The Problem:I read somewhere the typical computer keyboard is dirtier than the common toilet seat! I am not sure how that conclusion was reached, but I get the point. Given the inordinate amount of eating, sneezing, touching, etc we do in front of our computers, I am not surprised the keyboard is festering with germs.
Don't believe me? Pickup your keyboard, turn it upside down and give a few good whacks from behind ala the ketchup bottle. If yours is like most keyboards, you will find unexpected crumbs, staples, hole punches and lint.
Computers need a good cleaning regularly. So how does one clean a keyboard?
The Solution:Carefully:
- 1. Turn off your computer, unplug the keyboard, carry it outside or over the trash bin and shake vigorously. Go ahead and gently(!) hit it a few times.
- 2. Pull out your trusty little can of compressed air (Long's and Office Depot have them) and blow out any other junk residing between the keys. Be careful not to hold the can of air upside down; condensate may drip onto your keyboard.
- 3. Next, grab a damp cloth and rub off the remaining stains on the keys and the surrounding areas. You can use a bit of dish soap if you want. Just be sure your cloth is not so damp that liquid is dripping into your keyboard.
- 4. Fire up the vacuum. Use the brush attachment and run it in and around the keys. This will help clear out anything else still lurking in your keyboard.
If your keyboard is exceptionally dirty, or if one piece of something seems to be inhibiting the free motion of a particular key, you may need to use a small screwdriver and pop-off the key(s). Word of caution: it is best to remove the keys by prying them off using equal pressure on both the left and right sides. After cleaning the underlying board and the keys, replace them with gentle downward pressure.
Aside from cleaning your keyboard, it's a good idea to once a month, reach behind your PC and be sure that the fan is not clogged. And, once every six months, turn off your computer, open up the case, and blow out accumulated dust using canned air. Look for any foreign objects - or critters - and remove them. Check to see if they've been gnawing anything they shouldn't.
