Computer keyboard cleaning is an absolute necessity even if you don't
use your keyboard day in and day out. Because the keyboard of your PC
or laptop comes in contact with your fingers, oil and other substances
from your fingertips very often collect on the keys, and can pile up if
they are not cleaned. In addition, if you are the sort of person who
eats while working at your laptop or PC, crumbs or droplets from what
you are eating or drinking can very easily make their way to your
device. And in some circumstances, your food or drink can fall onto or
spill on your device if you aren't careful. Lastly, if other people in
your office or household share your device, it can become a vector for
transmission of diseases if you do not keep it sanitary.
There
are two basic sorts of computer keyboard cleaning – light and thorough.
Light cleaning can be done, say, once a week, while thorough cleaning
can be done around every three months or so. For any sort of cleaning,
you are going to need a dry dust-cloth, cotton buds, a cleaning fluid
like rubbing or household alcohol or any of the special fluids for
cleaning computers or electronic equipment, a screwdriver, and, if you
like, a vacuum cleaner.
Start by unplugging your keyboard from
your PC if you are cleaning a PC (if it is a laptop you are cleaning,
just disconnect the adapter from your mains and remove the battery to
prevent electric shock). Now pick up the keyboard or laptop, turn it
upside down over a trashcan, and give it a good shake to dislodge any
dirt that may be on it. Place it back down and then pick up your cotton
buds.
Moisten the ends of the cotton buds with the cleaning
fluid and then run the moist ends in between the keys and along the
edges. Just throw out the bud when it gets too dirty to pick up any
more dirt and ready a new one.
Now pick up your dry dust-cloth
and moisten it with the cleaning fluid too. (Don't put too much.) Run
the dust-cloth all over the keyboard, paying special attention to the
keys and wherever else your fingers or palms usually rest. Use a dry
area of the cloth to wipe up any extra moisture or fluid when you're
done. And don't forget to give the cloth a rinse and hang it up to dry
afterwards.
Lastly, if you would like a more thorough
cleaning, you can use the screwdriver to dislodge each of the keys.
Just ease the edge of the screwdriver under the base of each key and
gently ease the key out. (Make sure you know where to replace each key
when you're done!) Soak your cloth in the cleaning fluid, clean each
key very thoroughly, and leave them to dry. Now pick up your vacuum
cleaner, if you want to use one, and use it to vacuum away any dirt
particles. You can also use the cloth and fluid to clean the base of
the keyboard after you are done vacuuming. Set everything aside, and
you can put it all back together when it has dried completely.
How
often you do this will depend of course on your usage. But whatever
your usage is like, you will have to make sure to make regular computer
keyboard cleaning a habit.
Disclaimer: All information on this site is provided for informational purposes only! By no means is any
information presented herein intended to substitute for the advice provided to you by any health care or other professional
or organization.
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