How to clean keyboard?

I have seen many used systems which include worn buttons on the mouse and keyboard, food and drink stains, and of course, dirt, dust and grime. I too was a cat owner (I had two felines) however they never used the computer keyboard as a resting cushion, however they both used to knock the mouse off of my desk to get my attention when I was sleeping. A cute move, but of course not particularly desirable! (I would wake up and find my mouse hanging by its tail!)

To keep the keyboard clean, I first use compressed air (Dust-Off) to blow out dust in-between the keys. if you have ever opened a keyboard, you would understand how sensitive the contacts are between the actual keys and the membrane underneath. Cat hair and keyboards don't mix too well, so you might limit that with either a plastic or frabric keyboard cover (commercially available), or even by standing the keyboard on its edge up against your monitor when not in use. I wipe the keys to remove dirt with Windex, sprayed into a soft cloth or paper towel, (not sprayed directly onto the keys!!), and if you have let cat hairs and fur get under the keys, then you might have to open the shell and spray out the hair with the air can. When you reassemble it, make sure all keys make proper contact. Once you do explore what's underneath, perhaps you will appreciate that computer keyboards are not as durable as the old typewriter keyboards were, these having sensitive contacts and electrical circuitry. For hard to reach places, you might even use Q-Tip swabs instead of paper towels... again, spray onto the wiping device and not the keyboard directly. You don't want to get Windex deep into the under-workings of the keyboard and contacts.

Keyboards are about $10 a pop right now. You'll spend at least that cleaning one, so just buy a new one.

Four things:
Wipe off the dust with a damp cloth, if u cant see the dust then it doesnt matter.
Use a vacuum cleaner and suck the nasty stuff away (u can get special vacuum cleaners but they are rubbish)
Put it in the dishwasher, might survive might not but would be jolly clean.
Buy a new keyboard.
If its a laptop your first two are the only real options, or you could just live with the dirt. My keyboard was a pickup from a load of junk school computers and it must be 10 years old, still going strong and not really that dirty.(thou i wouldnt call it clean

my laptop is the one most likley needs cleaning. I put a brush on the vacumm and get the fuz and dust out.then I used Techspray Vortex High Velocity Duster a moisture free chwmical. if I had Cat hairs I would used some kind of anti-static cleaner

Not related to removing cat hair, but if your keyboard is grimey from use, get one of the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser sponges. Very slightly damp, it will quickly remove the grime and stains that build up on the keyboard with use.
Alan

After cleaning, a clear keyboard cover not only protects it and keeps it clean, but also can be typed on because it's clear. Does anyone know if the below site is safe/trustworthy?:
http://www.protectcovers.com/

Seriously, run it through the dishwasher, but don't let it stay in for the dry cycle. Shake the water from it from all angles. Hang in in a warm place and let it drip dry for about two days, changing the position a few times so any loose water runs out or spreads around to dry more quickly. You can also use a hair drier on low. If you get it too hot, you'll fry some of the components.

I have no dishwasher, so I use a vegetable brush sprinkled with a little dish soap under hot running water. Rinse thoroughly with hot water and shake it from all angles. Dry the same way as above.

I've done this about three times over the past two years, and it works great. Borrow another keyboard for a couple of days while your own dries thoroughly.

Then plug it in and enjoy!

Pete

Lots of people may have suggested compressed air, but a vacuum cleaner works better, since it will "absorb" all the kitten?s hair. Keyboards can take a lot of punishment, believe me. Mine survived a full cup of hot chocolate. It still worked, but the thick smell could be felt weeks afterwards. I washed it on water, and it still worked.

I would suggest buying a new keyboard (it is cheap, anyway) and leave the old one around. If the cat likes that particular keyboard, it won?t disturb your typing any longer, since it will sleep on the old one. Otherwise, I have no idea how to get a cat trained to avoid sleeping on keyboards. Maybe it is interested in something else besides the keyboard. Spring-loaded cushion? Heat from the monitor nearby? The owner presence? If it is interested in you, instead of the keyboard, some pet shops can provide those nest-like beds designed for cats. Put it nearby, and always leave the cat on top of its bed, whenever it is on the keyboard, as training. I don?t see any other reason for a cat to be on top of a keyboard, so it won?t happen again, and you won?t need to clean the keyboard.

Hi all
First depending on the value and type of Board, may I suggest the following.
Prevention of problem- when not in use keep covered, those floppy ones are useless.I made my own by using half of the box the KB came in. I strengthened It with masking tape and then glued the IBM floppy cover over the top,It looks very Professional.
To clean, I use a dry 1/2inch paint brush to loosen fibres etc, before hoovering with the wife's dustbug.
If really dirty then occasionally I take it apart and clean step by step. BUT only do this if you know the basics of KB assembly.
Again, the above methods are if your KB is an expensive type/model.
The standard cheap ones these days are so cheap, so that if it starts to play up, just replace it with a new one!
Hope this little bit of practice of what I do helps.
Regards
Brian Bevan

Recently, I had to take my computer for repairs, as my laptop kept getting too hot. They found that the key board and the fans had dust and my dogs hair.

The young lady, suggested a can called "duster" that you can buy from any computer store. Just spray it and good lord it cleans the fuzz away... where to .. no idea.

Cheers

Use a house sweeper,Use the Small tipped attachement and go sideways acrossed the keyboard while lightly pushing on the keys, exposing more space under the keys to = Get More Dirt Out!!!!!!

unplug it, take it outside, turn it upside down, and shake it vigorously. That's great for breat crumbs, but not so sure about cat hair

That is, if you don't want to train your kitten not to lay on it. I've had cats all my life, and they pretty much have the run of the house. However - being on the kitchen table or counters is ABSOLUTELY taboo, and they always learn that. I just kick up a GIGANTIC fuss, screaming and spraying water and tossing the cat onto the floor (hoping no one sees me doing this). My computer desk is too crowded for my cats to like it.

Just a suggestion...