How to Clean an Apple Keyboard in 2022

How to Clean an Apple Keyboard

How to Clean an Apple Keyboard is a quick guide that answers how you can keep your Apple keyboard clean and in good shape, preventing the keys from sticking or becoming damaged. You will learn how to clean your keyboard right now, using commonly available items.

While I was cleaning my home office and desk, I also decided to clean my Apple keyboard. It was a mess with crumbs and dust in it. I don’t even think it had ever been cleaned before. I searched Google for information on how to properly clean an Apple computer keyboard and here is what has worked for me so far.

When we think about the cleanliness of our electronic devices, we often focus on our phones and tablets.

However, we should not forget about laptops and computers. Keep reading to find out how to clean an Apple keyboard.

It happens to everybody. You spill your coffee or drop a piece of food on your Apple keyboard, and it becomes less responsive. Instead of throwing your keyboard away, you can make it like new again with a few simple steps. It’s easy, fast, and cheap. I’ll show you how to clean an Apple keyboard.

If you've got a Mac, then you're probably familiar with Apple's sleek-looking iMac screens and mice/trackpads. But how do you clean them? Learn how to clean your Apple keyboard

How do you clean your keyboard? I’m talking about the keyboard that came with your Apple computer. The Apple keyboards are notorious for getting all kinds of unwanted dirt, grime, and food crumbs trapped in there.

If there's anything I love, it's a clean keyboard. I probably sound a bit crazy, but I find myself obsessed with cleaning my Apple keyboard at least once a week or so. In the end, though, I always feel better when my workspace is neat and tidy.

It doesn’t take long before your Mac keyboard gets dirty and grungy. The culprits: butterfingers and a bottom-side that collects anything from crumbs to cookie crumbles. 

Don’t worry — you don’t need any expensive cleaning supplies to give your keyboard the cleaning it deserves. All it takes is a can of compressed air and some paper towel, a credit card, or other small, flexible card.

Let's face it, some keyboards just seem to get dirty more than others. That's because the food and drinks we consume leak into our keyboards and get crumbs in those little cracks that are hard to reach. As a result, the keys feel very mushy and the keyboard is very messy to look at.

I remember the first time I got my hands on a Mac and a nice Apple keyboard. I was in computer heaven.  These types of keyboards just feel so great to type on, which makes them so much more pleasant to work with. 

However, the price you pay for this high quality is the fact that maintaining them can be a little tricky.

Clean an Apple Keyboard
Clean an Apple Keyboard

Most of us only clean the outside of our computers and monitors but what about the keyboard? 

Most people don’t realize that a crumb or two can get stuck in between the keys especially if you’re fanatical about eating in front of your computer like me. When this happens, you start to feel it when typing because the key starts to stick and not work correctly.

How to Clean an Apple Keyboard Safely & Effectively

Clean an Apple keyboard and you can make it look at good as new. However, if you don't clean it properly, you can end up with a sticky mess. So it's worth knowing how to clean Apple keyboard keys without damaging them.

This article provides a few tips for cleaning your Apple keyboard safely and effectively.

The best way to clean an Apple keyboard? Don't let it get dirty. You can prevent dust and crumbs from getting between the keys by using a cover when you're not using your Mac.

Don't use water when cleaning an Apple keyboard. If you spill something on the keyboard, unplug it immediately and dry it quickly. Never submerge the keyboard in water or another liquid.

Apple keyboards (the ones that look like MacBook keyboards) are really nice, but they're also pretty expensive. If you just dump them in the sink and scrub them with a sponge, you're going to destroy them and be out a lot of money.

It's not that they can't be cleaned, it's just that you have to do it the right way. Below I'm going to show you how to clean an Apple keyboard without destroying it.


You'll Need a Few Things:
  • A stiff brush (toothbrushes work well)
  • Rubbing Alcohol (99% Pure Isopropyl Alcohol Works Best)
  • Paper Towels

The Apple keyboard is widely regarded as one of the best computer keyboards on the market. It's nice to look at and feels great when you type. But if it's not cleaned regularly, it can become a sticky and unhygienic mess.

The good news is that it's easy to clean an Apple keyboard. Here's how to safely and effectively clean an Apple keyboard.

How to Clean an Apple Keyboard


Most computer keyboards are easy to clean because the keys are removable, allowing for easy access to the crumbs and dust that can accumulate between them.

Apple keyboards aren't like most computer keyboards. Their keys are attached tightly and don't come off without a fight. But it's still possible to clean them, you just have to be a little more creative.

