air, or turn it upside down and shake it really well. Then, take a pin, like a large safety pin, and run it between the keys to break up all the schmagma. Turn the keyboard over and shake again, giving it a few light taps on the bottom.

Answer 30

unplug it from the back of the computer. take a vaccum cleaner with the crevice tool and light vaccum the keys or use a pressurized bottle of air. Also, tip it upside down and shake it... you'll be able to see all the dirt and fuzz balls fall out.







good luck

Answer 31

I use the Clorox antibacterial wet wipes with bleach. It looks like a greenish plastic can. and some Q-tips. I wipe down the keys and use the Q-tips to get in between the keys.

Answer 32

i think mine is the same thing (i have desktop keyboard). its like 5 years old. there are probably mostly erasers sheds in there...ewww.



are you aling about a desktop keyboard or laptop? laptop you have no choice but to take the keys off.

Answer 33

Compressed air for cleaning under the keys, and rubbing alcohol on cotton swabs (Q-tips)for cleaning dirt of of the keys.

Answer 34

can of air from the electronics department at wal mart that cleans out the keyboard

Answer 35

Use a blower which they sell it for about $30 or just buy a can of air spray for $5.



Recomened using a Blower.

Answer 36

Air in a can. It cleans your keyborad without moisture and helps preserve valuable equipment. Or you can always buy a new one on ebay or in a thrift store for a low price.

Answer 37

those areo-spray cans you can but at CVS or Rite aid for like 4.00 or some electrical parts cleaner.. always found at a auto parts store.. i belive its called CVR Electrical parts cleaner.... its good for cleaning anything electrical and you dont even need to unplug the board from the port in back of your computer... ask someone at a local car parts store...

Answer 38

I know you said "without taking it apart", but I cleaned mine really good, by taking off all the keys, and throwing them in a big jar of warm water, and a little bit of Oxyclean. I shook the jar, and left them in for a little bit. When they looked clean, I took them out, rinsed them off, and let them dry. Take time to clean the area underneath the keys while you do this. Write down the locations of some of the keys, if you think you'll forget. Some of the bigger keys don't snap into place as easy. Overall, it only took about a half-hour, and it wasn't that hard.

Answer 39

You'd better take it apart.

Take a picture of the keyboard BEFORE you do that.

UNPLUG the keyboard from the computer while the computer is OFF. Most keys just "pop" off if you lift straight up of pry from the side with a letter opener.



Use an air-can to blow out the crud and an alchohol wipe to clean out the crud. Then replace the keys, plug the board back in and turn on the computer.

Answer 40

compressed air, also, there are these q-tip looking things you can get at office max or and office supplier that you can use to clean between the keys, they have some cleaning solution on them to wash the keys as well.

Answer 41

I used compressed air for the inside and a wet wipe (like chlorox wipes) for the keys.



Thanks for the reminder, I'm going to do it now!

Answer 42

Spraying the air cans for electronics or using alsohol and Q-tips and soft cloths.

Answer 43

compressed air. i use it all the time to clean out my keyboard. its about 4 bucks a can but it works =)

Answer 44

Compressed air

Answer 45

Start with canned air, then using a q-tip and rubbing alcohol, wipe clean each key, this will remove all the yucky black sticky stuff quite nicely, and sanitize it to boot!!

Answer 46

Buy a Gas Duster. But if there is high risks of arson/flash fires, Not at all.

Buy at target

Answer 47

buy those cans of air to clean under the keys. to clean the keys, use a cotton swab and rubbing alcohol. that usually does the trick!

Answer 48

relax and take a hot bath when done bring the keyboard in with you but make sure you don't unplug it first..this tends to work wonders :)

Answer 49

just buy a size 12 paint brush

and start cleaning like an archeaologist

Answer 50

Soft brush followed by air vacuum cleaner.

Answer 51

I usually use that can of air about every month, and use Lysol bacterial spray everyday, bacterial handwipes for the mouse and phone at work......

Answer 52

Canned air - office supply stores, walmart, kmart - just about anywhere! Good Luck.

Answer 53

Just be safe and have it cleaned professionally, unless of course you can afford to replace it if you do something wrong!!!!!!!!!

Perhaps the computer teacher in your high school can do it for you free, or for a small fee...but show you how for the next time.

You can try your community college.....Just ask them....

Answer 54

Buy a can of compressed air from office max or office depot or walmart.

