how to clean up a mechanical keyboard

Cleaning up a mechanical keyboard is a rewarding process that can bring your trusty typing companion back to life, making it look better, feel better, and potentially even perform better by removing resistance from grime. It’s not just about aesthetics.

Read more about how to clean a mechanical keyboard:
how to clean a mechanical keyboard switch
how to clean a mechanical keyboard after spill
how to clean a mechanical keyboard without removing the keys
how to clean a mechanical keyboard properly
how to clean a gaming keyboard
how to clean a non mechanical keyboard
how to clean a sticky mechanical keyboard
how to clean a razer mechanical keyboard

accumulated dust, crumbs, hair, and skin oils can eventually interfere with switch performance, leading to mushy keys or inconsistent actuation.

Think of it as an essential maintenance routine, much like changing the oil in your car – you do it to keep things running smoothly.

This guide aims to be a comprehensive cleanup process, suitable for keyboards that haven’t seen a thorough cleaning in a while, or for new owners looking to start good maintenance habits.

Initial Assessment and Preparation

Before you even think about cleaning, take a good, hard look at your keyboard. What kind of mess are we dealing with? Is it just dusty? Are there visible crumbs? Is it sticky in places? Is it visibly greasy from hand oils? This assessment helps you gauge how thorough you’ll need to be. The first and most critical step, always, is to unplug your keyboard from your computer. Safety first! No power, no accidental inputs, and no risk of short circuits if liquids are involved. Next, grab your phone or a camera and take multiple clear pictures of your keyboard’s layout. Get shots from different angles to capture all standard keys, modifier keys, and any unique function or macro keys your board might have. This is a lifesaver when it comes time to put everything back together. Trust me, you don’t want to play a guessing game with keycap placement!

Gathering Your Cleaning Tools

Having the right tools at hand will make this cleanup process much smoother and more effective.

You don’t need anything fancy, just the right essentials. Here’s your checklist:

• A keycap puller: A wire-style puller is highly recommended over the plastic ring type, as it’s less likely to scratch your keycaps.
• Compressed air: Your best friend for blasting out loose debris.
• A soft-bristled brush: An old, clean toothbrush, a small clean paintbrush, or a dedicated keyboard cleaning brush works wonders for sweeping away dust.
• Microfiber cloths: Two or three, one for dry dusting, one for damp wiping, and maybe a spare for drying.
• Mild dish soap: A few drops of something like Dawn for washing keycaps.
• A small basin or bowl: For soaking keycaps.
• Isopropyl alcohol (90% or higher): For stubborn greasy spots and, if necessary, for carefully cleaning switches.
• Cotton swabs: Great for precision cleaning in tight spots.
• Small container: To keep screws or small parts organized if you disassemble the case.

Now for the main event: getting those keycaps off! Start by carefully removing each keycap using your keycap puller. For standard keys, simply hook the puller onto opposite sides and pull straight up with gentle, even pressure.

how to clean a razer mechanical keyboard

For larger keys like the spacebar, Shift, Enter, and Backspace, which typically have stabilizers, be extra cautious.

Pull straight up, applying even pressure to avoid bending the stabilizer wire or breaking the small plastic inserts on the keycap.

As you remove keycaps, you’ll likely uncover a shocking amount of dust, crumbs, and hair.

Don’t worry, this is normal and precisely why you’re doing this!

Once all the keycaps are off, put them all into a small basin or bowl. how to clean a sticky mechanical keyboard

Fill the basin with warm (not hot!) water and add a few drops of mild dish soap.

Give them a gentle stir to ensure all keycaps are submerged and the soap is distributed. Let them soak for a good 30 minutes to an hour.

This soaking period is critical, as it loosens up all the accumulated skin oils, sticky residues from spills (even dried ones), and general grime that builds up on keycaps over time.

While they’re soaking, you can occasionally stir them around to help dislodge the dirt.

