Dirty keycaps can lead to various issues, such as sticky keys, unresponsive switches, and unsightly discoloration, so regularly cleaning your keyboard’s keycaps is essential for maintaining a hygienic and visually appealing typing experience. It helps prevent the buildup of dirt, grime, and bacteria and extends the lifespan of your keycaps. Now, following this guide, you’ll be able to keep your keycaps in top condition and avoid these potential problems.
Preparing for Keycap Cleaning
Materials Needed
Before you begin cleaning your keycaps, it’s essential to gather all the necessary materials. You’ll need:
- Mild dish soap
- Warm water
- A soft-bristle brush or cloth
- A keycap puller
- A container for soaking
- Towels for drying
Unplugging Your Keyboard
It seems like common sense, but it’s worth stressing: safety first. Before proceeding to the cleaning part, ensure your keyboard is unplugged from your computer or turned off if it’s wireless. This not only protects you from potential electric shock but also prevents any damage to your keyboard’s electronic components.
Checking Warranty and Disassembly
Also, take a moment to check your keyboard’s warranty terms regarding disassembly. Some manufacturers may void the warranty if certain conditions are not met during cleaning.
Reserving a Snapshot of Your Layout
Lastly, don’t forget to take a photo of your keyboard layout. It may seem unnecessary, but this step will save you time and frustration when reassembling your keycaps.
Removing Keycaps
To remove the keycaps, use a keycap puller. This tool is designed to safely and easily remove keycaps without damaging the switches underneath. When using a keycap puller, place it over the keycap, ensuring it grips the keycap from opposite sides. Gently wiggle the puller back and forth while applying upward pressure until the keycap pops off. Be patient and avoid yanking the keycap to prevent damage. If you don’t have a keycap puller, you can remove the keycaps using your fingers. However, be extra careful not to apply too much force or pull the keycap at an angle, as this can cause the switch stem to snap or the keycap to crack. Place your fingernails or fingertips under opposite edges of the keycap and gently pry it upward, wiggling it slightly until it comes loose.
Cleaning Process
Pre-cleaning Inspection and Spot Treatment
Before soaking the keycaps, inspect them for any particularly stubborn stains or residue. If you notice any, you can spot-treat these areas with a soft-bristle brush or cloth and a small amount of dish soap. This pre-cleaning step will help ensure that all the dirt and grime are removed during the soaking process.
Soaking Keycaps
Fill your container with warm water and add a few drops of mild dish soap. Place the keycaps in the container and let them soak for about 30 minutes to an hour. This will help loosen any dirt and grime that has accumulated on the keycaps. During the soaking process, you can gently agitate the keycaps every 10-15 minutes to ensure thorough cleaning. Use your hands or a soft-bristle brush to gently scrub the keycaps, paying extra attention to any hard-to-reach areas.
Brushing off Stubborn Residues
After soaking, use a soft-bristle brush to scrub away any remaining stubborn residues. Be gentle to avoid damaging the keycaps, especially if they have printed or etched legends.
Rinsing and Preparing for Drying
Once you’ve finished scrubbing, rinse the keycaps thoroughly with clean, warm water. Make sure to remove all the soap residue, as it can lead to sticky keys if left on the keycaps
Drying Keycaps
After rinsing your keycaps, ensure they are completely dry before reassembling your keyboard. Gently shake off the excess water from each keycap. Use a clean, lint-free towel, such as a microfiber cloth, to pat the keycaps dry, paying attention to any crevices or hard-to-reach areas where water may accumulate. Once you’ve towel-dried the keycaps, lay them out in a single layer on a clean, flat surface, with the letter side facing up. This allows for better air circulation and prevents water from pooling inside the keycaps. Give your keycaps ample time to dry completely – at least 24 hours in a well-ventilated area away from direct sunlight. Avoid using a hairdryer or other heat sources, as this can cause damage. Before reassembling, double-check each keycap to ensure it’s completely moisture-free.
Reassembly
With everything clean and dry, reassembling your keyboard is the final step. Begin by referring to the photo you took at the beginning of the cleaning process, or consult your keyboard’s user manual or online keycap layout diagram for guidance. Start with the larger, more distinctive keycaps, such as the spacebar, enter key, and shift keys, ensuring they are properly aligned and firmly seated. Next, move on to the smaller, uniform keycaps, working systematically by rows or columns to maintain a logical order and minimize the risk of misplacement. As you place each keycap, ensure it’s seated properly and aligned with its neighboring keys. After all the keycaps are in place, go over each one again to check for any looseness or wobbling, making necessary adjustments. Finally, give your keyboard a test run by typing out a few sentences or running your fingers over all the keys to identify any keycaps that may have been placed incorrectly or aren’t functioning properly. Make any necessary adjustments before considering the reassembly complete.
Maintenance Tips
To keep your keycaps clean and in good condition, it’s essential to establish a regular cleaning routine. The frequency of cleaning will depend on how often you use your keyboard and the environment in which it’s used. As a general rule, aim to clean your keycaps every 1-3 months. In between deep cleaning sessions, you can maintain your keyboard’s cleanliness with some daily and weekly maintenance tips:
- Wash your hands before using your keyboard to minimize the transfer of oils and dirt.
- Use a soft, dry brush or compressed air to remove dust and debris from your keyboard weekly.
- Avoid eating or drinking near your keyboard to prevent crumbs and spills.
- When storing spare keycaps or cleaning tools, keep them in a clean, dust-free container to ensure they stay in good condition for future use.
Making Keycap Cleaning a Habit!
Proper cleaning of keycaps is quite a simple task, yet very effective in improving the typing experience. They’re not just about appearance, but they form a big part of setting up a healthy workspace. Roll up your sleeves, get cleaning, and type on with pride in a keyboard that looks and feels like new. Do the same as routine and experience fresh typing every day!
FAQs:
1. What if there is no keycap puller?
When you don’t have the keycap puller, you can still manage to remove keycaps with a small flat-head screwdriver or even just a pair of tweezers, but be extremely careful not to push any extra force into the switch, which may damage it or the keycap.
2. Can I speed up this drying by putting keycaps close to the heater or in direct sunlight?
You need to keep the keycaps away from any source of direct heat or sunlight, for these will cause warping or discoloration in a keycap. Room temperature with good airflow is ideal for drying.
3. Are there any special care requirements in cleaning any of the materials used for keycaps?
Indeed, if it’s PBT plastic, the keycaps actually have much better resistance to solvents, and therefore can be cleaned more brutally than ABS plastic keycaps, which really are very sensitive and may shine and scratch. Always check your keycap material before deciding on the cleaning method applied.
4. Can I use ultrasonic cleaners for keycaps?
These ultrasonic cleaners can be used with keycaps at times, especially for deep cleaning purposes. Use mild detergent and water, then refer to the manufacturer’s recommendation regarding the same for cleaning electronic parts.