Q&A for How to Clean a Laptop Keyboard

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  • Question
    Can I wash my keyboard with water?
    Filip Boksa
    House Cleaning Professional
    Filip Boksa is a House Cleaning Professional and the CEO and Founder of King of Maids, a company based in Chicago, Illinois. With over 10 years of professional experience, Filip and his team at King Maids specialize in providing home cleaning and organization services to their clients. They are dedicated to delivering high-quality and reliable service to ensure customer satisfaction.
    House Cleaning Professional
    Expert Answer
    No, since the water will damage the computer. I suggest you lightly dampen a microfiber cloth with a tiny bit of water and wipe the keyboard down. Just be sure to wring it out completely and only clean the tops of the keys so you don't get moisture inside of the laptop.
  • Question
    Can I will use linen cloth for cleaning the laptop?
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    Linen is a lint-free fabric, so it can be a viable option for cleaning your laptop if you don't have a microfiber cloth on hand.
  • Question
    There are crumbs in between my keys but I don't want to remove my keys. How can I clean it?
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    Turn the laptop upside down and gently shake or tap it to dislodge the crumbs, then spray compressed air into the cracks between the keys.
  • Question
    Could I use wet wipes to clean my screen as well?
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    Yes, but make sure they don't have bleach or any other harsh chemicals in them.
  • Question
    I have an HP laptop. A few number keys on top row are not functioning. I tried tilting and tapping but it didn't work. What should I do?
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    Use compressed air to blow between the keys. If they still don't work, search online for a troubleshooting guide for your specific laptop model.
  • Question
    Can I use tissue paper instead of wet wipes?
    Community Answer
    No. Tissue paper tends to rip and leave little bits everywhere when they get wet.
  • Question
    Can I use wipes that are designed for cleaning glasses?
    Community Answer
    Yes, you can. They may even help with stain removal.
  • Question
    Can I use a screen cleaning fluid to clean the keyboard?
    Community Answer
    Yes you can, as it will un-stick the keys and make it more usable.
  • Question
    Can I use a makeup wipe if I can't find any wet wipes?
    Community Answer
    No. Makeup wipes have substances in them which will appear on the keyboard.
  • Question
    How are we supposed to look at this while our computer is turned off?
    Community Answer
    Use another PC or a smartphone.
  • Question
    What are alternatives to wet-wipes?
    Community Answer
    You could use isopropyl alcohol and a cotton ball to dab away the dirt.
  • Question
    Is it safe to use compressed air?
    Community Answer
    Yes. Be sure to choose products that say they're for cleaning electronics.
  • Question
    Do baby wipes work as well as wet wipes?
    Community Answer
    Sometimes, but they tend to leave white specks everywhere. I use my eyeglass cleaning solution and a piece of fabric or the eyeglass cloth. If you don't have those things, you could dampen a piece of an old shirt with warm water. Q-tips work well for the edges of keys.
  • Question
    I vacuumed my keyboard and it started to suck the key tops off. What now?
    Community Answer
    Then don't vacuum your keyboard. Retrieve the key tops from your vacuum and reattach them back to your keyboard.
  • Question
    Will hydrogen peroxide help clean off grease off of a keyboard?
    Community Answer
    No, hydrogen peroxide is a polar substance and has hydrogen bonds, thus it cannot clean grease. To clean grease, you need something that is nonpolar, such as a type of soap that is safe for computer use. Think "like dissolves like": polar dissolves polar, nonpolar dissolves nonpolar.
  • Question
    My Dell laptop keyboard got covered in Smirnoff (alcohol) - what I can do?
    Community Answer
    Remove your keyboard and go to a computer shop. It is unlikely they will be able to fix it, so you may just need to buy a new one.
  • Question
    What's a wet wipe? You said not to use a baby wipe or a make-up remover wipe.
    Community Answer
    Just a normal wipe. You can by plain wipes from stores like Target. They usually are free from soaps and/or oils.
  • Question
    Can I use a vacuum cleaner to clean the keyboard?
    Community Answer
    Yes, as long as you are careful.
  • Question
    Can I use TV wipes instead of wet wipes to clean my laptop?
    EasyHomeConcepts
    Community Answer
    Any kind of wipe used for cleaning electronics should do the trick. You could also use wipes that are used for cleaning eyeglasses, but they tend to be quite small.
  • Question
    How do I clean oily marks directly on my keys?
    Community Answer
    You could use a microfiber cloth, or if the substance is sticky, use a wet wipe.
  • Question
    Two keys on my keyboard don't work after I turned it on but they start working after I used it for a bit, what is causing this?
    Community Answer
    It may mean that the keys were a little sticky when the computer was cold but have since warmed up enough too come unstuck during use. Try cleaning the laptop keyboard as instructed above and the sticking should stop.
  • Question
    I have some stains near my keyboard. I tried to get them out with toothpaste, but that didn't work. The stains are really stubborn, what should I use to remove them?
    Community Answer
    Use a very tiny amount of vinegar on a paper towel. It works for me every time.
  • Question
    I spilled a sticky drink on my laptop keyboard and I don't think the keys detach. How can I clean this? The keys are sticking.
    Community Answer
    Use a tiny amount of vinegar on a paper towel. It works every time. Make sure the paper towel is not dripping, you don't want to add liquid to the keyboard and make things worse.
  • Question
    I used a vacuum to suck out the dirt and dust. Is that fine? I have read that it is bad to vacuum the internals but not the keyboard, so just making sure.
    Rudy Toth
    Community Answer
    It is better to use a paintbrush to wipe away the internal dust bunnies rather than a vacuum. It will deal with the keyboard laptop dust bunnies too. Best way to solve that.
  • Question
    Is there any other way I can remove dirt without compressed air?
    Rudy Toth
    Community Answer
    Use a paintbrush, those types with extra soft strands of hair. There is also a computer vacuum that has a size like a pencil that extracts dirt/dust bunnies from your computer.
  • Question
    I was doing a project that required glitter while watching a tutorial on my phone. I got some on my keyboard and there isn't any air spray around so I'm unsure how to clean it the safest way possible?
    Rudy Toth
    Community Answer
    You can always use a bike air pump. Pump the handle and use the hose to the head part to blow away the glitter. If you don't have a bike air pump, then use balloons (blow up and release the air and/or a straw to blow away the glitter.)
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