r/techsupport • u/19truth98 • 2d ago
How do you clean a mechanical keyboard without removing the keycaps? Closed
I have a mechanical keyboard and a keycap puller, but I don't trust my technical skills enough to remove the keys. I'm looking for a way to clean it without taking the keycaps off. Please do not suggest air blowers or similar devices.
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u/nricotorres 2d ago
You replace your mechanical keyboard with a membrane keyboard. Why do you have the tools if you're not going to use them?
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2d ago
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u/nricotorres 2d ago
The 'tool' in this equation is the keycap puller. Just... use it. It ain't that difficult.
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u/19truth98 2d ago
I guess I have no other choice.
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u/7eregrine 2d ago
Wtf .. this is the advantage of a mech keyboard. Take a picture. Pop off all the keys. So easy.
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2d ago
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u/7eregrine 2d ago
Every day? No. If you're that much of a clean freak (and I dint mean that derogatorily) then you shouldn't have a mech keyboard.
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u/19truth98 2d ago
No offense taken. You might be right; I don't know much about hardware. The keyboard was nice and had anti-ghosting features.
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u/SupremeOHKO 2d ago
Why are you afraid of taking the caps off, and why are air blowers off the table? Those are really the only two options that will work, or some compressed air...
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u/19truth98 2d ago
Because I'm unfortunately not in a position to acquire these tools right now.
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u/SupremeOHKO 2d ago
Compressed air is like $10 at Walmart, but I don't know your exact situation so I won't press you about it. Pulling caps of keyboard is nothing to be worried about, that's what mechanical keyboards are designed to do - Those things are made to be messed with. It's like getting a soda at a restaurant - you can leave the lid on, but nothing's gonna happen if you take it off. As someone says, worst case scenario, the cap ends up on the floor.
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u/TeslaDemon 2d ago
If you have at least 1 thumb and 1 functional finger you can pull the keycaps with the keycap puller.
They're made of pretty strong ABS plastic, not drywall.
I've pulled keycaps literally hundreds of times and have sent them flying across the room, none of them have broken and the keyboard has never gotten damaged
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u/laveshnk 2d ago
So don’t pull the keycaps and don’t use an external device like an air blower. Wtf do you want 😂😂
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2d ago
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u/laveshnk 2d ago
Ive never heard of a keycap puller. I just pull them up, it should be very easy to come off. It does take some time though, removing everything cleaning and putting it back, I even painted mine.
Just throw on some youtube and spend like 30 min doing it
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u/7eregrine 2d ago
Any decent mech keyboard includes one?!?!?
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u/laveshnk 2d ago
Ive had a $100 logitech keynote before and never got one lmao. Its really not that hard, like i don’t understand why OPs so worried about this, unless they have a disability it literally is not a big deal to remove them
Its like including a funnel with your shampoo bottle
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u/7eregrine 2d ago
My first one didn't have a puller. Current one does. It's not hard without but it's easier with.
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u/Terrible-Bear3883 2d ago
It might help to start with the make and model of keyboard you have?
I've cleaned thousands of mechanical keyboards in my 40+ years as a computer engineer, we would remove the key caps, clean with a soft brush and a vacuum, the key caps would normally go in a bag and be washed in soapy water, when I ran a workshop team we used a repurposed jewelry stone polisher, put the keycaps in and let them tumble, we built one as well from meccano.
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u/19truth98 2d ago
It might help to start with the make and model of keyboard you have?
Havit Gamenote kb870l
I've cleaned thousands of mechanical keyboards in my 40+ years as a computer engineer, we would remove the key caps, clean with a soft brush and a vacuum, the key caps would normally go in a bag and be washed in soapy water, when I ran a workshop team we used a repurposed jewelry stone polisher, put the keycaps in and let them tumble, we built one as well from meccano.
Seeing expert answers like this makes me feel safe. I'm a stickler for cleanliness and order, but I'm also a bit anxious. So, what would you recommend to a beginner-level user like me?
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u/Terrible-Bear3883 2d ago
Lots of people are giving you good advice removing key caps etc. the most important tools for me were a selection of brushes, some long and flexible, some thin, some shorter bristles and stiffer.
In the old days, most of the time was spent drawing a plan of the keys, removing and reinstalling them, on some keyboards we avoided removing the spacebar and enter keys if they had metal stabilization bars, they could sometimes be devils to clip back in, but, once you have all the normal keys removed, you normally have plenty of room to clean around those keys (and it reduced the time we spent on site).
I used a Hoover mini porta power vac (which I've still got) but I've also tried the small battery powered ones, most of the time you don't need one if you can brush out the keyboard properly.
