Whether it’s connected to your computer, laptop or tablet, you probably have a keyboard and it’s probably dirtier than a New York pigeon. Whether you’re guilty of eating your lunch at your desk or binging on Netflix while snacking on flaky Danish pastries, there’s no doubt that your keyboard is covered in germs and bacteria.

But if you don’t stop to take a closer look at your keyboard every once in a while, it’s easy to miss the fact that it’s covered in crumbs, grease, and sticky soda (not to mention a coating of dust).

When it’s time to freshen up your keyboard and say goodbye to that nasty gunk and bacteria, don't fret, you can remove all of it effectively in just a few steps.

Here's the right way to clean your computer keyboard:

1. There are plenty of ways to clean your keyboard, depending on what kind of environment your keyboard is exposed to. First thing’s first: shut down your computer, or if you’re using a wired desktop keyboard, unplug it. Some of these cleaning methods could do some damage to your keyboard if there’s power going through it, so be sure it’s unplugged and the batteries are taken out.

2. For a quick clean, tilt the keyboard upside down and gently shake it to remove any loose dust or dirt particles. If you have a can of compressed air, you can spray it in between the keys. You can also use a small soft-bristled dusting brush to dust the keyboard.

3. As well as dust and dirt, there are also a lot of germs lurking on our keyboards. Take an alcohol and ammonia free cleaning solution and moisten a microfiber cloth with it. Gently clean the dirtiest keys.

4. For a more thorough cleaning, remove all of the keys. Do this by gently prying up each key with a butter knife or a similar lever. When the keys have been removed, blow out any debris with compressed air. With a moist (but not wet) cloth, lightly swab all surfaces. Do not allow any type of fluid to enter the keyboard.

5. Take the keys and place them in a bowl of cold soapy water. If the keys are very dirty, you can use a toothbrush to scrub them.

 

What not to do: Do not pour the solution directly onto or into the keyboard. A wet cloth is enough.

 

Some extra tips:

• Avoid getting moisture in any of the ports on your television and make sure that the cleaning solution doesn’t sit on the screen too long.

• Avoid using an alcohol-based cleaner on your flat screen, as these will damage the protective coating on most flat screen televisions.

• Do not wipe or clean your television with paper towels or facial tissues, as these can scratch the surface. Using a microfiber cloth is the only safe way to clean your touch screen.

• Unlike paper towels, our gentle microfiber cloths clean the sensitive glass on your television screen without scratching the surface. The microfiber attract and remove unwanted oils and dust, whereas other product just spread them around. The liquid and microfiber in all AM Get Clean products can be used for any surfaces, including phones, camera lenses, eyeglasses, TV’s and car touch screens.

 

About the author:

This post was written by AM Denmark. Established in 1971, over the last 45 years AM has earned its place as a leader in the field of vinyl, hi-fi, computer, touch screen and flat screen TV cleaning. As media consumption has evolved, AM has continued to innovate and adapt to new technologies and devices. AM thrives to provide the best and highest quality cleaning products for office and home use. The cleaning liquid in all AM cleaning products is alcohol-free, and safely tested across all screens. It won’t damage your most sensitive gadgets, screens or your skin, even after repeated use.