How To Clean The Inside Of A Keyboard

Cleaning the computer and its components

Updated: 08/02/2020 by Figurer Hope

Cleaning your computer, components, and peripherals aid go on everything in proficient working condition, helps prevent germs from spreading, and helps permit proper air flow. The picture shows a skillful case of how dirty the inside of your reckoner example can get. Looking at this movie it's immediately obvious that all the dust and dirt is going to forbid proper air flow and may even prevent the fan from working.

How often should I clean my computer?

The frequency of how often to make clean your figurer varies on dissimilar factors. To help yous determine how often yous need to clean your estimator, nosotros created the checklist below. Check each of the boxes below that apply to your reckoner's conditions to help determine how often to make clean the reckoner.

General cleaning tips

Beneath are suggestions to follow when cleaning whatsoever estimator components or peripherals and tips to help go on a computer make clean.

Never spray or eject any liquid onto any computer component. If a spray is needed, spray the liquid onto a material.
Yous can use a vacuum to suck upward dirt, grit, or pilus around the reckoner. However, practice not use a vacuum inside your figurer every bit it generates static electricity that damages your computer. If you lot demand to use a vacuum inside your computer, use a portable battery powered vacuum or endeavour compressed air.
When cleaning a component or the computer, turn information technology off earlier cleaning.
Be cautious when using whatever cleaning solvents; some people take allergic reactions to chemicals in cleaning solvents, and some solvents tin can even damage the case. Try always to use water or a highly diluted solvent.
When cleaning, be conscientious to not accidentally adjust whatever knobs or controls. Too, when cleaning the back of the computer, if anything is connected make sure not to disconnect the plugs.
When cleaning fans, particularly smaller fans, concur the fan or place something in-between the fan blades to forestall it from spinning. Spraying compressed air into a fan or cleaning a fan with a vacuum may cause damage or generate a dorsum voltage.
Never eat or beverage around the computer.
Limit smoking around the computer.

Although computer cleaning products are available, yous can also use household items to clean your computer and its peripherals. Below is a listing of items yous may need or desire to use while cleaning your computer.

Cloth - A cotton textile is the best tool used when rubbing down reckoner components. Newspaper towels tin exist used with most hardware, only we always recommend using a cloth whenever possible. Nevertheless, but use a cloth when cleaning components such as the case, a drive, mouse, and keyboard. Don't use a cloth to clean any circuitry such as the RAM or motherboard.
Water or rubbing alcohol - When moistening a cloth, it is all-time to apply water or rubbing alcohol. Other solvents may be bad for the plastics used with your computer.
Portable Vacuum - Sucking the grit, dirt, hair, cigarette particles, and other particles out of a computer can be one of the best methods of cleaning a calculator. However, practice not use a vacuum that plugs into the wall since it creates lots of static electricity that damages your computer.
Cotton wool swabs - Cotton swaps moistened with rubbing alcohol or water are excellent tools for wiping difficult to reach areas in your keyboard, mouse, and other locations.
Foam swabs - Whenever possible, information technology is better to use lint-gratis swabs such as cream swabs.

Tip

See our figurer tools page for a list of other tools every technician should have.

Case cleaning

Why? Cleaning your case keeps the appearance of the computer looking new. While cleaning, if you come across ventilation slots, these can be cleaned or cleared to help keep a steady airflow into the calculator and keep all components cool.

Procedure: The plastic case that houses the PC components tin exist cleaned with a slightly damp lint-free cloth. For stubborn stains, add together a trivial household detergent to the cloth. Don't use a solvent cleaner on plastics.

Brand certain all vents and air holes are hair and lint-free by rubbing a cloth over the holes and vents. Information technology is also helpful to take a vacuum around each of the pigsty, vents, and crevices on the computer. Information technology is rubber to use a standard vacuum when cleaning the outside vents of a computer.

If you are looking for steps on cleaning the inside of the reckoner, see the motherboard cleaning department.

Figurer example (chassis) help and back up.

CD-ROM, DVD, and other disc drive cleaning

Why? A dirty CD-ROM bulldoze or other disc drives can cause read errors when reading discs. These read errors could cause software installation issues or issues while running the programme.

