How to clean a mechanical keyboard

This step is self-explanatory, sure, but it still needs to be stated. If you’ve got a wired keyboard, you’re going to want to unplug it. Since we’re later going to wipe the keyboard down with a damp cloth, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Water and electronics are far from bosom buddies. Don’t mix them.

Most keycaps can be removed from the mechanical keyboard by pinching the sides and pulling up. It requires minimal effort, really. This is how you gain access to those hard-to-reach areas beneath the keycaps. If you’d rather not use your fingers, you can always pick up a keycap puller, which is a tool that pops off the keycaps for you. A keycap puller will also remove the keycaps much faster.

You’ll probably see a lot of crumbs, hair, and other loose debris underneath the keycaps. You can easily blast those particles away by using a can of compressed air. After you’ve completed this step, take a moment to examine the areas around the switches. You may find more stubborn debris clinging to the edges of the switches.

If you find stubborn debris in the crevices of your keyboard, remove it with a soft bristle toothbrush. For stickier messes, wet the bristles with some water and soap and brush carefully. Toothbrush bristles are small and gentle enough for the delicate job of cleaning around the switches.

Wiping down the keyboard with a damp cloth will get rid of any sticky spots. Don’t ever take a sopping wet cloth to your keyboard. You definitely want to avoid getting any water in the cracks and crevices of your precious peripheral.

Unless you want to deep clean every part of your keyboard, you don’t have to soak the keycaps in warm soapy water. However, if you’d rather leave no stone unturned, then go for it. You may find that your keycaps get oily over time due to extensive use. Make sure your keycaps are completely dry before putting them back on the keyboard.

Now that your keyboard is free of debris (say that five times fast), go ahead and reassemble the keycaps. The most time-consuming part of cleaning a mechanical keyboard will be the removal and reassembly of the keycaps. The rest is easy as pie.