Best way to clean PC keyboard

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Hi all

After years of misuse by the kids my PC keyboard is very grotty and needs a good deep clean. There's lots of fluff, the keys are quite greasy with dried ribena etc and just yucky overall.

Any recommendations in terms of products to use?

thanks in advance

[Djtemeka]

Get a new one for a tenner :-D

[deckster]

Turn it upside down and give it a good shake. Quick wipe over the keys with a damp cloth.

If that doesn't bring it up to scratch then as above, it's new keyboard time. There's really no way to 'deep clean' a keyboard that makes any kind of economic sense.

[HM-2]

deckster said:

There's really no way to 'deep clean' a keyboard that makes any kind of economic sense.

Depends on the keyboard- I've got a Filco mechanical one and popping off the keys and given them a wash in soapy water every year or so, plus cleaning out the area underneath using a microfibre duster, keeps it looking pretty pristine.

A pipe cleaner is pretty good at dislodging dust between the keys if they're no removable, or one of those microfibre noodle-style dusters-on-a-stick.

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I'll try the upside down shake and damp cloth... it's quite a good keyboard and I've got used to all the shortcuts so I'm rather lazy/reluctant to get a new one. Plus it's got a PS2 connection rather than USB and there don't seem to be many which are as big as my current one on the market.

[ou sont les biscuits]

I wipe mine over with a cloth moistened with glass cleaner. Takes the mucky fingermarks off just fine.

Don’t spray the cleaner directly on the keys. You’ll likely kill the keyboard. Ask me how I know this.

[CubanPete]

Unplug, Vacuum cleaner in between the keys, then spray with Mr Sheen or glass cleaner and leave for 1/2 an hour before scrubbing.

Plenty of ps2 usb adapters out there., so don't let that be a worry for a new keyboard.

[Countdown]

Cheers folks.

Is it ok to use wet wipes on keyboards?

[Mojooo]

If you can take the keys out

Take a photo of the layout
Take them all out - soak in fairy liquid and dry
Wipe down the internals

You will be amazed at how much crap comes out and also how clean the KB feels afterwards.

This may only work on the KB with deeper keys as some of the more mdoern cheaper ones may now allow for the buttons to come off.

[Riley Blue]

I use an anti-bac wipe on mine once a week even though I'm the only person who uses it.

[Opel-GT]

https://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch001242.htm

This is what I have been doing for years. Ensure it’s dry before plugging back in. Never had one fail.

[Andeh1]

I wonder, could unplugging it, giving it a good wash down with pure water/equivilent non-condutive fluid then a thorough dry be worth a punt?

You can get specialist contact cleaner? Maybe that?

[mikef]

4 step process for me (mix of Filco mechanicals and Apple wireless keyboards):

1. Hoover with a Datavac
2. Blow under keys with compressed air
3. Clean between keys with cyber gunk
4. Go over with a nearly dry damp cloth

[Australiam]

I suggest you don't try to use lighter fluid.....

(it seemed like a good idea at the time )

[Oakey]

You can throw the entire thing in a bath tub of warm water, just make sure you leave it to dry out properly somewhere warm.

Was sceptical of this idea but tried it as a last resort on an Apple Pro Keyboard I'd spilled coffee on and the keys between T and P stopped working. It didn't fix the keys (too late for that) but the rest of the keyboard still worked (I stuck it up in the loft for a week during Summer underneath a Velux window to dry).

Edited by Oakey on Monday 8th April 10:23

[Mr-B]

Last night I used Windowlene wet wipes to just clear up the tops of the keys on a laptop, worked really well.

[Countdown]

I have to admit I'm surprised that you can apparently soak them in water and even put them in a diswasher without any long-term damage

Thanks for all suggestions - Occam's razor applies, I'm going to try some wet wipes and see how far that gets me

[bloomen]

You can get bags of slime like this - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Cleaner-Keyboards-Mobile-...

They've done a pretty good job on the keyboards I've tried. I don't know how well they'd do with something properly caked though.

[ndtman]

Sprinkle cress seeds over the keyboard, lightly moisten with water and put it in the airing cupboard. Amaze your kids with the transformation and splash out on a new keyboard

[anonymous-user]

Worked in IT all my office life, Foameclene

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Fa-FCL300-AF-Foamclene-Cl...

Spray it on. Wait a few mins, wipe it off. One tin will last you a lifetime at home (its great on monitors too)