Productivity Tips: Cleaning Your Keyboard

Over time dirt and “sticky” build up in your keyboard.  The longer  you go without cleaning your keyboard and mouse the more icky it gets.  On the surface everything may appear to be clean, but even sweat and oils from your hands build up on the surface as well.  When returning from my recent vacation I came back to my computer to notice that all of my keyboard keys were sticking.  Upon further inquiry I learned that my cat had knocked over a coke directly into my keyboard when I was away. Not cool, however it gave me an opportunity to deep cleanse my longer overdue keyboard.

What to do when air spray cans won’t get the job done

0. REMOVE BATTERIES (unplug keyboard).

1.Remove all buttons.

2.Put all buttons in cup of hot soapy water.

3.Turn over keyboard and remove all screws.

4.Open case and carefully remove circuit board from plastic casing.

5.Take dirty keyboard to sink/dishwasher rinse, scrub, repeat as necessary.

6.Allow to air-dry. Or use hairdryer for more inpatient users.

7.Reassemble keyboard and replace clean and dry keys to keyboard.

8. Replace batteries.

9. No more drinks next to keyboard.

*re-arranging keyboard keys may confuse and deter unwanted users.

Now that you have deep cleaned your keyboard you should notice that the buttons move more freely and feel smoother. This makes for a much more pleasant typing experience. Also cleaning your keyboard and mouse regularly will reduce sickness such as cold and flu. Next time don’t wait until someone spills coke all over your board to clean it.