How to clean a dirty keyboard

We pass much of our time typing on a keyboard, so it's unavoidable it often become dirty. Someone, maybe a bit exaggerating (especially if you are the only user of your keyboard) says that keyboards are sometimes dirtier than a public toiled. In the following guide we'll describe how to get your own keyboard to be almost as clean back as when you bought it.

Ingredients:

• a slotted screwdriver
• a digital camera
• a basin
• a compressed air can
• a bottle of hair shampoo (better if at neutral pH)
• a plastic bag
• patience

Steps:

1. 
   

   First, take a snapshot of your keyboard with the digital camera. This will help you to remember the initial keys position once you have to put the keys back into the keyboard. If you have a printer, a printed copy of the snapshot could help further.

   
   
2. 
   

   Then with the help of the screwdriver gently lever on the bottom of each keys and remove them (do not try this on laptop keyboards). Put the keys into the plastic bag so you don't miss them. With the help of the compressed air can, remove also the particles of dust, hairs, crumbs, whatever..., from the bottom of the empty keyboard. At the end of the process you should arrive at a situation like in the beside picture. Alternatively with the help of a multipurpose cleaner or de-greaser and a cloth, also try to clean what of dirty remained on the empty keyboard after the air can blow. Just passing a cloth maybe with alcohol (which might invasive for the keys symbols) over the keys while they are mounted is not enough.

   
   
3. 
   

   Remove the metallic clips (and beware at don't miss them) from the keys having them, and remember the way how the clips should be reassembled. Then place the removed keys you have temporary placed into the plastic bag, into the basin. Add a little quantity of cold water and three spoons of shampoo. Do not add further shampoo, otherwise you'll be overstepped by foam. Leave the keys in the basin shampoo for a night.

   
   
4. 
   

   At the next morning you'll find the dirty keys, perfectly cleaned. If the keys are particularly dirty, you may help to clean further each key using a nailbrush. Then remove the foam washing the keys with cold water and paying and attention at not missing the keys into the sink. Then wait until they keys are dry, and put them back into the plastic bag (see picture beside).

   
   
5. 
   

   Now you have to reassemble all the keys into the keyboard. Start from bigger keys, and pay attention at those keys having a metallic clip, like for instance the "space" key in the beside picture.

   
   
6. 
   

   With the help of the initial snapshot, proceed with the reassembling of the keys one by one (see beside picture). Also pay attention at not forcing the keys. They do not need much pressure to be placed back. If a key does not fit, check it's not in the wrong position.

   
   
7. 
   

   At the end of the process you'll achieve your keyboard fully cleaned back!