How to Clean a Mechanical Keyboard (and Its Keycaps)
Updated
To clean a mechanical keyboard, unplug it, pull off the keycaps, clear out the dust and crumbs, wipe the plate and switches with a slightly damp cloth or isopropyl alcohol, and wash the keycaps separately in warm soapy water. Let everything dry completely before putting it back together. A quick clean takes 15 minutes; a deep clean with washed keycaps takes an evening plus drying time.
What you need
- Keycap puller
- Soft brush or clean paintbrush
- Microfiber cloth
- Isopropyl alcohol (high concentration, so it evaporates quickly)
- Cotton swabs
- A bowl of warm water and mild dish soap
- Optional: a handheld vacuum or a can of compressed air
Quick clean (every few weeks)
- Unplug the keyboard, or turn off a wireless one.
- Turn it upside down and gently shake out loose crumbs.
- Brush between the keys with a soft brush.
- Wipe the keycap tops with a microfiber cloth lightly dampened with isopropyl alcohol.
Deep clean
1. Take a photo, then remove the keycaps
Photograph the layout first so you know where every key goes. Pull the keycaps straight up with a keycap puller. Take extra care with the spacebar, Enter and Shift keys, which have stabilizers underneath.
2. Clean the plate and switch tops
Brush or vacuum out the dust, then wipe the plate and the tops of the switches with a cloth or cotton swab lightly dampened with isopropyl alcohol. Don't pour liquid onto the board, and don't let alcohol drip into the switches.
3. Wash the keycaps
Soak the keycaps in warm water with a little dish soap for 30 minutes to a few hours, stirring occasionally. Scrub any stubborn grime with a soft brush, rinse, and lay them out on a towel to dry fully, ideally overnight. Avoid hot water, which can warp keycaps, and keep keycaps with stabilizer wires or inserts out of the soak.
4. Clean the case
Wipe the case with a damp cloth. For a hot-swap board you can take it further by removing the switches and cleaning the plate fully, but for most people that's rarely needed.
5. Reassemble and test
Once everything is completely dry, put the keycaps back using your photo and test every key.
Can you wash a mechanical keyboard with water?
Not the keyboard itself. Water can damage the PCB and corrode switch contacts. Wash keycaps in water; clean the board with a lightly damp cloth or isopropyl alcohol, which evaporates quickly.
How to clean sticky or unresponsive switches
If a key feels sticky after a spill, unplug the board immediately and let it dry fully. On a hot-swap keyboard, the simplest fix is to pull the affected switch and replace it. Opening and cleaning individual switches is possible but fiddly.
Does cleaning change how a keyboard sounds?
A little. Crumbs and dust can add scratch and rattle, so a clean board often sounds smoother. If you want to change the sound properly, see what makes a keyboard sound good.
Frequently asked questions
Can you clean a mechanical keyboard with alcohol?
Yes. Isopropyl alcohol on a cloth or cotton swab is good for the plate, switch tops and keycaps, because it evaporates quickly. Don't pour it onto the board.
Can you wash keycaps in the dishwasher?
It isn't recommended. The heat can warp keycaps and fade legends. Soak them in warm soapy water instead.
How often should you clean a mechanical keyboard?
A quick brush and wipe every few weeks, and a deep clean with washed keycaps every few months or whenever it looks grimy.
What do I do if I spill on my keyboard?
Unplug it immediately, turn it upside down, remove the keycaps and let everything dry fully before plugging it back in. Replace any switch that stays sticky.