Answer 55

Aircan, paper clips, q-tips and alcohol and cotton for the sides, to take all that grimy sweat thingy from it :P

Answer 56

I spray it with an antibacterial spray that is safe to use anywhere. I also use a feather duster daily. This works for me.

Answer 57

Honestly, I use the vaccuum with the brush attachment. Also, I use alcohol pads and wipe it off.

Answer 58

dude umplug it and wash it with any dish soap and water use only wet any piece of towel, rag and start cleanning, you can clean anything but umpluged first, isn't this a cheap solution ?

Answer 59

I use Canned Air & Q-tip it down with alcohol....Thanks <:3 }~

Answer 60

flip it upside down and shake it, buy a car on air and spray it then use an attachment and vaccume it out, then unhookit and wipe the keys.

Answer 61

Air in a can...I love it...but careful the can gets real cold real fast.

Answer 62

you can scrub it with soap and water and a brush. and dry it thoroughly for three days standing up, not face down... ive read this somwhere. better try it out first with a cheap one.

Answer 63

I have been known to rinse them out with hot water. make sure it is totally dry before plugging it back in.

Answer 64

Turn upside down and hit the back gently, the dust will come off... do it atleast once a week..

Answer 65

just take a damp wash-cloth and wipe the key-board down

Answer 66

Canned air is about all I can think of.

Answer 67

you can use a cloth to clean the top genty, and Q-tips to get inbetween the spaces.

Answer 68

AIR-CAN DUSTERS OR A VACUUM!

AND CLOROX WIPES WORKS WELL TO FOR THOSE BACTERIA, JUST WIPE DOWN!

Answer 69

Run it in the dishwasher, then let it air dry upside down.

Answer 70

Swiffer and compressed air.

Answer 71

"blow off" duster (compresed air in a can) its made for keyboards and other electronics

Answer 72

trust me no spray cleaner or water.



there is wipes you can use because the red cross i work at has some

Answer 73

canned air

Answer 74

If its already too dirty, you HAVE to take it apart for thorough cleaning. After that, clean it regularly.

Answer 75

i turn mine upside down and bang it on my desk,,,then i also vacuum it. If ur so worried about germs,,u can spray it with Lysol.

Answer 76

Throw it away and spend the $12 for a new one.

Answer 77

compressed air and rubbing alcohol

Answer 78

Just throw it in the washer.

Answer 79

if it is just dust, tryt he vacumm hose, that's what we use, and the keys, we use a sofe moist baby wipe

Answer 80

turn it upside down and tap it on your desk , the stuff that comes out will amaze you

Answer 81

Get a new one.

Answer 82

ewwwww----thats gross--get a special cleaner at your local music store

Answer 83

Vacuum attachment or one of those cans of air.

Answer 84

Buy the key board cleaner called "air" and clean it . . buy the germ killing kind . . . . Why is THIS a Featured question?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

Answer 85

dust it off with a duster

Answer 86

spray it with compressed air

Answer 87

They sell aerosol cans for that..

Answer 88

air duster

Answer 89

I shut my computer off and use a Qtip slightly moistened with alcohol.

Answer 90

use a can of pressured air

Answer 91

use cue-tips, air spray, and Lysol spray

Answer 92

Blow it off with compressed air.

Answer 93

Compressed air can. That will do the trick

Answer 94

dude, Q-tips with alcohol

Answer 95

by vaccum cleanner

Answer 96

vaccum cleaner

Answer 97

use canned air to blow it out

Answer 98

with a wetwipe and earbud

Answer 99

buy a new one

Answer 100

I dust mine with a swiffer duster. I wipe it with a damp cloth.

Answer 101

You may need an aircan for that

Answer 102

COMPRESSED AIR SPRAY

Answer 103

Alcohol on q-tips...while it is not plugged in...

Answer 104

vacuum cleaner.. or a hairdryer blowing out cold air..

Answer 105

YOU CAN GET AN AIR CAN AT WALMART OR ANY STORE AND IT IS CHEEP TOO!!

Answer 106

air duster...you have to be 18 to buy it though

Answer 107

uh

Answer 108

vaccuum

Answer 109

use compressed air can.

Answer 110

dishwasher

Answer 111

you tell me

Answer 112

canned air..........and a splash guard will help if you are into porn!!!!

Answer 113

SPRAY IT COMPLETELY WITH LYSOL

Answer 114

turn it upside down and shake!!!!!

Answer 115

Good question...I was wondering too. Thanks.

Answer 116

.

Answer 117

q-TIP