Cleaning the Exposed Keyboard Plate and Case

While your keycaps are enjoying their bath, turn your attention to the keyboard itself, now stripped bare. how to clean a non mechanical keyboard

This is where most of the dry debris will be residing.

First, turn the keyboard upside down over a trash can and give it a few firm but gentle shakes to dislodge any large crumbs, pet hair, or other particles that might be clinging to the plate.

Next, grab your can of compressed air. Holding the can upright (to avoid propellant leakage), use short, powerful bursts to blast away dust, hair, and crumbs from between the switches and off the entire keyboard plate.

Work systematically across the whole surface, ensuring you get into every nook and cranny. how to clean a gaming keyboard

You’ll likely see clouds of dust erupting – that’s a good sign!

After the compressed air, take your soft-bristled brush (like an old toothbrush) and gently sweep away any remaining stubborn dust, fine particles, or grime that the air didn’t quite dislodge.

You might need to use a slightly firmer touch for caked-on bits.

For the keyboard case itself, if it’s separate from the plate, you can wipe it down thoroughly with a slightly damp microfiber cloth. If it has greasy smudges, a tiny amount of isopropyl alcohol on the cloth can help cut through the grease.

Just be very careful not to let any moisture seep into the electronics or switches. how to clean a mechanical keyboard properly

Ensure the case is completely dry before moving on.

After their well-deserved soak, your keycaps should be much easier to clean. Take them out of the soapy water.

If any are still visibly dirty, use your soft brush to gently scrub each keycap, paying special attention to the sides and the inside where the stem connects.

This is where the most persistent grime often hides.

Once satisfied, rinse all the keycaps thoroughly under cool running water. how to clean a mechanical keyboard without removing the keys

It’s crucial to remove all traces of soap residue, as dried soap can leave a hazy film on your keycaps.

Rinse until the water runs clear and the keycaps feel squeaky clean.

Now for the most crucial step in cleaning: drying. Spread all the keycaps out on a clean, dry microfiber towel or a mesh drying rack in a well-ventilated area. Let them air dry completely. I mean completely dry. This will take several hours, often overnight. Do not rush this step! Any trapped moisture can cause issues when you reattach them or, worse, lead to corrosion if it gets into the switches. Avoid using a hairdryer on high heat, as excessive heat can warp plastic keycaps. Once you are absolutely, 100% certain that every single keycap is bone dry, it’s time for reassembly. Use the photos you took earlier as your guide and carefully press each keycap back onto its corresponding switch stem until it clicks firmly into place. Make sure they are all oriented correctly and in their proper positions. Take your time with this step, as a misplaced keycap can be frustrating.

Final Inspection and Testing for a Perfectly Clean Keyboard

With all the keycaps back on, give your keyboard a final visual inspection.

Ensure every keycap is seated properly, nothing looks crooked, and there are no stray hairs or crumbs lingering on the surface. how to clean a mechanical keyboard after spill

Then, plug your freshly cleaned mechanical keyboard back into your computer.

The final, essential step is to thoroughly test every single key.

Open up a word processor, a text editor, or an online keyboard tester website.

Systematically press each key multiple times, ensuring it registers correctly and consistently. Pay close attention to the feel of each key. how to clean a mechanical keyboard switch

they should all feel uniform, responsive, and satisfyingly tactile or clicky (depending on your switch type). If any key feels sticky, mushy, or doesn’t register consistently, it might indicate that there’s still some residue inside that particular switch.

In such cases, you might need to re-examine that specific key or switch area, potentially using the more targeted isopropyl alcohol cleaning method described in the “how to clean a sticky mechanical keyboard” section.

However, for a general cleanup, this comprehensive process should have your mechanical keyboard feeling and looking as good as new, ready for many more hours of comfortable and precise typing.

Regular cleanups, perhaps every 3 to 6 months depending on your usage and environment, will keep your keyboard in tip-top shape.

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