Glance behind the keys of your laptop or desktop computer’s keyboard right away, and you will be amazed at what you will find looking at you. Everything from crumbs, lint, to even minuscule amounts of dust can find its way onto the keyboard.Many of us use the average disinfectant wipe or aerosol air can, which will only do half the job. The wipe will only clean the outer layer, leaving dirt hidden inside the crevices, while the aerosol might drive the dust further inside the electronics.The most effective device to clean such things is likely already in your bathroom – an ordinary manual toothbrush. While the method might seem overly easy, it has its mechanics to justify its effectiveness. Flexible and fine nylon bristles are designed precisely to fit into those narrow gaps and move dirt while causing no damage to surfaces. Using a manual toothbrush on a keyboard serves the same purpose as using a small brush on any other surface – it acts like a miniature broom, which collects all the dirt in the gaps between the keys.Why are bristles superior to wipes for thorough cleaningNowadays, keyboards have extremely tight tolerances in their construction. Disinfectant wipes work wonderfully for wiping away bacteria from surfaces. However, their lack of a three-dimensional form means that they are incapable of cleaning gaps between the keys. It is quite important since dirt and dead cells tend to accumulate in the gaps even if the keyboard looks perfectly clean.Scientific research into cleaning tools supports the idea that mechanical agitation is key. A study titled The relative cleaning effectiveness of manual and powered toothbrushes, highlights that the manual motion of bristles is highly effective at dislodging particles from complex surfaces. In a keyboard context, this means the toothbrush does the heavy lifting of physically breaking up the “biofilm” or sticky dust that bonds to the plastic. By using a toothbrush first, you ensure that the dirt is gone before you follow up with a wipe to sanitise the surface.The dual approach becomes particularly relevant when dealing with shared spaces. As reported in The Canadian Veterinary Journal, wipes eliminate bacteria, but they do so most effectively after removing loose debris from the surface. In other words, you cannot sanitise a surface covered with dirt. The toothbrush comes as the first essential step in a proper cleaning approach.
This mechanical agitation, supported by scientific research, is crucial for thorough cleaning before sanitising, ensuring a healthier and higher-performing device. It’s an inexpensive, eco-friendly solution for frequent maintenance.
Tips for maintaining a high-performing keyboardBrushing the dust from a keyboard is an easy task to complete, but there are a few tricks that will prevent you from damaging your hardware. The key here is to make sure that the device is switched off and disconnected from the power source if necessary. When choosing the right brush, pay attention to the softness of nylon bristles.Tilt the keyboard or even lay it on its back while brushing. Let gravity work to your advantage by allowing the dust that falls off to fall rather than float back to where it originated. Apply circular motions while moving from key to key. If there are some tough spots, you may use a little isopropyl alcohol on the bristles, but do not allow any droplets to fall inside the computer’s circuits.However, this technique distinguishes itself by being inexpensive and ecological. In lieu of paying high prices for special cleaning gels and air dispensers that will soon become unusable, you may take advantage of your old toothbrush or purchase a new one for the purpose of cleaning at the office desk. Such an approach makes it possible to clean your keys quite frequently without spending much money on doing so.
