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Two ways that you can safely clean under your laptop's keys
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If your keys ever get stuck when you're typing, the underside of your keyboard's keys may be in need of a simple cleaning.

Things You Should Know

  • If you have a mechanical keyboard, the keys are easily removable.
  • However, many modern laptops come with membrane keyboards that have keys that are more difficult to remove.
  • Use putty for keyboards that you don't want to dismantle, and wipe down under the keys on mechanical keyboards to clean them.
Method 1
Method 1 of 2:

Wiping

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Method 2
Method 2 of 2:

Putty

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  1. This is usually available cheaply online and in-store.
  2. Wash off any dirt and crumbs.
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Community Q&A

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  • Question
    I spilled root beer on my keyboard. The laptop and keys still work, it's just really annoying because they keep getting stuck. Will this work for getting the sticky residue of root beer off too?
    Skooter1504
    Skooter1504
    Community Answer
    Yes, it should.
  • Question
    Is pulling off the keys on a Windows 10 safe?
    DerHackerSlacker
    DerHackerSlacker
    Community Answer
    Windows 10 is an operating system, which is software. It has no bearing on what your hardware is like.
  • Question
    Can I do this to a laptop?
    XXX_SUCC77760NOSCOPE2017KKK_XXX
    XXX_SUCC77760NOSCOPE2017KKK_XXX
    Community Answer
    It depends. Some laptops have removable keys, while others don't.
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Warnings

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Things You'll Need

  • A soft rag
  • All-surface cleaner or putty
  • Screwdriver

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About This Article

Luigi Oppido
Co-authored by:
Computer & Tech Specialist
This article was co-authored by Luigi Oppido. Luigi Oppido is the Owner and Operator of Pleasure Point Computers in Santa Cruz, California. Luigi has over 25 years of experience in general computer repair, data recovery, virus removal, and upgrades. He is also the host of the Computer Man Show! broadcasted on KSQD covering central California for over two years. This article has been viewed 136,180 times.
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Co-authors: 13
Updated: August 31, 2024
Views: 136,180
Article SummaryX

If there’s grime or goo under your laptop keys, there are a couple of ways to clean under them. Before doing any cleaning, unplug your laptop and power it off. To get dust out from between the keys, place a piece of keyboard cleaning putty over the keyboard and wait for it to seep in around the keys, then gently peel it off. It should take the dirt with it. For a more thorough clean, carefully pry the keys off with a screwdriver. Then, wipe down the surface under the keys with a clean, slightly damp microfiber cloth. Once the keyboard is completely dry, pop the keys back on.

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