Cleaning grungy keyboard?

ironlady2022

Not sure if this is right thread but have had my keyboard for a good few years and I've noticed that there are lots of dust and crums inbetween my keys. What is the best way to clean it? I don't want to buy a new one and I've tried turning it upside down and patting it a few times, this gets the loose ones out, but still pretty dirty.

Can I take each key out and clean, and is it easy to replace?

freakyogre

You can buy cans of compressed air to do it.

I have previously removed every key from my keyboard to give it a proper clean. Just remember where they all go The space bar can be a bit tricky to hook back on sometimes.

debbym

Don't take off the keys!!!
They are likely to be held in place by plastic "hinges" which fit under a little lip directly under the key and on top of the control board. The chances of you getting them on and off without breaking/losing any are practically zero!
Personally I hoover ours! - sounds weird but if you tape a straw to the crevice attachment for your hoover you get a powerful suction through a very thin tube and it pulls most of the crumbs out.

carefullycautious

yep hoover mine and then use a wet wipe to clean the keyboard

Alexd_2

you can buy special hoovers for this that are small enough to get into all the cracks im sure you could find one on amazon. However you could probably pick one up for the same price as a new keyboard so it depends why you want to keep hold of the old keyboard

ironlady2022

I think I will try the compressed air. I bough a usb hoover before and it was broken so I don't wanna buy another one. It's prob because I got it off ebay lol. I wanna keep the keyboard as there is nothing wrong with it! If it's not broken, why fix it?

cbrown372

I wouldn't pat it I'd bang it on the desk several times to dislodge crumbs then an eyebrow brush or art brush between the keys.

debbym

Just a price comparison for you - "air duster" i.e. compressed air to clean inside computers and stuff £4.99 + VAT + delivery from Staples
New keyboard from Tescos £5
Don't buy a specific hoover for cleaning your computer etc if you have a normal household one!

PixieDust

don't buy the CyberClean "High Tech Cleaning Compound"...it is truly cr*p. Only an idiot would part with hard earned cash for it. In retrospect.

Homeagain

I also just use the vacuum cleaner. Works fine and does the job (it would help if I stopped eating toast etc over my computer)!