Your keyboard is likely the tech gadget you use the most, making it a hot spot for dirt and grime, especially the keycaps.
We tapped our technicians' expertise to uncover their top three methods for cleaning keyboard keycaps.
Let’s dive in and bring that keyboard back to life!
1. Quick: Wet wipes
Let’s kick things off with something super simple: Wet wipes!
We suggest grabbing either standard wet wipes or cleaning wipes for windows and mirrors. Your keyboard deserves the best!
But hold on! Steer clear of baby wipes, especially those with lotion; they’ll leave annoying residue on your keycaps.
Alright, let’s dive into the cleaning adventure!
First things first: turn your keyboard off. Now, grab a wet wipe and let’s get to work! Don’t just stop at the top surface, dive deep and get into those crevices for a thorough clean.
Once you're done, let those keycaps air dry, or, for a final touch, use the cloth from your keyboard enhancement kit.
Result after wet wipes: A quick refresh, but not perfect yet.
2. Normal: Window Cleaner
Let’s take our cleaning game to the next level!
To kick things off, grab a brush. You're welcome to use the one that came with your keyboard, but our experts suggest a larger brush to make a bigger impact.
You’ll also need a trusty cleaning cloth and your choice of window cleaner, sanitizer, or isopropyl alcohol. Let’s get ready for some serious sparkle!
First up, give your keyboard a thorough brushing, paying special attention to the gaps between the keycaps. You’ll be amazed at how much dust and debris come tumbling out!
Next, spritz a bit of window cleaner onto your cloth—remember, no spraying directly on the keyboard!
What’s awesome about window cleaner is how quickly it dries, leaving no pesky streaks. If you prefer, you can wipe it down with the cleaning cloth from the enhancement kit for an extra shine.
This method will definitely enhance the brightness of your keycaps, but hang tight—there’s still some stubborn dirt and grime lurking in between.
To tackle that, we’re going to roll up our sleeves and remove those keycaps for the ultimate cleaning overhaul! Let’s get started!
3. Deep: Dish Soap
For this ultimate tip, you'll need a keycap puller to unleash those keycaps from the keyboard, a trusty brush to sneak into the nooks and crannies of the switches, a toothbrush for your keycaps’ glorious makeover, and a small bucket filled with warm water and dish soap.
Oh, and don't forget a cleaning cloth to catch all the sparkle as you dry those keys!
Let’s dive into this cleaning quest!
Now, technically, using a keycap puller is the way to go, but after disassembling countless keyboards, you learn to work your magic with just your hands.
While your keycaps are soaking, grab that brush and start giving those switches some love! Trust me, it’s been six months since my last clean, and you’ll see just how rewarding this is!
Take this opportunity to wipe down the top panel with a little window cleaner, too—make it shine!
After a good soak, it’s time to scrub those keycaps with your toothbrush! As you give each one special care, place them on the drying cloth, ready for the grand reveal.
Now comes the thrilling part: drying them off and putting them back on the keyboard!
If you’ve got dash keycaps like these and are unsure where each one belongs, no need to panic! You’ll find a handy little inscription inside each keycap revealing which row it belongs to—Row 4, Row 3, Row 2, Row 1.
One of these, for instance, is Row 1.
Now let’s do this 61 more times, plus the 16 thumb keys. It's a labor of love, and trust me, it’s worth it!
And voila! You can now fire up the keyboard and bask in the glow of your like-new keycaps. After over two years of daily use, they still look almost as fresh as the first day. Check out the stunning before-and-after!
And that's it!
We want to know your own cleaning routine! How often do you clean your keyboard and keycaps?
Join the discussion on Reddit or Discord and share your thoughts.