How to Clean a Gaming Keyboard

Most gamers prefer mechanical keyboards for gaming as they are fast, durable, and provide several advantages over membrane keyboards. One of those advantages is their ability to withstand daily abuse and accidental liquid spills. However, finding ways regarding how to clean a gaming keyboard can get tricky if you don’t bother to clean them regularly.

Although the best keyboards for day trading are easier to clean, preventing the build-up of dust and food crumbs is always helpful. Cleaning and maintaining the gaming keyboard can make life easier and avoid dirt accumulation issues. The best measure is to watch for dust build-up and regularly clean the keyboard.

The cleaning process of the gaming keyboard is not complex as it only requires a few steps to follow. The process can differ according to the situation and level of dirt accumulation. Besides cleaning the keyboard affected by the liquid spills, the process doesn’t vary much.
Here is our guide on how to clean mechanical keyboard switches and deep clean them from accumulated dirt. A simple cleaning may require few steps, while deep or deferred cleaning can take longer.

Preventive Cleaning

Regularly cleaning the keyboard does not build up dirt and debris on the keyboard. The prevention of grime and dust is crucial as being a gamer, you always eat and drink near the keyboard.

As time passes, the dirt, food particles, accidental spills, and other debris can fuse under the keycap surface. They become challenging to clean and inconvenient as their removal is necessary for keyboard health. Here are the steps involved in preventive cleaning.

Step 1: Unplug the keyboard from the computer and remove the batteries in case of a wireless keyboard.

Step 2: Take a vacuum cleaner to remove the dust and debris from the keyboard surface.

Step 3: After vacuuming, use a microfiber cloth and slightly dampen it to clean the entire keyboard.

Step 4: Take a clean, dry cloth to remove moisture from the keyboard surface. Avoid using paper towels as they can leave fiber particles on the keyboard. The leftovers

from towels can also accumulate in the deep grooves and tiny spaces that become challenging to clean.

Deep Cleaning

When the keyboard remains unattended for a long time, it can accumulate stubborn grime. All the dirt and grime bind with the keyboard plate, and regular cleaning or vacuuming don’t remove it. In addition, the food particles and accidental spills can further bind this material to the keyboard.
If you worry about the deep cleaning and don’t know how to clean a mechanical keyboard effectively, follow these easy steps:

Step 1: Remove the keyboard from the computer or remove the batteries in case of a wireless keyboard.

Step 2: Take a keycap puller to remove the keys from the keyboard. Don’t try to pull the keys in a hassle; pull them only after stabilizing and anchoring them with the keycap puller.

Step 3: Use dish soap or denture tablets to clean the keycaps. You can use warm water for thorough cleaning. Mix the soap or denture tablets in the water and put the keycaps soak for at least 5 to 6 hours. After that, rinse them and air dry them or use a dry cloth to remove any moisture from the keycaps.

Step 4: Take a stiff bristle brush to clean any debris or dirt from the keyboard plate. Keep a distance from the switch stems as they can push the dirt inside the space near the switch and prevent any cleaning action using a vacuum.

Step 5: Use a vacuum cleaner and clean the leftovers from the keyboard plate. Remember to clean every bit of dirt from the plate for thorough cleaning.

Step 6: Once you have finished brushing and vacuuming, it’s time to use traditional damp cloth cleaning to remove any leftover grime from the surface.

Step 7: Don’t wait for the keyboard to dry on its own and put it face down on a clean surface.

Step 8: Once everything dries, replace the keycaps and put them according to the layout.

Step 9: Take a dry microfiber cloth and remove moisture from the keycap and keyboard surface.

Advanced Cleaning of the keyboard

Mostly, deep cleaning is enough to maintain the keyboard back to its pristine form. Sometimes, advanced cleaning is required to clean the keyboard and increase its lifespan. However, it is not a process that needs to be followed during the gaming keyboard cleaning; it is still worth trying.

Advanced keyboard cleaning does need ultrasonic cleaners for proper cleaning of the keycaps. It may seem the best option, but it does not have any noticeable impact when we compare the cleaning action with the traditional soap and water method.

All you need to do is to disassemble the keyboard and unscrew its parts. It requires you to separate the keyboard’s plate, frame, and PCB. Keep the screws and any aesthetic parts in a safe place, so you don’t lose them during cleaning.

The best way to clean a mechanical keyboard is to put the keycaps into the ultrasonic cleaner with the soap and water mixture. Let them stay in the cleaner for 5 to 6 minutes, and you will get cleaned keycaps.

After that, you can use a vacuum cleaner followed by a brush and cloth cleaning to remove dirt and grime from the surface. Now assemble the parts and clean the keyboard with the dry cloth. Put the screws back in their place to complete the assembling process.

Final Words

A gaming keyboard can accumulate a lot of tiny germs, bacteria, food particles, and grime in tiny spaces during daily work. It can result in jamming the keyboard and make them less sensitive to press. So cleaning the keyboard becomes crucial.

You have learned from this guide how to clean a gaming keyboard. It will help you with preventive, deep, and advanced cleaning. So, if you have any issues regarding cleaning the gaming keyboard, you can follow the steps and keep the keyboard in pristine shape.