Crumbs, dust and the tacky film from fingertips build up on every keyboard. Most of it comes off without taking anything apart.
Quick answer: Unplug the keyboard (or switch it off and remove the batteries), hold it upside down and tap out the crumbs, then blow between the keys with short bursts of compressed air, can upright. Wipe the keys with a cloth barely damp with water, or a 70% isopropyl alcohol wipe for grease. Mechanical keycaps can soak in warm soapy water for 30 to 60 minutes, then dry overnight.
Which keyboard do you have?
The type decides whether the keys should come off.
Keyboard | How to tell | Pull the keys? | What to do |
|---|---|---|---|
Mechanical (most gaming and enthusiast keyboards) | Tall, individually mounted keys with a clicky or clacky feel | Yes, straight up with a keycap puller | All five steps below, including washing the keycaps |
Low-profile or scissor-switch (Apple Magic Keyboard and most slim wireless keyboards) | Thin, flat keys with short travel | No, not for routine cleaning: the small hinges under these keys can break, Logitech warns | Steps 1 to 4, cleaning around the keys |
Membrane (standard office keyboards) | Soft, quiet keys on a rubber sheet | Usually not needed: HP says cleaning around the keys is enough unless something's visible underneath | Steps 1 to 4 |
Laptop keyboard | Built into the computer | No | |
Not sure | No | Treat it as low-profile: steps 1 to 4 only |
What you need
- Compressed air in a can with a straw nozzle, or a hair dryer with a cool setting
- A soft brush: a clean makeup brush, paintbrush or soft toothbrush all work
- Two lint-free microfibre cloths and some cotton buds
- 70% isopropyl alcohol: pharmacy swabs such as Liv-Wipe (Chemist Warehouse) are already 70%. Hardware-store isopropyl alcohol such as Diggers is over 99% according to its safety data sheet, so mix 7 parts with 3 parts distilled water for about 70%
- For a mechanical keyboard: a keycap puller, a bowl, mild dish soap and a towel
Products checked October 2026.
How to clean a keyboard, step by step
Step 1: Switch it off
- Unplug a wired keyboard. Switch a wireless one off, take out any replaceable batteries and wait 5 to 10 seconds, as Logitech advises.
- Lay a tea towel underneath to catch crumbs.
Step 2: Tip out the crumbs
- Hold the keyboard upside down over a bin and shake it gently.
- Give the back a soft tap to loosen more. Logitech warns that a hard whack can damage it.
- While it's still upside down, run the soft brush along the rows of keys.
Step 3: Blow out the gaps
- Hold the can upright and blow between the keys in short bursts, working across the keyboard in a zigzag, row by row.
- Never tilt or upend the can. Logitech warns it can then spray liquid propellant cold enough to cause frostbite. Pause when the can gets cold, don't breathe the gas, and work with a window open.
- No can? Use a hair dryer on its cool setting only; Logitech says hot air can quickly damage a keyboard.
Step 4: Wipe the keys
- Dampen a corner of a microfibre cloth with tap water and wring it until it's barely damp. Wipe the tops of the keys and the frame.
- Never pour or spray anything onto the keyboard. Spray the cloth instead: liquid that runs between the keys reaches the electronics.
- For greasy or shiny keys, use a 70% isopropyl alcohol swab, or the cloth dampened with 70% alcohol. Apple allows 70% alcohol wipes on its keyboards, and Dell uses a 70/30 mix of alcohol and water on its equipment.
- Test alcohol on one rarely used key first: HP says to keep isopropyl alcohol off the printed letters, and Logitech warns stronger cleaners can discolour keys or remove printing. On a Logitech keyboard, use wipes under 25% alcohol.
- Run a cotton bud, damp in the same way, along the gaps between the keys.
- Isopropyl alcohol is highly flammable (Diggers' safety data sheet classes it H225). Use it on a cloth with the keyboard off, away from heaters and flames, and let it evaporate fully before switching on.
Step 5: Mechanical keyboards only: wash the keycaps
- Photograph the keyboard first so you know where every key goes back, as Corsair suggests.
- Lift each keycap straight up with a keycap puller, using steady, even pressure. Keychron warns against prising them with sharp tools, which can crack or scratch the caps.
- Leave the long keys (space bar, Enter, Shift) until last and lift them gently: HP says this avoids stressing the stabiliser wires underneath.
- Put the caps in a bowl of warm water with a squirt of mild dish soap, fully submerged, for 30 to 60 minutes (Corsair). Keep the water warm, not hot: HP says hot water can warp ABS keycaps, while PBT copes better.
- While they soak, brush and blow out the exposed keyboard, then wipe it with a barely damp cloth. Corsair warns that liquid reaching the circuit board can cause problems.
- Rinse the caps, dry them on a towel and leave them to air-dry overnight (Corsair). Press each one back on using your photo, only once they're completely dry.
Done looks like: no tacky film under your fingertip, no crumbs in the gaps, and every key registering when you type a test line.
