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Deep cleaning Photo by Velocifire via Amazon
While some resources claim a paper towel is acceptable, paper towels often leave behind residue, dust particles, and small scratches on the surface of the keyboard.
Dry the board with a separate, dry microfiber cloth directly after wiping. Pipe cleaners will not clean as thoroughly as a microfiber cloth, though. You may also use a pipe cleaner to clean between the keycaps by sliding the sides of the pipe cleaner through the spaces between the keycaps. Wipe the exposed areas of your keyboard case with a slightly damp microfiber cloth. While a regular, standing vacuum cleaner’s tube attachment can get the job done, using a handheld vacuum cleaner to remove dust is a quick and easy way to clean your keyboard. Anti-static vacuums are a good choice because they are designed to lessen any potential damage to electronics. Run the handheld vacuum or hose tube attachment of your vacuum gently between the keys, but be careful to not push too hard. This is for the safety of yourself and the board itself. First and foremost, unplug your keyboard. This is why a vacuum and microfiber cloth are your best options for cleaning. Canned air also does not remove dust or particles but simply moves them around. The resulting condensation clumps up dust and bacteria, degrading the quality of your switches. Canned air comes out very cold, which may lead to condensation on your keyboard and the switches. However, this process can cause your keyboard to become damaged or remain as dirty as it was before. To practice regular light cleaning, you will need a handheld vacuum cleaner or a standing vacuum and a microfiber cloth or pipe cleaners.įor decades, people have used canned or compressed air to clean keyboards. Here are the best practices for cleaning a mechanical keyboard. Before cleaning, check your keyboard manufacturer’s website for more specific cleaning instructions. Regular cleaning reduces grime, oil, and dust buildup and extends a keyboard’s longevity life. To preserve the quality and functionality of a mechanical keyboard, frequent light cleaning is encouraged, and deep cleaning is recommended a few times a year. Using something as simple as a microfiber cloth can get off a lot of dust, dirt, and grime, and because it’s a soft material and you can go gently, you will not harm the keys or the keyboard.Mechanical keyboards are the standard for any serious gamer. But, some of the most efficient are relatively simple. Keeping a mechanical keyboard clean can be done in many ways.
Most Efficient Ways to Clean a Mechanical Keyboard Overall, it’s probably better to maintain a clean keyboardĪnd clean it regularly. However, having a dirty keyboard is unsanitary and could make you sick if you touch your face and mouth. Even if you didn’t care about appearances. In that situation, you would be required to clean it. For example, sticky keys because of a soda spill would make a keyboard practically unusable. However, cleaning it may be required for long-term function, depending on how it got dirty. While it may be a bit gross not to do so, is it actually necessary to clean your mechanical keyboard? Well, the answer is technically no in certain situations. Do You Need to Clean Your Mechanical Keyboard?