Deep Clean Your Apple Keyboard So it Looks Pristine

Have a grime encrusted white plastic Apple Keyboard and a can of air cannot do any justice? My answer was "oh yes."  My keyboard was so nasty that the keys got stuck and it wasn't pleasurable typing anymore. I determined that normal cleaning will not work and I had to disassemble the whole keyboard for a deep cleaning.  Most of the keyboard was disassembled and gently cleaned. Keys were washed and the housing was cleaned out.  After cleaning, the keyboard looked like it was new. It was pristine almost. With this guide, I will show you how to clean and polish nearly every nook and cranny of the Apple Keyboard.


Before you start: unplug keyboard or remove the batteries from the keyboard. Also be gentle.

Step 1 Supply List

Time required: 30-60 mins

Tools you will need:
Apple Keyboard or Bluetooth Keyboard (i am using the BT one in this instructable)
Torx 5 Screw Driver
1.3 mm Hex wrench
Microfiber towels (1 damp)
A bucket of warm water with a drop mild dish washing fluid
Small pliers
Fingers
Grease (optional)

Comments

[pingeee]

I just deep cleaned one of my keyboard few weeks ago. I had trouble putting back all the wide keys with the metal bars. After some banging and trial and errors, my "shift" key is now working without the metal bar. Can you share your technique of how to do that?
Thanks

[imjasonc]

I had that trouble when i first assembled the keys with the metal clips. make sure you have the correct metal clip. A lot of them "look" like they are the same size, but its a tad shorter. also make sure you did not bend the metal clip. i had to bend one back to make it work.

My suggestion for you is to take off all the keys around the shift key and see if the metal clip actually fits and moves property when you press down on the shift key. You can look at my space bar picture in step 4. you can basically align the metal clip prior to inserting the key. If the metal clip is not in the slot, then align it until it is before pressing in the key. I hope that helps.

[pingeee]

Thanks.
My keyboard is not an Apple keyboard. After a second look on your picture I realize my metal bar hook orientation (on the board) is opposite of yours. Therefore we probably would end up with different technique of assembling those keys...

This is the second time I deep cleaned my keyboard. The first time I cleaned my office keyboard and there was no metal bar or whatsoever. I had a smooth process, and I was extremely satisfied with the clean feeling. That's why I was quite confident this time before I realized the metal bar difference. I think I will think twice before I dismantle any wide keys with metal bar next time. I can leave with a keyboard that is 90% clean with those wide keys intact.

[imjasonc]

ah that sucks. sorry i cannot offer any more help. cleaning a keyboard is a delicate job. those clips/bars are easily bent or miss aligned. thats why i posted pics of the actual metal clip and how it fits into the slots.