If you are a germaphobe it’s probably best not to think too deeply about how dirty that computer keyboard is. But if you’re like us, you eat and drink at your desk, and go right back to typing away after you’re done enjoying that delicious glazed donut. While you can safely use water to wipe down your keyboard, stickier substances will not budge. Fortunately there’s an entire marketplace devoted to cleaning your precious, expensive gadget.
First things first: scratchy paper towels aren’t going to cut it. Get soft microfiber or microsuede cloths to wipe down your glossy monitors and the surface of your keyboard. These cloths are reusable and will not pill, and are guaranteed not to scratch the monitor, unlike your t-shirt. There are a plethora of screen cleaners specially designed for monitors, but you can also use distilled water mixed with white vinegar dabbled on a cloth. (Experts advise never to spray directly on the screen).
If you’ve got the old fashioned thick keys (and not the flat keyboard popularized by Apple’s iMac series), you’re gonna have to go in deep. You’ll need a can of compressed air which can blow out the bits in between the tough-to-reach spots. (Barring this, you may actually have to pop off each individual key and wipe it down with a Q-Tip). Other props that can be useful in your computer cleaning endeavors: rubbing alcohol and a small toothbrush.
If the computer is still needing a once over, some have suggested lightly using a Magic Eraser will get that device looking like new. (Lightly!)
