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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: aznsilvrboy on Sat, 23 June 2012, 14:27:12

Title: How do you clean your keyboard without taking it apart?
Post by: aznsilvrboy on Sat, 23 June 2012, 14:27:12

^Title. I'm currently using the cover that came with the keyboard to prevent dust, but I'm wondering how to actually clean it if it gets dirty, without opening up the case.

Title: How do you clean your keyboard without taking it apart?
Post by: Squelos on Sat, 23 June 2012, 16:00:10

Remove the keycaps. That should allow you to clean most of it.

Title: How do you clean your keyboard without taking it apart?
Post by: pitashen on Sat, 23 June 2012, 16:09:27

lick* lick* lick*

yum~~

Title: How do you clean your keyboard without taking it apart?
Post by: JaccoW on Sat, 23 June 2012, 16:14:16

Use a proper keycap remover to take off all the keys like the Filco wirepuller.

I also found these little brushes work pretty good too. Takes of most of the dust on the side of the keys and even some larger things from below. You could probably get some from a local art store.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]52892[/ATTACH]

Title: How do you clean your keyboard without taking it apart?
Post by: lorem3k on Sat, 23 June 2012, 16:17:26

Take the keycaps off and blast it with compressed air.

Title: How do you clean your keyboard without taking it apart?
Post by: Djuzuh on Sat, 23 June 2012, 16:32:18

Quote from: JaccoW;620397

Use a proper keycap remover to take off all the keys like the Filco wirepuller.

I also found these little brushes work pretty good too. Takes of most of the dust on the side of the keys and even some larger things from below. You could probably get some from a local art store.
(Attachment) 52892[/ATTACH]

Or get a cherry keyboard cleaner for your brush \o/

Title: How do you clean your keyboard without taking it apart?
Post by: IvanIvanovich on Sat, 23 June 2012, 17:42:07

I just turn it upside down and use compressed air. For keycaps clean I use magic eraser thing twice a month or so.

Title: How do you clean your keyboard without taking it apart?
Post by: MMB on Sat, 23 June 2012, 17:54:58

I have an air compressor. I just blast the s**t out of it, basically.

Title: How do you clean your keyboard without taking it apart?
Post by: RotaryFist on Sat, 23 June 2012, 18:02:02

MagicMeatball's suggestion is a good one. Air compressors are the best. Have you ever tried using one inside a case? Everything is blasted away instantly! Canned air doesn't last long for me. I think that is a better investment than buying those $3 cans of air anyway. You can use it for anything.

Title: How do you clean your keyboard without taking it apart?
Post by: bun_lope on Sun, 24 June 2012, 01:00:44

just remove the keycaps and clean it by compressed air

Title: How do you clean your keyboard without taking it apart?
Post by: mkawa on Sun, 24 June 2012, 01:56:41

Quote from: bun_lope;620694

just remove the keycaps and clean it by compressed air

you don't want to do this blindly with mechanical keyboards. not all switch mechanisms are happy with having compressed air shot into them. please don't actually do this. of course, this is a perfectly reasonable method to deal with rubber domes, but this isn't a rubber dome keyboard forum, so instead of cleaning your RD board you should just toss it out and buy a reasonable keyboard.

if you blast with a compressor or compressed air, leave the caps on. and shoot the air perpendicular to keyswitch openings.

honestly i find pulling the keycaps off and just using a stiff brush and a soft cloth takes care of 99% of gunk.

Title: How do you clean your keyboard without taking it apart?
Post by: laffindude on Sun, 24 June 2012, 02:36:31

I use a 2" wide paint brush. Pull the keycaps and few strokes with the brush makes it clean enough.

Title: How do you clean your keyboard without taking it apart?
Post by: Tony on Sun, 24 June 2012, 03:20:29

I turn it upside down weekly and pull out the keycaps to clean it bi-monthly.