Basic Cleaning Methods


There are two basic approaches you can take when cleaning an Apple keyboard: cleaning between the keys with a cloth or compressed air, or removing the keys altogether and cleaning underneath them with water or alcohol. The first approach requires no disassembly of the keyboard while the second requires a little more effort but results in a deeper clean.

Cleaning your Apple keyboard isn't too difficult, and it will help keep your keyboard in tip-top shape. For quick cleaning, all you need is a can of compressed air and some cotton swabs to clean the hard-to-reach areas between the keys.

First, turn off your Apple keyboard and unplug it from your computer. Then, follow the steps below to clean it:

For more thorough cleaning, you'll need:

  • 1/4 cup isopropyl alcohol
  • a small bowl or container
  • a few toothpicks or cotton swabs
  • a lint-free towel (microfiber cloth or coffee filter)

First, turn off your Apple keyboard and unplug it from your computer. Then, follow the steps below to clean it:

Cleaning an Apple keyboard is easy. There are a few simple rules to follow to prevent damaging your keyboard, and then there are some simple instructions for cleaning it.

The first rule of cleaning any computer hardware is to be gentle. The second rule is to unplug the device before cleaning it. These rules are true for any keyboard, but they're especially true for Apple keyboards.

Why Is Cleaning an Apple Keyboard Different?


Apple uses a thin membrane underneath the keys of its keyboards instead of traditional mechanical switches. This makes the keyboards lighter and thinner, but also makes them more sensitive to liquid damage than traditional keyboards. 

If you spill water or other liquid on a mechanical keyboard, there's a good chance that you can salvage it by drying out the keyboard and cleaning any residue from the switches. 

With an Apple keyboard, however, any liquid that gets under the keycaps will likely cause permanent damage to your keyboard.

Rule: 


Apple keyboards are easy to clean, but keep in mind that they're not spill-proof. If you do spill liquid on your keyboard, unplug it immediately and turn it upside down to drain the liquid. Let the keyboard dry for a day before plugging it back in and using it.

To clean your Apple keyboard, follow these steps:

1. Turn off your computer and unplug the keyboard.

2. Dip a cotton swab in rubbing alcohol. Only use 70% or 90% isopropyl rubbing alcohol — lower concentrations can cause damage to the plastic on your keyboard.

3. Lightly wipe each key with the isopropyl alcohol-soaked cotton swab. The keys should pop off easily when you apply gentle pressure with the swab. Don't worry about getting some of the liquid underneath the keys; this won't hurt anything. Make sure not to soak them, though, as that could lead to damage later on.

If you’re like me, you take your computer keyboard for granted. You use it every day, tap and click away at it, and rarely think about how nasty it must be on the inside.

If you’ve ever spilled something on your keyboard (and I don’t know why you haven’t, because I have) then you know that they can get pretty nasty. Just think of all those crumbs that got in there and never came out!

This is a guide to cleaning an Apple wired keyboard (I own the A1243 – UK layout – model), but it should be fine for other models too.

By the way: if you’re using a MacBook with a built-in keyboard, follow this tutorial instead.

5 Tricks To Cleaning Your Apple Keyboard

Cleaning your keyboard can often be a pain. Whether you've spilled something on it, or it just needs a good dusting, you want to make sure that you do it the right way. To help you out, we've put together this list of 5 tricks to cleaning your Apple keyboard.

1. Use compressed air to blow away any crumbs and dust

2. Remove keys by gently prying them off with a screwdriver

3. Clean dirt off the keys with soapy water and a toothbrush

4. Dip a cotton swab in rubbing alcohol and use it to clean the surface under each key

5. Rinse the keys with distilled water before replacing them

Sick of those sticky keys?

You don't have to be.

Cleaning your Apple keyboard is a lot simpler than you think.


Here are 5 tips to help you keep your keyboard in tip-top shape.

1. If you want to get into the crevices and around the keys, you can use a Q-tip to clean up the dust and crumbs that have gotten caught between the keys.

2. You can remove individual keys if they're particularly stubborn, using a flathead screwdriver or butter knife to lift them off one by one and then clean inside them.

3. You can make your own solution: mix 2 parts water with 1 part ethyl alcohol and use a cleaning cloth to wipe down your keyboard with it.

4. You can buy a disinfectant spray made specifically for electronics, which is typically just ethyl alcohol, water, and soap in a spray bottle—just make sure it doesn't have bleach in it!

5. Make sure not to spray liquid directly onto the keyboard, because that can cause damage; instead, spray onto a cloth and then wipe down the keyboard with it!

