# Is there an easy way to clean your computer keyboard that works well? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 5, 2025, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-easy-way-to-clean-your-computer-keyboard-that-works-well/1025420 "2025-12-05T04:30:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2025, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-easy-way-to-clean-your-computer-keyboard-that-works-well/1025420/41 "2025-12-05T14:41:51Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > My old keyboard had Cherry Brown switches which are clacky and is now my work laptop keyboard. I have Cherry Brown in my current keyboard and I like it although I have to mute Zoom meetings so people don’t hear the clickety-clack. Its not bad but it’s there. My understanding is Cherry mechanical switches are well on their way out out these days with the newer magnetic variants (or whatever tech you call them…there is more than one). Makes me a little sad though. I liked them. And it was fun to debate the benefits of Cherry Brown or Red or Blue or whatever. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2025, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-easy-way-to-clean-your-computer-keyboard-that-works-well/1025420/42 "2025-12-05T14:52:27Z")
In my non-enthusiast experience, it’s less a matter of magnetic switches becoming the norm and more that there’s just a ton of new respected mechanical switches. Cherry used to be the only serious name in the business and anything else was a knockoff Cherry clone. Now there’s a lot of mechanical switches that stand on their own and Cherry feels a bit last gen. ---
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2025, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-easy-way-to-clean-your-computer-keyboard-that-works-well/1025420/43 "2025-12-05T15:07:43Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > Here is one example, you can search for many more Thanks, that’s helpful! The part I was most curious about was the analog movement, and it’s indeed a driver feature (at [10:33](https://youtu.be/hUbKhUBs6XI?si=j1qNvWDo2bq3ERX6&t=633)): [![](https://fightingignorance.org/3e2d1d41-ad87-43de-b93e-510e57afde13-1-the-mechanical-switch-is-dead-youtube-december-05-07-03-11-am.jpg) ](https://fightingignorance.org/3e2d1d41-ad87-43de-b93e-510e57afde13-1-the-mechanical-switch-is-dead-youtube-december-05-07-03-11-am.jpg) It lets you remap WSAD to different analog axes. Still, I wonder how much precision that limited travel can really get you, vs a steering wheel and pedals. This [other video](https://youtu.be/oju-FbNT5jc?si=imKzMnvaLTuW2_NV&t=301) makes the movement still seem pretty jerky. A steering wheel expands the range of motion from “binary” to “requiring several turns”, whereas an analog key is like a tinier version of the already-limited range of motion you get from a controller thumbstick. Still, a pretty interesting technology. Thanks for sharing. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2025, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-easy-way-to-clean-your-computer-keyboard-that-works-well/1025420/44 "2025-12-05T15:18:15Z")
> [@Reply](#): > > Still, I wonder how much precision that limited travel can really get you… From what I have read these switches are weirdly super precise. I think the main problem is the human having a delicate enough touch to make very fine adjustments with so little travel in the key. But the best keyboards allow the user to fiddle with the sensitivities to their liking. A lot of fuss but once done you are golden. That said, you have to have a mechanical keyboard for this. I can’t imagine this working on some laptop at all. ETA: In the video I shared with you he said one new keyboard feature was so good it was banned from pro-gaming Counter-Strike. ---
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2025, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-easy-way-to-clean-your-computer-keyboard-that-works-well/1025420/45 "2025-12-05T15:34:18Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > I think the main problem is the human having a delicate enough touch to make very fine adjustments with so little travel in the key. Yeah, exactly, hence the steering wheel vs controller thumb stick difference. Most people can comfortably drive a car with a wheel because it takes several turns; by contrast, steering with a controller is much harder because that several turns becomes a few centimeters of travel with a thumbstick; and with an analog key, that becomes a few _milli_meters. You’d have to be a world-class surgeon to have that level of dexterity — like driving a car with the pressure difference between “tap” and “poke”. > [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > In the video I shared with you he said one new keyboard feature was so good it was banned from pro-gaming Counter-Strike. That’s something different (but useful in those games, yeah). That’s the ability to sense the start of keyUp/keyDown faster than a traditional mechanical switch could, to allow for quick side-to-side strafing movements. ---
