Maintenance tip: 4 steps to clean your keyboard and mouse
If you haven’t taken a close look at your keyboard and mouse lately, you probably should. These two main components of your computer get grimy pretty quickly. This comes as no surprise since they are continually used and touched by human hands each day.
In fact, you’re probably touching one or both at this very moment. The truth is, your keyboard may contain more bacteria than any public bathroom or doorknob — and a study from U of A indicates there may be up to 400 times more. Yeah. Let that sink in. Your Amazon packages are also filthy. Tap or click here for ways to clean your deliveries properly.
But no need to panic. There’s nothing a good cleaning and disinfecting couldn’t cure. So, here are four simple steps to rid your mouse and keyboard of any germ build-up.
1. Disconnect your mouse and keyboard
First, if your keyboard is plugged into the computer, unplug it. If it’s wireless, switch it off. For keyboards that are part of a laptop, shut the device down and disconnect the power chord. If the battery is accessible and easy to remove, do that as well.
The same goes for your mouse. Disconnect it from your computer and take out the batteries. If it’s wireless, simply flip it over, turn it off and take out the batteries. It’s important to have all power sources either shut off or disconnected while you clean your components. This will prevent electrical shorts and other potentially damaging results.
2. Start spraying and swabbing
Grime build-up and loose dust particles go deeper than just the top of the keys or the scroll wheel. You need something that can easily fit into those tight corners and small crevices.
This is where a can of compressed air comes in. Try Blow-Off, which is a compressed air duster for keyboards. Blowing compressed air into the keyboard will help remove crumbs, dust and anything else that may have nestled itself between or under the keys.
After getting under the keys, it’s time to go topside. Lightly wipe the tops of the keys and the palm rest with a microfiber cloth or a disinfectant wipe.
Similarly, your mouse can contain hidden particles of dust and grime under its scrolling wheel. You can turn the mouse upside down and continuously roll the wheel to loosen anything that may be stuck inside. Same drill — wipe it down with disinfectant or a microfiber cloth for the best results.
Avoid wipes that may contain a high bleach content, as they can permanently damage the finish on your keyboard or mouse.
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