Procedure: To clean the CD-ROM drive, we recommend purchasing a CD-ROM cleaner from your local estimator retailer. Using a CD-ROM cleaner should sufficiently clean the CD-ROM laser from dust, dirt, and pilus.

Where to buy estimator hardware parts.

You tin can also employ a cloth dampened with water to make clean the tray that ejects from the drive. Even so, make sure that after the tray is cleaned that it completely dry out before putting the tray back into the drive.

See the disc cleaning recommendation for further steps on cleaning each of your CDs.

CD-ROM help and support.

CD, DVD, and other discs cleaning

Why? Muddy CDs can crusade read errors or cause CDs not to piece of work at all.

Procedure: Use a cleaning kit or damp clean cotton wool cloth to clean CDs, DVDs, and other discs. When cleaning a disc wipe against the tracks, starting from the middle of the disc and wiping towards the outer side. Never wipe with the tracks; doing and so may put more scratches on the disc.

Cleaning a CD and DVD, and other disc directional cleaning

Tip

If the substance on a CD cannot be removed using h2o, pure booze can as well be used.

Hard drive cleaning

Why? Computer hard drives cannot be physically cleaned. Nonetheless, they tin can exist cleaned with software utilities to help information technology run fast and efficiently. Utilizing these utilities forestall the hard bulldoze from slowing downwards.

Procedure: See our bones troubleshooting section for your operating arrangement steps to help improve the computer's performance.

How to clean a figurer hard bulldoze.
My computer is running dull, what steps can I do to fix it?
Hard drive help and support.

Headphones cleaning

Why? Headphones and headsets can be used by many different people and may demand to be often cleaned to help preclude the spreading of germs and caput lice.

Procedure: If the headphones are plastic or vinyl, moisten a cloth with warm water and rub the caput and earpieces of the headphones.

Note

Library or school headphones should non exist cleaned with whatever disinfectant or cleaning solvent since some people can have allergic reactions to the chemicals they comprise.

Headphones that accept cushions besides have the availability of having the cushions replaced. Replacing these cushions can likewise help go along the headphones clean.

Finally, in regards to headphones spreading head lice. If different students use the same headphones, have students use their own headphones, place bags over the headphones, or using headphones that can be wiped with warm h2o subsequently each use.

Keyboard cleaning

These steps are for cleaning a desktop keyboard. For laptops, run into: How do I make clean my laptop?

Dust, dirt, and bacteria

The calculator keyboard is ordinarily the about germ infected items in your habitation or office. A keyboard may even contain more bacteria than your toilet seat. Cleaning it helps remove any dangerous leaner, fix or prevent stuck keys, and keeps the keyboard working properly.

Procedure: Before cleaning the keyboard, first turn off the reckoner or if you are using a USB keyboard unplug it from the computer. Not unplugging the keyboard can cause other estimator problems as you may press keys that cause the calculator to perform a task you do not want it to perform.

Many people clean the keyboard past turning it upside downward and shaking. A more than efficient method is to use compressed air. Compressed air is pressurized air contained in a can with a very long nozzle. To make clean a keyboard using compressed air, aim between the keys and blow abroad all the dust and droppings. A vacuum cleaner can also be used, but make sure the keyboard does not have loose "pop off" keys tin be sucked up by the vacuum.

If you want to clean the keyboard more extensively, remove the keys from the keyboard.

How do I remove the keys on a keyboard?

Afterward the dust, dirt, and hair are removed. Spray a disinfectant onto a textile or utilise disinfectant cloths and rub each of the keys on the keyboard. As mentioned in our general cleaning tips, never spray any liquid onto the keyboard.

Substance spilled into the keyboard

If the keyboard has annihilation spilled on information technology (e.g., pop, cola, Pepsi, Coke, beer, vino, coffee, and milk), non taking the proper steps can destroy the keyboard.

Procedure: Below is recommendations that help foreclose a keyboard from becoming bad after something has spilled into the keys.

