HP Technology at Work
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Dusty, sticky, crumb laden-keyboard? Here’s how to clean it
March 2011
When did you last clean your keyboard? We’re sure you know that there are all sorts of germs lurking in it. In fact, scientists tell us that we are exposed to four hundred times more microbes in our keyboards and telephones than there are on toilet seats. Even small food spills, or sandwich or biscuit crumbs, support whole mini ecosystems.
Convinced? The first thing to do is to stop eating at your desk. And the next is to remember to clean your keyboard regularly.
Basic cleaning of keyboards
It’s only takes a few minutes to clean a PC keyboard, if you do it regularly. Just follow these simple steps:
1. Turn off your computer and unplug the keyboard.
2. Turn your keyboard upside down and gently shake it to dislodge easy crumbs, pieces of chocolate, breadcrumbs, etc.
3. Take a can of compressed air (available from camera shops and computer dealers) and direct the air stream between the keys, to remove particles of dust and hair, cigarette ash etc.
4. Dilute some mild liquid detergent, like washing-up liquid, and wipe the surfaces of the keys, using a lint-free cloth. Then dry them with another soft cloth.
5. You could also use the dusting brush on any standard vacuum cleaner, or a soft-bristled paintbrush, to reach stubborn stuff that refuses to budge.
Extra measures
6. If your keyboard is still sticky or dirty, wipe it with cotton swabs which have been dipped in 90% isopropyl alcohol (not ethyl based).
7. If you have a membrane-type keyboard, as opposed to a mechanical one, you can pop off the keys using a small screwdriver and remove dirt using compressed air or a damp cloth.
Cleaning the keys of notebook PCs
Dirty notebooks are not only unsightly and unhygienic: the dirt can affect the performance of the fans and block the I/O ports. So it’s important to give them a clean now and then.
1. Turn off the notebook, unplug it and remove the battery.
2. Wipe the keys and the touchpad with a damp cloth and some diluted washing-up liquid.
3. Spray compressed air between the keys to remove dirt, dust and hair.
4. If dirt gets into the case openings, it can obstruct the flow of air in and out of the computer, which will cause it to overheat. So use a cotton swab or compressed air to remove dirt from the openings.
5. Clean the cooling vents with compressed air, holding the fans in place with cotton swabs.
6. Use cotton swabs to clean larger bits of dirt from the I/O ports.
For a sparklingly clear display
So, now your keyboard is clean again. But what about your screen? Why not take this opportunity to clean that, too?
The main rules are:
Only use special monitor-cleaning solutions or pre-moistened wipes and wipe from side to side, then from top to bottom.
So, that’s it. Crumb-free keyboard, perfect display. Now get back to work!
Convinced? The first thing to do is to stop eating at your desk. And the next is to remember to clean your keyboard regularly.
Basic cleaning of keyboards
It’s only takes a few minutes to clean a PC keyboard, if you do it regularly. Just follow these simple steps:
1. Turn off your computer and unplug the keyboard.
2. Turn your keyboard upside down and gently shake it to dislodge easy crumbs, pieces of chocolate, breadcrumbs, etc.
3. Take a can of compressed air (available from camera shops and computer dealers) and direct the air stream between the keys, to remove particles of dust and hair, cigarette ash etc.
4. Dilute some mild liquid detergent, like washing-up liquid, and wipe the surfaces of the keys, using a lint-free cloth. Then dry them with another soft cloth.
5. You could also use the dusting brush on any standard vacuum cleaner, or a soft-bristled paintbrush, to reach stubborn stuff that refuses to budge.
Extra measures
6. If your keyboard is still sticky or dirty, wipe it with cotton swabs which have been dipped in 90% isopropyl alcohol (not ethyl based).
7. If you have a membrane-type keyboard, as opposed to a mechanical one, you can pop off the keys using a small screwdriver and remove dirt using compressed air or a damp cloth.
Cleaning the keys of notebook PCs
Dirty notebooks are not only unsightly and unhygienic: the dirt can affect the performance of the fans and block the I/O ports. So it’s important to give them a clean now and then.
1. Turn off the notebook, unplug it and remove the battery.
2. Wipe the keys and the touchpad with a damp cloth and some diluted washing-up liquid.
3. Spray compressed air between the keys to remove dirt, dust and hair.
4. If dirt gets into the case openings, it can obstruct the flow of air in and out of the computer, which will cause it to overheat. So use a cotton swab or compressed air to remove dirt from the openings.
5. Clean the cooling vents with compressed air, holding the fans in place with cotton swabs.
6. Use cotton swabs to clean larger bits of dirt from the I/O ports.
For a sparklingly clear display
So, now your keyboard is clean again. But what about your screen? Why not take this opportunity to clean that, too?
The main rules are:
- Never use paper towels or tissues on the display screen, as they are too abrasive
- Never use ammonia-based cleaning fluids
- Never spray fluids directly at the screen as they will leave a smeary film
Only use special monitor-cleaning solutions or pre-moistened wipes and wipe from side to side, then from top to bottom.
So, that’s it. Crumb-free keyboard, perfect display. Now get back to work!