If a key still sticks or doesn't register, see the next section.
Laptop keyboards
A laptop keyboard sits on top of the whole computer, so shut it down, don't pull the keys, and use only a barely damp cloth or wipe. How to Clean Your Laptop Safely covers the keyboard, screen and vents together, including MacBooks.
Sticky keys and spills
- After a spill, unplug the keyboard at once (or shut down the laptop) and turn it upside down to drain. Blot, don't wipe, with a lint-free cloth (HP).
- Leave it to dry completely for at least 48 hours before you plug it back in, as HP advises.
- Keys that stick once it's dry usually have residue under the caps. Keychron's fix on a mechanical keyboard: pull the sticky caps and clean around each switch with a cotton bud dipped in isopropyl alcohol.
- If the switch itself still drags, HP's mechanical keyboard guide puts 1 to 2 drops of 90% or stronger isopropyl alcohol into the switch and presses it 20 to 30 times.
- On low-profile and membrane keyboards, clean around the sticky key with a barely damp cotton bud and leave the key in place.
Popular keyboard cleaning methods, checked
Method | Verdict | Why |
|---|---|---|
Compressed air | Yes, upright, short bursts | Logitech's main method for the gaps |
Cleaning gel (keyboard slime) | Fine for dust | HP says it lifts dust from tight spots; bin it once it's dirty |
Vacuum cleaner | Only an anti-static one | Keychron warns against high-powered vacuums unless they're anti-static |
Dishwasher | No | HP: heat and moisture can damage the electronics, and hot water can warp ABS keycaps |
Washing the whole keyboard under a tap | No | Keychron: moisture can short out the electronics |
Window cleaner such as Windex | No | Dell lists Windex among the cleaners to avoid on its equipment |
WD-40 | No | Keychron: it can damage plastic parts and gum up switches |
Nail polish remover (acetone), solvents, abrasive powders | No | Logitech and Apple both rule them out |
Melamine (magic eraser) sponge | Last resort on grimy plastic | Logitech allows it after a hidden-spot test |
How often to clean a keyboard
Keychron suggests a quick wipe or blast of air every week and a deep clean with the keycaps off every three to six months, sooner if you eat at your desk. Logitech recommends cleaning anywhere from daily to monthly, especially if the keyboard is light coloured.
Fewer crumbs means fewer deep cleans. HP suggests a keyboard cover, not eating over the keyboard, and washing your hands before you type.
When it's not a DIY job
If a keyboard still doesn't work after a full 48-hour dry, HP suggests a repair service or a replacement. Washing keycaps or taking a keyboard apart isn't on Simply Maid's cleaning checklist; our regular cleans dust accessible surfaces and shelves. For the rest of the workspace, see How to Clean Your Desk and Keep It Organised; the screen and mouse have their own guides, How to Clean a Computer Screen and How to Clean a Mouse Pad (and Your Mouse).
Frequently asked questions
What is the gunk that builds up on a keyboard?
Mostly dust, crumbs and oil from your fingers. Keychron notes that together they can make keys feel sticky or stop them working properly.
Will cleaning fix keys that don't register?
Often, if dirt is the cause. Corsair says dirty keycaps and keyboards can stop a keyboard working properly, and HP links dust and crumbs to unresponsive keys. If a key still won't register after cleaning and a full dry, Logitech notes the switch underneath may be broken.
Last reviewed 6 October 2026 · Update history
Sources & References
- Logitech, How to Clean Your Logitech Keyboard Safely: switching off, compressed air, cool hair dryer, under 25% alcohol, melamine sponge.
- Logitech Support, Cleaning your Logitech device: spray the cloth, not the device; printing test; how often.
- Logitech, Keycap Replacement Guide: hinges; lifting keycaps with steady pressure.
- Corsair Support, Tips on cleaning your keycaps and keyboard (updated 30 May 2024): photo, 30 to 60 minute soak, overnight drying.
- HP, How to Clean a Keyboard (31 January 2025): membrane keyboards, key legends, cleaning gel, spills, dishwasher, prevention.
- HP, How to Clean and Maintain Your Mechanical Keyboard: stabiliser keys, warm water for ABS keycaps, sticky switches.
- Keychron, Best Way to Clean a Mechanical Keyboard Safely: finger oils, sharp tools, vacuums, WD-40, frequency, sticky keys.
- Apple Support (Australia), How to clean your Apple products (31 October 2025): water-damp cloth; 70% alcohol wipes; no solvents or abrasives.
- Dell, Guidance for Keeping Your Dell Technologies Equipment Clean: 70/30 alcohol and water; Windex.
- Recochem (Diggers), Isopropyl Alcohol safety data sheet (PDF, issue 8, 2022): over 99%; highly flammable (H225).
- Chemist Warehouse, Liv-Wipe 70% Alcohol Swabs: 70% isopropyl alcohol swabs.
