How to Clean a Laptop Keyboard

For unknown reasons, laptop keyboards tend to get dirtier than desk top keyboards. One of the reasons might be because of the mobility that comes with using a laptop–people go outside with them and dust and dirt can get underneath the keys. Regardless, it is important to clean them so that they don't stick. A clean keyboard functions so much better than a dirty one.

Cleaning Keyboard Without Removing Keys

The simplest way to clean a keyboard without removing the keys is to buy a can of compressed air. Aim it at the keys and then blow air on the keyboard. If you can, have someone hold the laptop upside down over the garbage can as you blow so that any dust and dirt that is in the keyboard can easily fall out into the garbage. This way, it's not just blowing around, but instead, actually being removed. This will get rid of a lot of the dirt underneath the keys, but if it is sticky, you'll have to remove the keys.

Cleaning the Keyboard by Removing Keys

Each individual key on your keyboard can be removed. It is important to remember where each one goes. Leaving the big ones alone–space bar, shift, enter, backspace to name a few–remove the small ones. Using a small knife, pop each one off. Don't apply too much pressure because they can easily break. Just slide it under and lift a bit. The key will pop up.

Put all of the keys into a bowl so that you can keep track of them. The one thing you don't want to happen is for the keys to disappear on you after you cleaned the keyboard. With all the keys in a bowl, add a few drops of dish soap and then add water. With them in the water, rub them all softly to get any grime off. Don't rub too hard because you don't want to rub off the actual letter. When finished, put them into another bowl and sit them out to dry.

Using the compressed air again, blow it over the computer where the keys once were. This will get rid of any extra dirt that was difficult to remove because of the keys being in the way. You can use a lintless cloth to wipe it down. Small amounts of rubbing alcohol can be used to clean especially dirty spots, but if you do, be sure to allow it to dry completely.

Once all of the keys and the laptop have dried, pop them all back into place. The best way to get all the keys in the right place is to draw a map of where each key goes. This way, you can pop them in one at a time and don't mess up your QWERTY arrangement.