If anything is spilled onto the keyboard, turn the computer off immediately or at the very least disconnect the keyboard from the estimator. Once done flip the keyboard over to prevent the substance from penetrating circuits. While the keyboard is upside down, milk shake the keyboard over a surface that tin can be cleaned afterward. While notwithstanding upside down, use a fabric to start cleaning the keys. After the keyboard is cleaned, exit the keyboard upside down for at least two days allowing it to dry out. Once dry, go on cleaning the keyboard with any remaining substance.

If, after cleaning the keyboard keys are sticking, remove the keys and clean below the keys and the bottom portion of the fundamental.

Finally, if the keyboard yet works but remains muddy or sticky before discarding the keyboard as a last resort effort washing the keyboard in the dishwasher.

Can you clean a computer keyboard in a dishwasher?

If, after doing all the above steps the keyboard notwithstanding does not work, nosotros recommend buying a new keyboard.

Keyboard help and support.

LCD/LED cleaning

Why? Dirt, dust, and fingerprints can crusade the computer screen to be difficult to read.

Procedure: Dissimilar a CRT calculator monitor, the LCD or LED monitor is not glass and requires special cleaning procedures.

When cleaning the LCD or LED screen, it is important to retrieve to not spray any liquids onto the screen directly. Press gently while cleaning and do not apply a paper towel since it can scratch the screen.

To clean the LCD or LED screen, employ a not-rugged microfiber cloth, soft cotton material, or Swiffer duster. If a dry textile does not completely make clean the screen, y'all tin can apply rubbing alcohol to the fabric and wipe the screen with a clammy material. Rubbing alcohol is used to clean LCD and LED monitors before it leaves the factory.

Monitor, LCD, and display help and support.

CRT monitor cleaning

Why? Dirt, dust, and fingerprints tin cause the computer screen to be difficult to read.

Procedure: A drinking glass monitor screen can be cleaned with ordinary household drinking glass cleaner. Unplug the monitor power cord and spray the cleaner onto a lint-free fabric to prevent fluid from leaking into any components inside the monitor. Vacuum off any dust that settled on height of the monitor and make sure no books or papers are roofing the air vents. Obstructed monitor vents tin crusade the monitor to overheat or even catch on burn.

Caution

We propose only using a cloth dampened with water when cleaning non-drinking glass monitors or whatever anti-glare screens. Using ordinary household drinking glass cleaner on special screens, particularly cleaners with ammonia, can remove anti-glare protection or other special surfaces.

Related data

Monitor, LCD, and display help and support.

Motherboard cleaning

Why? Grit and especially particles of cigarette smoke can build upwardly and corrode circuitry, causing diverse problems such equally computer lockups.

Caution

When inside the computer, accept the necessary ESD precautions and endeavor to avoid unplugging whatever cables or other connections.

Procedure: Our recommendation when cleaning the motherboard from dust, clay, or hair is to use compressed air. When using compressed air, concord it upright to forestall whatever of the chemicals from coming out of the container, which may impairment the motherboard or other components. Also, ensure when using compressed air that yous ever blow the dust or dirt away from the motherboard or out of the example.

Another adept alternative to compressed air is a portable bombardment powered vacuum. Portable vacuums can effectively remove the dust, clay, and hair from the motherboard completely and prevent it from getting trapped in the instance.

Motherboard help and support.

Warning

Never use an electrically powered vacuum, as it can cause static electricity that amercement the calculator. When using a battery powered vacuum, keep it a few inches away from components to preclude impairment and anything from being sucked into the vacuum (e.grand., jumpers).

Tip

When cleaning the inside of the case, also expect at whatsoever fans or heat sinks. Dust, dirt, and hair tin collect around these components the most.

Mouse cleaning

Optical or light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation mouse

Why? A dirty optical or light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation mouse can crusade the mouse cursor to be difficult to motion or move erratically.

Procedure: Apply a can of compressed air that is designed for use with electronic equipment, spraying effectually the optical sensor on the bottom of the mouse. Blowing air on the bottom of the mouse clears away any clay, dust, pilus, or other obstructions blocking the optical sensor.

Avoid using whatsoever cleaning chemicals or wiping a fabric directly on the optical sensor, as information technology could scratch or impairment the optical sensor.

