How to Clean Your Computer's Keyboard

With the rise of concern over the flu's that our out there this year, people are looking for ways to keep their homes, children, pets and cars germ free. Most people will do a great job sanitizing the home and making sure the kids wash their hands frequently, but I bet you never think to clean the item you end up touching the most of. Your computer keyboard has millions upon millions of germs lying on the keys and down in between the keys. We may wipe it off every once in a blue moon, however more then likely we end up forgetting about the dirt it has collected. First thing the keyboard feels are our hands and that is where germs are carried the most from. So where do you think those germs go once our fingers start to typing? I have a step by step guide on how to clean your computer keyboard. Read below and don't forget the tips below!

Step 1
Turn off your computer completely and then disconnect the cable to your keyboard. If you attempt to clean your keyboard while your computer is on, then you may possibly hit a sequence of keys that can seriously mess up your computer.

Step 2
Turn your computer keyboard over and gently tap it against your computer desk. This will remove any loose hair, dust and if your are like me, bread crumbs!

Step 3
Use a can of compressed air (you will find this at Walmart) and spray the can in between the keys and in areas you will not be able to reach with a cotton swab.

Step 4
Now that all the loose and compacted dust and hair have been cleaned, take a dry cloth to wipe the keyboard down.

Step 5
I advise you to use either Clorox or Lysol disinfectant wipes to wipe down the surface of the keyboard first.

Step 6
Take a cotton swab and rubbing alcohol and dip one end into the alcohol. Squeeze any access liquid off the swab and wipe in between the keyboard keys.

Step 7
If you have any sticky keys, then you can either remove the keys by gently popping them off with a knife. Check with your owners manual first because it may tell you a way to remove the keys. After you have removed the sticky keys and cleaned them, pop them back into place.

Step 8
Wipe down the computer keyboard again with the disinfectant wipes.

I also have some great tips for your task ahead.

1. Make sure you never over use liquid on your keyboard. Always squeeze out any access liquid. Water and electronics never mix!

2. Never use paper towels or napkins to clean. They will dust particles on your keyboard and defeat the whole process we just accomplished.

3. If you plan on removing any keys, make sure you have your owners manual out and ready to view what the keyboard is suppose to look like. Once you start putting those keys back you do not want to get confused on where the D key goes!