If you're anything like us, you love your Apple keyboard. It's sleek and responsive, making it a joy to touch-type away on. 

But that also means it gets dirty fast—and I mean *fast*. That's why we're here to share five of our favorite keyboard cleaning tricks with you.

1. Invest in an air compressor

If you have one of these at home or at work, this is going to be the easiest way to clean your keyboard. Just aim the air at the keys, and blow them free of dust and crumbs. You can buy one for as little as $10 at most hardware stores, so it's well worth the investment if you use a computer keyboard often.

2. Use a lint roller

Yes, that simple trick from your wardrobe can be used here too! Lint rollers are great for getting rid of those small bits of hair and other debris that can get into the crevices of your keyboard. If you don't have one at home, pick up a pack of 50 sheets for under $10 online or in any store that sells school supplies.

3. Toothbrush + rubbing alcohol

Sometimes you need something with a bit more power through—which is where this trick comes in

If you're a Mac user, chances are you've spilled your coffee on your keyboard before. And then probably just sat there hoping it would dry out and work itself clean—only to have a sticky keyboard for the next six months.

But we've got some news for you: cleaning your Apple keyboard isn't all that hard. Here are five tricks to get your keyboard back in tip-top shape without spending money on cleaners or hiring a professional.

The easiest way to clean your keyboard is by using a can of compressed air. If you don't have one of these, pick one up from Amazon for under $10 (US), or find one at an office supply store near you.

Once you've got your can of air, use it to blow out any dust and debris between the keys, thereby avoiding having to remove any individual keycaps.

If you do want to remove individual keycaps, get a small screwdriver and gently pry off the caps by placing them under the cap and pulling up. 

Be sure not to damage the keycaps or try applying too much force, as this may break them or cause the mechanism that holds them down to come loose and render them permanently stuck in place.

If you're using a Mac, you know just how easy it can be to get your Apple keyboard messy. From the dust that blows into the cracks to the crumbs from your late-night snacking sessions to the oil from your fingers, there are countless ways for your keyboard to get dirty.

Conclusion: How To Clean An Apple Keyboard

Above all, use a damp, lint-free cloth and try not to get any liquid into the keys. Make sure you unplug your apple keyboard from the computer before cleaning. No liquids of any kind should come in contact with the board or electronics. Have you cleaned beneath your Apple Keyboard? Please let us know how it goes in the comments below! 

For more information on how to clean an apple watch click here. (click on the images above)

Did you know that your computer keyboard can get dirty? If this is the case, you should learn more about how to clean an Apple keyboard

In this article, we recommend a simple but efficient method for you to clean your keyboard. Why don't you try?

Apple is known for its stylish and contemporary design and aesthetic. But, if you own an Apple MacBook and have purchased the Apple brand cleaning products to use between your keyboard’s keys, it will not be long until the keycaps become stained with a much darker shade than their original white color. So, how do you clean that out?

At some point, you are bound to spill something on your keyboard. And it may be a little sticky to clean off. Don’t worry though! Follow these quick steps and you can have that keyboard looking like new in no time at all! We hope this guide has helped you to clean your keyboard!

As you’re probably aware, Apple’s keyboards are backward-compatible, meaning that you don’t have to buy a new one just because you upgraded your Mac to the latest model. While this is a nice feature to have, it does mean that these keyboards can get very dirty over time. And as your keyboard gets dirty, you might start to notice some issues with the typical response and key functionality.

I hope you enjoyed these tips! I have an Apple Wireless keyboard that has been on my desk since I bought my iMac (yes, they still make them) and I give it a wipe down every few weeks. Not only is the dust gone but the keyboard looks great and works even better.

After reading this article you’ll take good care of your Apple keyboard and your Apple Magic Mouse, and will be ready for everything.

Give your keyboard a thorough cleaning, and get it working and typing like new again.

Get rid of dust, hair, and other bits and pieces by using a can of compressed air on the keyboard. This is not only safer than the liquid cleaners but will also help get rid of that little dandruff falling from above your computer screen.

Conclusion: I love Apple products. My MacBook is in good working condition, so I won't be cleaning it myself soon, but I'm glad to know how to clean it if and when I need to.

It’s a simple process that takes very little time, and there’s no harm in doing it every once in a while. It may also save you from buying an entirely new keyboard if enough crumbs get jammed up underneath the keys.

Apple sells a product called "The Magic Eraser" to use with your computers, but it's not very good. They are actually selling you the same thing as Mr. Clean erasers but making you pay more for it by calling it something else. Here's how you can make this useful on your own!
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