**Author:** ![Myglaren](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f1d935/32.png) [@Myglaren](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Myglaren)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2025, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-easy-way-to-clean-your-computer-keyboard-that-works-well/1025420/46 "2025-12-05T22:03:28Z")
I only have a couple of laptops now and give them a go with the vacuum cleaner when I am using it anyway. And give it a wipe over with isopropanol weekly. Also have a 2” paintbrush to sweep over it every couple of days. When I used stand alone keyboards I would use the shower head on them periodically, board inverted, dry it with a cloth as much as possible and leave it to dray, inverted. Generally took a day to dry. Allegedly putting them in the dishwasher, top shelf, inverted, quick cool program or even just a rinse used to be a thing. I never attempted that. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2025, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-easy-way-to-clean-your-computer-keyboard-that-works-well/1025420/47 "2025-12-05T22:04:50Z")
Canned air might help blow debris out. Years back, I could swear I read someone recommending just spraying it down in the shower. I have never tried that. Edit: JINX!! Was yours a mechanical sort or the other (membrane?) sort? ---
**Author:** ![Offkenter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/f08c70/32.png) [@Offkenter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Offkenter)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2025, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-easy-way-to-clean-your-computer-keyboard-that-works-well/1025420/48 "2025-12-06T02:11:39Z")
The tool you are looking for is Post-It notes, folded so the sticky strip is at 90 degrees to the rest of the note. Carefully slip the sticky part of the note between the rows of keys so it comes in contact with the debris. You are essentially using it like a lint roller. Move it along in little stamping motions to pick up the debris. Use a new Post-It when the sticky part of the note you are using stops picking stuff up. Starting on the very bottom row of keys is the easiest. I have spent many “why am I on this conference call” hours doing this to help me keep focus. The whole process takes about a fraction of a boring meeting. I have even cut Post-Its into strips to get in to the smaller areas. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2025, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-easy-way-to-clean-your-computer-keyboard-that-works-well/1025420/49 "2025-12-06T02:18:42Z")
That’s not a bad idea. I mean, not 100% about post-its as a solution (but I have some so worth a try) but, mostly, using boring meeting time to do another boring task like cleaning the keyboard. Not sure if I could hide the work enough but certainly seems worth a go. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2025, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-easy-way-to-clean-your-computer-keyboard-that-works-well/1025420/50 "2025-12-06T02:36:43Z")
I’ve done this with Scotch tape when i was bored and looking at the lint in my keyboard. 😆 ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2025, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-easy-way-to-clean-your-computer-keyboard-that-works-well/1025420/51 "2025-12-06T02:46:26Z")
For me it’s the fine cat hair and dust that just doesn’t want to come out with the air blast when it’s in the close spaced rows. Maybe I’ll dig up the old double sided tape and apply it to a board scraper or something… ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2025, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-easy-way-to-clean-your-computer-keyboard-that-works-well/1025420/52 "2025-12-06T12:38:11Z")
Edited. ---
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2025, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-easy-way-to-clean-your-computer-keyboard-that-works-well/1025420/53 "2025-12-07T01:10:44Z")
If you’ve not done it before, there is the traditional method: hold your keyboard upside down over your head, and give it a good shake. You’re welcome. 😀 ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2025, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-easy-way-to-clean-your-computer-keyboard-that-works-well/1025420/54 "2025-12-07T12:38:33Z")
As I said back in post #26… 😉 ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2025, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-easy-way-to-clean-your-computer-keyboard-that-works-well/1025420/55 "2025-12-07T15:04:54Z")
Ah, but the essential point is that the perversity of the universe guarantees that if you shake it _over your head_, all the especially nasty stuff will jump right out at you. Shake it over your lawn instead and nothing will come out; it’ll all be stubbornly clinging in there hoping to despoil your head. Shaking it over the flooring in your office is an intermediate case; some grunge will fall out, but the best chunks will be preserved for later. 😁 ---
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2025, 9:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-easy-way-to-clean-your-computer-keyboard-that-works-well/1025420/56 "2025-12-08T09:58:07Z")
> [@Melbourne](#): > > If you’ve not done it before, there is the traditional method And it makes a gentle ~wooshing~ sound as you do it! LSLGuy noticed this, but he’s a Jet pilot – it’s usually him making the ~wooshing~ noise overhead. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-easy-way-to-clean-your-computer-keyboard-that-works-well/1025420.md?page=2)