The keyboard can act as a storage of dust and dirt which is why cleaning it becomes necessary. Moreover, it does not matter how often you use it or how little you use the keyboard; dirt and debris will somehow manage to lock inside. Many people prefer using a vacuum cleaner to keep the keyboard clean.
But, Can You Clean Your Keyboard With A Vacuum Cleaner? Well, the short answer is yes. You can definitely use a vacuum cleaner to keep your PC or laptop keyboard clean. But two things need to be maintained, one, the suction power should be medium, and the keyboard should not have pop-off keys. You can also use USB mini vacuum cleaners.
In this article, you will get to know a detailed process of cleaning your PC and laptop’s keyboard with a vacuum cleaner. I will also be sharing various tips relating to keeping your keyboard dirt-free.
That is, I will be sharing various insightful information which will help to keep your laptop or PC, dirt, and germs free. So, let us dig in.
How To Clean A Keyboard Using A Vacuum Cleaner?
You can use a home Vacuum Cleaner or a USB vacuum cleaner to clean your mechanical keyboards or laptop’s built-in keyboard. The recent edition of USB connecting vacuum cleaner can be very helpful in cleaning keyboards.
Not all the USB vacuum cleaners will give you a satisfying result, and rather you will find some of them doing nothing but wasting your time. I recommend you do the initial research before purchasing the best USB Vacuum Cleaner.
But not always; you can clean the keyboard with a vacuum cleaner. There are certain times when you should avoid cleaning your keyboard with a vacuum cleaner. Nonetheless, you will come to these later in this article.
The step by step process of cleaning a keyboard using a Vacuum Cleaner;
Step 1 – Make The Initial Arrangements
There are certain things you need to do before using the vacuum cleaner on your keyboard.
Let me list down them for you:
- Turn off the laptop if you are cleaning the laptop keyboard. You can also take off the battery if required. If it’s a regular PC keyboard or a mechanical keyboard, just unplug it.
- Check if there are any pop-off or lose keys. (Remember, if there is any, you cannot use the vacuum cleaner on it).
- Check if there is anything wet on the keyboard, like, a few drops of juice or water. (If yes, then clean it with a microfiber cloth first).
Step 2 – Gather Necessary Things
Necessary things you will need for the cleaning process:
- Vacuum Cleaner with different attachments
- Soft Bristled Brush
- Microfiber Cloth
- A little amount of water (conditions applied)
Step 3 – Prepare The Keyboard
Now you need to slightly tilt the keyboard and use the soft-bristled brush to take off the loose dirt. Suppose you notice some stubborn dirt. Then you can use the microfiber cloth, but it should be dampened.
Do not use a well-soaked cloth to clean the keyboard. You need to take off all the water before taking the microfiber cloth near it.
You cannot use the vacuum cleaner when it has a single drop of water. If required, use a dry microfiber cloth to wipe all the wet substances from the keyboard.
Step 4 – Use The Vacuum Cleaner
Now you need to set the vacuum cleaner to suction mode, and the suction power should be set to medium. Once the vacuum cleaner is ready, you dedicate time to hover the vacuum cleaner all around the keyboard.
Remember, it might take a long time to clean the overall keyboard, but you cannot increase the power.
Step 5 – Clean The Keys With Alcohol
Now in the final stage, you need to make sure all the keys are well cleaned and are debris free. This is why you need to use a damp cloth and alcohol to wipe all the keys separately.
Remember to take off the excess water and alcohol before using the cloth on your PC or laptop’s keyboard.
When Should I Avoid Using A Vacuum Cleaner On A Keyboard?
There are certain times when you should avoid using a vacuum cleaner on your laptop’s keyboard.
Do not be worried; check out the list provided below:
- You cannot use the vacuum cleaner when any liquid substances are spread out.
- In case your keyboard has pop-off keys.
- You should avoid using your vacuum cleaner when it is set to high suction power. Do not set the vacuum clear to its high power while sucking all the dirt off the keyboard, as it might suck the keys.
Tricks To Keep The Laptop’s Keyboard Clean
In order to keep the keyboard clean and hygienic, you can follow some tricks. These ticks will manage to keep your keyboard clean even after so many years.
- Avoid eating food while sitting with your laptop.
- Make sure to clean your hands before touching the keyboard.
- Once in a while, take the loose dirt off the keyboard using a brush.
- Do not use hard fabrics or brush to clean the keys of the keyboard.
- Avoid using wet substances (e.g. water or alcohol) to clean the keyboard.
- Use cover when the keyboard is idle.
Related Questions:
How Do You Clean A Laptop Keyboard With A Vacuum?
You can definitely clean your laptop using a vacuum cleaner. Both the Home Vacuum Cleaner and the USB port vacuum cleaner can be used. But when using a home vacuum cleaner, you need to set it to medium suction power.
Can I Use A Vacuum To Clean My PC?
Undoubtedly, you can use a vacuum to clean the PC and suck up all the dirt, dust, and debris from the PC. However, you cannot use the vacuum cleaner inside a computer.
As the vacuum cleaner generates electricity, it might damage your computer. Remember to use the required attachment for specific parts.
Should You Vacuum A Keyboard?
Vacuuming a keyboard carries a lot of advantages which include taking the dust and dirt off in no time. You can take off the regular debris which hides in front of our naked eyes.
Only when the keyboard is wet, or the keyboard contains pull-off buttons, then you should not use a vacuum cleaner on a laptop’s keyboard.
How Do I Remove Dust From My Keyboard?
You can take off the dust from your keyboard in three ways which include;
- Using a home vacuum cleaner
- Using a USB port Vacuum cleaner
- Using a soft brush
- Use a damp microfiber cloth.
Can I Wash the Keyboard With Water?
If you intend to clean your keyboard by disassembling it, then you can use water to clean it. But you need to give it at least 3 to 4 days so that the keyboard dries up.
However, you should not directly use water on a keyboard. Rather damp cloths which have all the excess water, wipe off the cloth. Also, avoid using hot water on a keyboard.
Final Thoughts:
Your laptop keyboard or any keyboard can easily get dirty on regular usage, so you can easily get the dirt out from your keyboard using the vacuum cleaner, try to use it more efficiently to get all the dirt and dust out as this dirt doesn’t come out that easily.
Follow the tips and tricks that are shown in this article, and you will be good to go. After getting the dirt out from your keyboard, you can use an alcohol pad to offer a deeper clean to your keyboard.
Most mechanical keyboards are really hard to clean, so you might need to increase the suction power of the vacuum cleaner to get the dirt out.
After cleaning your keyboard using the vacuum cleaner and the alcohol pad, it will come out looking brand new.
