If you don’t stop to examine your keyboard every once in a while, you might miss the fact that it has become covered with crumbs, grease, and sticky soda stains (not to mention a coating of dust). And that’s not all: A recent study showed that some sample keyboards had more bacteria and filth than a toilet seat!
According to PC World, When it’s time to sanitize your keyboard and evict that nasty grime and bacteria, don’t fret–you can remove all of it effectively in just a few steps:
Remove Loose Debris
1. Shut down your computer. If you’re using a wired desktop keyboard, unplug it.
2. Tilt the keyboard upside down and shake it to remove any loose debris. If you have a
can of compressed air, you can spray it in between the keys as well.
Clean the Keys:
1. Dip a cotton swab into some gentle isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol) and brush it
in the area surrounding each key. You may need to use multiple swabs, depending on the amount of dirt. If you’re unsure of the alcohol’s strength, try it on a small,
inconspicuous area first to make sure that it doesn’t cause discoloration or remove
the lettering on the keys.
2. Dip a cloth or towelette into the isopropyl alcohol, and brush it along the tops of all
the keys and surfaces, taking care to scrub heavily used areas (such as the Enter
key and spacebar) to remove buildup. For particularly dirty spots, you can use a
toothpick.
3. Use a dry, lint-free cloth to remove dust and polish the keyboard.
4. If you’re using a wired desktop keyboard, plug it back in.
With such periodic cleaning, your keyboard will stay relatively germ-free and appear brand-new.