How to Deeply Clean Your Membrane Keyboard

A keyboard is an input device that is frequently used almost every day. Because of the structure of the keyboard, dust or small things, such as hair, can easily accumulate under the key caps and very hard to be cleaned. Also, during daily using, many bacterium grow on the keyboard. Having a clean and sanitary keyboard can improve your experience using computers. If you have a membrane keyboard for your computer and it is dirty, this instructable will show you how to deeply clean it steps by step. This process only takes less than 30 minutes and it is really simple and doable at home.

The tools you will need are:

· A membrane keyboard

· A Phillips screwdriver

· A slot screwdriver

· An used toothbrush

· Sanitizer (optional)

1. Turn the keyboard upside down and use a Phillips screwdriver to remove all the screws at the back.
2. Insert the slot screwdriver into the space bewteen top and bottom pieces at sides and open it up. You should hear a snap that means it is opened.
3. Detach top and buttom pieces. Put the buttom piece aside because we are not going to use it during cleaning. Caution: the bottom piece contains sensitive circuit sheet, so be careful when handling it.

1. Take a photo of your keyboard before removing keycaps. That would remind you if you forget the their poision when you assemble them back.

2. Turn the top piece upside down. Leave some space between the piece and the table, so keycaps are able to come down.

3. Use the top of the slot screwdriver to push the little foot of each keycap. Note Space key and Shift keys have a little metal rod under the cap because they are longer than other keycaps.

4. Leave the enter key on the top piece, because it has two metal rod under the cap and is hard to put back on.

Now you should have all the keycaps removed, and you can see there are many dust and dirt on the top piece.

1. Put all the keycaps into the sink and let it soak in the water. You can put sanitizer into the water to kill bacterium.
2. Use the toothbrush and brush the surface of keycaps to remove dirty spots.
3. Rinse keycaps few times under running water.
4. Place keycaps at ventilated place and let them air dry.

1. Put the top piece under the running water.
2. Use a toothbrush and brush it, especially the corners.
3. Rinse both sides few times.
4. Swing it hard for few time to remove the most water on the surface. Then put it at a ventilated place and let it air dry.
5. You can use a hair dryer to speed up the drying process, but DO NOT use hot temperature. Heat could melt the plastic pieces.

After all the keycaps and the top piece are totally dried, you can move to the next step.

1. First assemble the Space key. Place the metal rod about 45 degrees from the cap. Make sure the middle of the keycap is above the hole, and then press the middle of the key to assemble it back.
2. Assemble two Shift keys, same as the Space key.
3. To assemble other keycaps to their original positions, press the top of the keycaps.

1. Put the top and bottom together.
2. Press the sides gently until you hear a snap sound.
3. Turn the keyboard upside down and use the Phillips screwdriver to put all the screws back on.
4. Connect the keyboard to your computer.
5. Type something and make sure all the keys are working.

This completes the deep cleaning of your keyboard. After all these steps, you will have a clean and sanitry keyboard. Frequent and regular cleaning your keyboard not only gives you better experience of typing, but also can increase the service life of your keyboard. As I said, this is an easy process. However, feel free to contact me by leaving comments below if you have any problems.