Optical-mechanical mouse (ball mouse)

Why? A dirty optical-mechanical mouse (mouse with a ball) can crusade the mouse to be difficult to move, and crusade strange mouse motility.

Process: To clean the rollers of an optical-mechanical mouse, you must first remove the bottom cover of the mouse. To do this, examine the bottom of the mouse to see what management to rotate the cover. As you tin can encounter in the below analogy, the mouse cover must be moved counterclockwise. Identify ii fingers on the mouse cover, push down and rotate in the management of the arrows.

Once the encompass has rotated about an inch, rotate the mouse into its normal position, covering the bottom of the mouse with i hand. The bottom should then autumn off, including the mouse brawl. If the cover does not autumn off, endeavor shaking the mouse gently.

Once the lesser encompass and the ball is removed, iii rollers should be visible inside the mouse. Use a cotton fiber swab, finger, or fingernail to remove any substances on the rollers. Normally, there is a pocket-sized line of pilus and dirt in the eye of the roller. Remove as much of this substance as possible.

Once you have removed as much clay and hair as possible, ready the ball back in the mouse and place the cover back on.

If the mouse still has the same problems, repeat the in a higher place procedure. If, after several attempts the mouse is withal having the aforementioned bug, your mouse has other hardware issues and should be replaced.

Note

Cleaning your mouse pad with a damp cloth can also help ameliorate a estimator'southward mouse motion.

All types of mice

Why? To help keep the mouse clean and germ-free.

Procedure: Use a fabric moistened with rubbing booze or warm water and rub the surface of the mouse and each of its buttons.

Mouse and touchpad help and back up.

Printer cleaning

Why? Cleaning the outside of a printer helps keep the printer'due south advent looking good and if used by many different people keep the printer clean of germs.

Procedure: Outset, make sure to plough off the printer before cleaning it. Dampen a textile with water or rubbing booze and wipe the case and each of the buttons or knobs on the printer. As mentioned earlier, never spray any liquid directly onto the printer.

Why? Some printers require the inside to be cleaned to help keep the printer running smoothly.

Printer aid and support.

Scanner cleaning

Why? Flatbed scanners commonly become muddied with grit, fingerprints, and hair. When the scanner is muddied, the images may have distortions.

Procedure: Make clean a flatbed scanner'southward surface past spraying a window cleaner onto a paper towel or cotton cloth and wipe the glass until make clean. Every bit mentioned earlier, never spray a liquid directly onto the component.

The same towel or cotton wool cloth tin as well be used to clean the outside of the scanner.

Scanner help and support.

Miscellaneous cleaning steps

Below is a list of miscellaneous computer hardware that'due south rarely used today, simply kept on this page people working on older computers and demand to clean these devices.

Floppy drive cleaning

Why? Dirty read/write heads on the floppy drive tin can cause errors during the reading or writing process.

Procedures: The floppy bulldoze is cleaned two different ways. The first method of cleaning a floppy drive is to purchase a kit at your local retail store designed to clean the read/write heads on your floppy bulldoze.

The second method of cleaning the floppy drive is only recommended for experienced computer users. Open the floppy drive casing and physically swab the read/write heads with a lint-free foam swab soaked in pure alcohol or trichloroethane. When performing these steps, exist extremely careful when cleaning the heads to ensure that y'all exercise non lock them out of alignment causing the floppy drive not to work. To assist forestall head alignment issues, use a dabbing motility lightly putting the swab on the head and removing it, don't perform a side-to-side motility with the swab.

Floppy bulldoze assistance and support.

Palm pilot cleaning

Why? Dirty touch screens can cause difficult navigation.

Procedure: To clean the PalmPilot screen, utilise a soft cloth moistened with rubbing booze and rub the screen and the casing of the palm pilot. Information technology is not recommended to use glass cleaner as it could damage plastics over time.

SuperDisk and LS-120 cleaning

Why? Cleaning the SuperDisk and LS-120 prevents the drive heads from becoming muddy.

Procedure: Purchase the SuperDisk cleaning kit available through Imation. Using any other method voids the warranty on your drive.

Source: https://www.computerhope.com/cleaning.htm

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