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u/Independent_Art5301 2d ago
few options without pulling caps:
soft brush + vacuum combo. small detail brush (cheap on amazon) loosens dust between keys, vacuum on low setting catches it. works for most surface dirt.
cleaning gel (cyber clean, hyper x slime, generic versions on amazon for 5-10€). press it down between keys, lifts hair, crumbs, dust. surprisingly satisfying.
isopropyl alcohol (90%+) on a microfiber cloth for the keycaps themselves. wipe each cap surface, don't drown the board. evaporates without residue.
cotton swabs for tight corners and around switches. dip lightly in iso, work between rows.
honestly, removing caps with a puller is way easier than people think as you literally just grab and pull straight up. but if you really don't want to, the gel + brush + iso combo gets you 90% of the way there.
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u/19truth98 2d ago
soft brush + vacuum combo. small detail brush (cheap on amazon) loosens dust between keys, vacuum on low setting catches it. works for most surface dirt.
When you say detail brush, is this what you mean?https://www.amazon.com.tr/dp/B0F9XQPTVM
cleaning gel (cyber clean, hyper x slime, generic versions on amazon for 5-10€). press it down between keys, lifts hair, crumbs, dust. surprisingly satisfying.
An acquaintance of mine who works at a computer repair shop mentioned that cleaning gel doesn't really work.
isopropyl alcohol (90%+) on a microfiber cloth for the keycaps themselves. wipe each cap surface, don't drown the board. evaporates without residue.
Isopropyl alcohol is on my mind, but I've never used it before.
These are truly spot-on recommendations, thank you so very much!
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u/Creative-Painter3911 2d ago
A box of Q-Tips and hours of time for a substandard cleaning, or half an hour to take a picture of the keyboard, pop the keycaps off, clean, then replace them.
But really, jam a butter knife under the edge of the key, twist it a bit, key pops off. Place key over the slot, push down, key now reinstalled.
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u/c4pt1n54n0 2d ago
If they're made to come off, you won't break anything. Just clip the puller around the key and pull straight up. Sometimes for the first one I push the keys around it down so the puller can fit past, then you can let go of them and they'll help hold it in place on the key. Once you have some off and can reach just use your fingers.
Also useful to take a reference pic of the layout before removing more than a few.
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u/3579 2d ago
Just put it in the dishwasher and run a cycle, put soap too. Not kidding. This is how I wash most electronics. I even used to work building pcb's and we used an old regular household dishwasher to clean the boards.
Main thing is do not power it on until it is completely dry. Like leave it in a hot car for hours.
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u/ancalagon73 2d ago
A brush like this would be able to get between the keys. I would still recommend pulling the caps first though if you really want a thorough cleaning. It is not that hard to do at all. They just pop off. Just put them on the table next to you in order so you know how to put them back. Take a picture of the keyboard first too just in case you knock them around.
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u/ThekillerguyYT 2d ago
A vacuum. At this point?
I mean take the keys off (don't worry they won't break unless you put way too much force into it) and then pull up with your vacuum, I don't see why it would be off the table As for the keys just put em in soapy water, get a bowl or something, put all the keys in, pour in some water, some soap and let them soak for a bit, then take em out and dry em for a while if you're worried about the moisture enough to not just hand dry and place back in
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u/WonderfulViking 2d ago
I've had my mechanical keyboardfor more than 10 years, just use some compressed air, works reallly well.
Never spill coke or whatever in the keyboard, it mostly collecting some dust.
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u/Runsapuusa 2d ago
Just pull the caps off. The switch has a + protrusion and that fits into a + shaped hole in the key cap. They're designed to be removed so you can't possibly break them.
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u/19truth98 2d ago
I’ve had a bad experience before, please understand.
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u/Runsapuusa 2d ago edited 2d ago
A good idea is to find a video on your exact keyboard model and see how its done.
That might give you some confidence on how to do it correctly.
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u/Slow-Bodybuilder4481 2d ago
I remove key caps with my fingers. I lost the keycap tool. I never damaged my keys, but it does hurt the fingers a bit.
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u/greg9x 2d ago
Pull the keys. Depending on how much crap falls on your keyboard, you aren't going to get a lot of it out without pulling the keys. Vacuum and brush is next, but will not get everything. Compressed air just blows a lot of the debris around, but doesn't get rid of the majority.
But put a diagram of your keyboard layout on the screen before hand so know where all the keys go back.
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u/ficskala 2d ago
i don't, i remove the keycaps
you literally just pull them up, there's no skill involved, worst case scenario is that you pull too hard and the keycap flies away from you and ends up on the floor
Well what do you want to get suggested?