What You Need

  • Compressed air can (most effective for debris)
  • Isopropyl alcohol (70% or above)
  • Cotton buds / cotton swabs
  • Microfibre cloth
  • Soft brush (makeup brush or paintbrush work well)
  • Keycap puller (optional, for mechanical keyboards)
  1. 1

    Power off and unplug

    Turn off the computer or unplug the keyboard before cleaning. For laptops, shut down completely. This prevents accidental key presses and protects against any liquid damage.

  2. 2

    Shake out loose debris

    Hold the keyboard upside down and gently shake or tap the back. You will be surprised (and possibly horrified) by how much falls out.

  3. 3

    Blast with compressed air

    Use short bursts of compressed air between the keys at an angle — not straight down, which can push debris further in. Work systematically across the entire keyboard.

  4. 4

    Wipe keycap surfaces

    Lightly dampen a microfibre cloth with isopropyl alcohol (not water — it evaporates cleanly and kills bacteria). Wipe across all keycap surfaces. The alcohol cuts through skin oils and grime without leaving residue.

  5. 5

    Clean between keys with cotton buds

    Dip a cotton bud in isopropyl alcohol and squeeze out any excess so it is not dripping. Run it along the gaps between keys to remove the built-up grime that accumulates there. Use multiple buds — they get dirty quickly.

  6. 6

    Deep clean: remove keycaps (mechanical keyboards)

    On mechanical keyboards, use a keycap puller (or carefully use your fingers) to remove keycaps. Soak them in warm soapy water for 30–60 minutes, rinse thoroughly and let dry completely — at least 24 hours — before replacing. Do not soak laptop keys.

Laptop keyboardsNever pour liquid onto a laptop keyboard. Use barely-damp cloths and cotton buds only. Do not attempt to remove laptop keycaps without looking up the specific procedure for your model — they are fragile and difficult to reattach on many laptops.

Frequently Asked Questions

A quick wipe with a microfibre cloth weekly takes 30 seconds and keeps surface grime at bay. A proper clean with compressed air and isopropyl alcohol every 1–3 months is good practice. More frequently if you eat at your desk or share the keyboard with others.
Act fast: power off immediately, invert the keyboard, and let it drain and dry for 24–48 hours. Do not power on until completely dry. For sticky individual keys after drying, remove the keycap and clean the switch underneath with isopropyl alcohol on a cotton bud. Sugary liquids are the worst — act quickly.