Keyboards are perhaps the most used and abused components of our modern personal computers. Many of us clack away on keys all day long, whether it be word processing, spreadsheet crunching, coding, or anything else in between. As a result, PC keyboards are designed with heartiness in mind, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t subject to wear and tear over time.

Indeed, even the most robust scissor switch keyboard design is prone to degradation, and this is doubly true if you don’t take proactive measures to keep it in working order right from the get-go. Thankfully, it’s pretty easy to look after your keyboard, which should extend its lifespan significantly. Read on for some pragmatic steps you can take to save your keyboard from technical quandary.

How to keep your keyboard in working order

Looking after your keyboard pays dividends

Right off the bat, I’d recommend giving your keyboard a wipe down with some 70 percent isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol. Keyboards can harbor a ton of germs, and so disinfecting your keys on a regular basis is always a good idea. Just be sure not to take too heavy-handed of an approach with the rubbing alcohol — too much of the stuff can wear down the plastic key caps of your keyboard.

Next, I’d suggest investing in a compressed air can and blasting out any dust, dirt, grime, or other debris from your keyboard. Crumbs and other particulates tend to get lodged under key caps, which in turn impacts your ability to press down on said keys over time. Again, avoid a heavy hand — less is more when it comes to blasting compressed air.

Depending on your keyboard’s make and model, you might also be able to remove individual key caps for a more in-depth cleaning experience. Mechanical keyboards in particular often allow for key cap removal, but plenty of chiclet-style keyboards also feature removable key caps. If your keyboard’s keys are indeed removable, consider soaking them in warm, soapy water, rinsing them off, and then letting them air dry.

Now, after cleaning out your keyboard, you might be tempted to go out and purchase a keyboard cover or protector. These thin sheets of plastic protect against debris and finger oils, which is nice, but I wouldn’t recommend them for laptop users. Laptops are designed with exacting tolerances in mind, and adding a protective sheet of plastic could damage the lid, screen, or hinge of your device.

For laptop users in particular, cleaning a keyboard can be an exercise in frustration as you try to avoid pressing down on keys and accidentally inputting things onto your PC. If you own a MacBook, I recommend installing one of several third-party tools that temporarily disables keyboard input, such as KeyBoardCleanTool.

A clean keyboard is a happy keyboard

Your keyboard doesn’t have to suffer

For optimal results, I’d recommend lightly cleaning your keyboard on a regular basis, perhaps as often as once per week. This way, you’re fully on top of things, as opposed to being left scrambling and having to perform a deeper clean after the fact.

Generally speaking, avoiding eating while using your keyboard is a smart idea, as it’ll minimize the amount of crumbs that wind up under your key caps. Likewise, take precautions if drinking, say, coffee in front of your computer — a spill is bad news all around, and nobody wants to deal with a sticky keyboard.

Lastly, washing your hands prior to using your keyboard is always a good idea. This minimizes the amount of finger oils and germs that might otherwise collect on your key caps, preserving your keyboard’s pristine appearance for longer than would otherwise be the case.

Ultimately, keyboards are fairly resilient to the elements, but they still require some TLC from time to time in order to stay in proper working order. Cleaning your keyboard is good practice across the board, and I’d recommend it for all keyboard users — whether they be using a PC, a Mac, a Linux machine, or even a tablet with a detachable keyboard cover.