Get the information required to thoroughly and securely clean a mechanical keyboard.
If it's a mechanical keyboard, are you familiar with the proper cleaning procedures for it? If you have just upgraded to one of the finest mechanical keyboards, it is in your best interest to educate yourself on how to properly care for and maintain your new buy in order to get the most out of it. This will allow you to get the most out of your new investment. You will be able to use it for many years to come, and you will have the piece of mind that comes with knowing that it is free of dust, hair, and any other material that may have gathered on it.
Although if giving your mechanical keyboard a quick wash down every so often might help keep it free of germs and at least relatively clean, you should still make sure to give it a complete cleaning at least once every year. In order to do this, you will first need to take the keycaps off the keys, wash the keycaps, and then use cotton swabs to clean in between the keys on the keyboard. When you have done the lengthy process of giving your mechanical keyboard a good cleaning, it will feel as if you just got it for the first time after you have completed this step. This is because you have brought it back to its original condition.
Since the experience of typing and playing games on a mechanical keyboard is much better than that of using a membrane keyboard, the price of mechanical keyboards is more than that of membrane keyboards. As a direct consequence of this, you need to constantly keep your mechanical keyboard in pristine condition by keeping it clean and doing regular maintenance on it.
The instructions for cleaning a mechanical keyboard are laid out in the following tutorial in a step-by-step format for your convenience.
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How to maintain the flawless functioning of a mechanical keyboard
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Replace the keyboard in its case immediately
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Take a picture of your keyboard so that you will always have a record of it
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Use a device known as a keycap puller in order to carefully remove each of the keycaps
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You should use warm water to clean your keycaps, and then you should let them dry naturally
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To get rid of any dust, you may choose to use either compressed air or an electric duster
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It is recommended that cotton swabs that have been soaked in alcohol be used to clean the areas in between the switches
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Put the keycaps back on the keys on your keyboard
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Test your keyboard
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Keep reading if you want to get detailed instructions for each stage
1. Take the keyboard out of your computer and unplug it. Disconnect your keyboard carefully from your computer, and if the cable can be detached from the keyboard as well, remove it. If your keyboard has the capacity to do so, also remove the cord from the keyboard.
2. You may want to take a picture of your keyboard for your own reference later. When you have completed cleaning your keyboard, you will need to reattach the keycaps to the keys so that they are in the correct positions. This may be done by inserting small screws into the keyholes. Taking a picture of your keyboard before beginning to remove the keycaps will make this procedure much easier to handle and will save you time.
3. Use a device known as a keycap puller in order to carefully remove each of the keycaps. After you have finished removing the keycaps from your keyboard with the use of a keycap puller, place all of the keycaps in a bowl to ensure that none of them are misplaced. In the event that you do not already possess a keycap puller, it is not hard to make one for yourself out of a few paperclips, a twist-tie, and a pair of pliers in the event that you do not already own one (opens in new tab).
4. Your keycaps may be made clean by cleaning them in warm water and then letting them to dry naturally in the air. To clean your keycaps, take the bowl that holds all of them and fill it with warm water and a small bit of dish soap. Next, use this solution to clean your keycaps. After that, you should move the keycaps about with your hands and then wait anywhere from thirty to sixty minutes for the bowl to settle before using it.
A strainer may be used to remove the soapy water from the keycaps after they have been allowed to soak for the appropriate period of time and after the water has been strained out of them. After giving the keycaps a thorough washing in some water, lay them out to dry on some paper towels in a well-ventilated area.
5. You may get rid of dust by using either compressed air or an electric duster to blast it away. You should thoroughly clean your keyboard while your keycaps are soaking or drying. You may do this by using a can of compressed air or, even better, an electric duster to get rid of any dust, hair, and other debris that could be present.
6. Cotton swabs and alcohol are the tools that should be used to clean in the spaces between the switches. You should carefully clean the areas on your keyboard that are in between the individual switches by using some cotton swabs and some isopropyl alcohol. It is essential to bear in mind that in order to avoid causing damage to the printed circuit board (PCB) of your keyboard, you should use the minimum quantity of isopropyl alcohol that is practicable. After that, you should let your keyboard air dry; however, if you have access to an electric duster, you may be able to considerably speed up this process.
7. It sounds like the keycaps on your keypad need to be replaced. You should get started on the process of changing the keycaps on your keyboard in a methodical manner, utilizing the image of the keyboard that you took before as a reference. Then, you should make sure that each key is in the correct place, and then you should push firmly but steadily on the keycaps of your keyboard in order to reseat the keys. Keep your keycap puller close at hand in case you end up needing it in the event that you make a mistake and need to remove a keycap.