Dust, skin oil and crumbs are the enemies of a keyboard. A ten-minute routine once a month prevents almost every long-term problem.
The monthly routine
- Unplug the board and turn it upside down over a bin. Tap firmly.
- Use a soft brush to sweep between the keys.
- Wipe keycaps with a barely-damp microfibre cloth — never a soaking one.
- For the case, a cotton swab with a little isopropyl alcohol lifts grime from seams.
Deep clean (twice a year)
Pull the keycaps with a wire puller, soak them in warm water with a drop of dish soap for an hour, then air-dry them fully — at least 24 hours — before reinstalling. Water trapped under a cap will haunt you.
What not to do
- Do not spray any liquid directly onto the board.
- Do not use paper towels — they shed fibres into the switches.
- Do not reinstall damp keycaps. Ever.
If a switch starts chattering or feels scratchy after cleaning, bring it in — on a hot-swap board it is a 30-second fix.