Keyboard Cleaning & Care Guide
Keyboard Cleaning & Care Guide
Your keyboard is one of the most frequently touched items on your desk. Over time, dust, crumbs, skin oils, hair, and other small particles can collect on the keycaps and between the keys.
Regular cleaning can help keep your keyboard looking fresh and maintain a cleaner, more comfortable desktop environment.
Whether you use your keyboard for gaming, office work, studying, writing, or everyday browsing, this guide covers simple cleaning and care practices you can follow at home.
Before You Start
Always disconnect or power off the keyboard before cleaning.
For a wired keyboard, unplug it from your computer or other connected device. For a wireless keyboard, switch it off when possible and disconnect it from the device before beginning.
Never clean a powered keyboard with liquid or spray cleaning solution directly onto the keyboard.
If your keyboard has removable batteries, follow the applicable product instructions before performing a deeper cleaning.
What You'll Need
For basic keyboard cleaning, prepare a few simple items:
For more thorough cleaning, a lightly dampened microfiber cloth may be used on appropriate external surfaces.
Avoid excessively wet cloths and harsh household cleaning chemicals.
Disconnect the Keyboard
Before doing anything else, disconnect the keyboard from its power source or connected device.
This is an important first step whenever you clean electronic equipment.
Place the keyboard on a clean, dry, stable surface with enough room to work comfortably.
Remove Loose Dust & Debris
Start with the easiest particles.
Gently tilt the keyboard at an angle and carefully remove loose crumbs, dust, or other debris.
You can use a soft brush to sweep around the edges of the keycaps and between the keys.
For harder-to-reach areas, use compressed air or a manual air blower to move dust away from the gaps.
When using compressed air, keep the can or device at an appropriate distance and follow its manufacturer's directions.
Avoid forcing objects deep underneath the keys.
Clean Between the Keys
Dust often collects in the narrow spaces surrounding each keycap.
Use a small, soft brush to gently work between the keys. Move slowly across the keyboard rather than applying excessive pressure.
A cotton swab can also be useful for narrow areas around larger keys and along the edges of the keyboard frame.
Take extra care around switches, lighting elements, openings, ports, and other electronic components.
Wipe the Keycaps
Use a clean microfiber cloth to wipe the surface of the keys.
For fingerprints or light surface residue, slightly dampen the cloth rather than applying liquid directly to the keyboard.
Never pour water onto the keyboard.
Clean the Keyboard Frame
Don't forget the areas surrounding the keys.
Dust and fingerprints can collect along the frame, edges, corners, and underside of the keyboard.
Use a soft microfiber cloth to wipe these areas carefully.
Pay particular attention to frequently touched areas, but avoid allowing moisture to enter seams, ports, openings, switches, or electronic components.
Clean Removable Keycaps Carefully
Some keyboards have removable keycaps, but not every keyboard is designed for keycap removal.
For compatible keyboards, take a photo of the keyboard layout before removing any keys. This provides an easy reference when reinstalling them.
Use an appropriate keycap puller where recommended and remove the keycaps carefully.
Keep all removed pieces together so they aren't lost.
Cleaning Removable Keycaps
If the manufacturer permits the removable keycaps to be cleaned separately, follow the care instructions provided for that specific keyboard and keycap material.
Avoid exposing printed legends, coatings, decorative surfaces, or special keycaps to aggressive chemicals, excessive heat, or abrasive cleaning methods.
Decorative Keycaps
Pastel, printed, character-themed, illustrated, coated, or otherwise decorative keycaps may require additional care.
Use a soft cloth and gentle cleaning method to help protect their appearance.
Do not aggressively scrub printed designs.
Avoid abrasive pads, rough brushes, strong solvents, bleach, and other harsh cleaning products unless specifically permitted by the product's care instructions.
Gentle, regular cleaning is preferable to aggressive deep cleaning.
Special Care for Illuminated Keyboards
RGB and backlit keyboards contain lighting components beneath or around the keys.
When cleaning these keyboards, take extra care to prevent moisture from entering the spaces around the switches or internal lighting components.
Never spray cleaner directly onto illuminated keys.
Apply any suitable cleaning product to the cloth first, using only a minimal amount when appropriate.
Allow the keyboard to dry completely before reconnecting it.
Cleaning Around a Rotary Knob or Control Dial
If your keyboard includes a rotary control knob, dial, or additional control area, use a dry microfiber cloth or soft brush around the edges.
Do not pour or spray liquid around the knob.
Small gaps surrounding controls may provide access to internal components, so moisture should be kept away from these areas.
Cleaning a Quiet or Low-Profile Keyboard
Low-profile and quiet keyboards often have smaller gaps and lower key heights than traditional mechanical keyboards.
A soft brush or gentle air blower is useful for removing particles from these narrow spaces.
Avoid inserting sharp objects underneath the keys.
Regular light cleaning can help prevent debris from accumulating and reduce the need for more intensive cleaning later.
What Not to Do
To help protect your keyboard, avoid the following:
What If You Spill a Drink?
If liquid is accidentally spilled on the keyboard, disconnect it from power as quickly and safely as possible.
Do not continue typing to check whether the keyboard still works.
Avoid repeatedly pressing keys while liquid may still be present inside the keyboard.
Gently remove visible surface liquid with an absorbent cloth and follow the care instructions applicable to your keyboard.
For a significant spill or if liquid has entered the keyboard, additional inspection or professional assistance may be necessary.
How Often Should You Clean Your Keyboard?
Cleaning frequency depends on how often and where the keyboard is used.
For frequently used keyboards, a quick surface cleaning every week can help prevent dust and residue from building up.
A more detailed cleaning can be performed periodically when necessary.
You may want to clean your keyboard more frequently if you:
- Use it every day
- Eat or drink near your computer
- Share the keyboard with other people
- Have pets around your workspace
- Use the keyboard in a dusty environment
- Frequently transport the keyboard
Small, regular cleaning sessions are usually easier than waiting for heavy buildup.
Simple Everyday Care
A few habits can help keep your keyboard cleaner between cleaning sessions.
- Wash and dry your hands before longer computer sessions.
- Avoid placing food directly over the keyboard.
- Keep drinks a safe distance away whenever possible.
- Remove visible crumbs and dust before they accumulate.
- Keep the surrounding desk surface clean.
- Protect the workspace from excessive dust during long periods of non-use.
Care for Your Entire Setup
A clean keyboard looks even better on a clean desk.
When cleaning your keyboard, consider wiping your mouse, desk mat, monitor stand, laptop stand, and surrounding desktop surfaces as well.
Regular maintenance helps keep your entire setup looking organized, whether you use it for work, gaming, studying, or everyday activities.
Before Reconnecting
After cleaning, inspect the keyboard carefully.
Make sure the keyboard, keycaps, ports, seams, and surrounding areas are completely dry.
If you removed compatible keycaps, reinstall them in the correct positions only after they have fully dried.
Once everything is clean, dry, and correctly assembled, reconnect or power on the keyboard according to its normal operating instructions.
A Little Care Goes a Long Way
Your keyboard is part of countless everyday moments—from writing and working to gaming, studying, chatting, and relaxing.
Regular, gentle cleaning can help keep it looking fresh and make your desktop feel cleaner and more enjoyable to use.
Clean gently. Keep it dry. Care for your keyboard regularly.
Need Help?
For questions about product care or your order, please contact us.