Surely, every owner of a laptop or netbook has encountered such a problem as a clogged keyboard. Someone constantly eats over it, someone even manages to spill coffee or tea on the keyboard. And it’s good if, as a result of these barbaric actions, the equipment remains alive and does not short out anywhere. But in any case, sooner or later a dirty keyboard will make itself known: some buttons will stop being pressed, or, on the contrary, they will be pressed spontaneously. What to do in this case? How to clean a laptop keyboard?

Let me say right away that there are two ways to clean a laptop keyboard. The first – long and painstaking – is to clean the keyboard yourself. The second - quick and expensive - contact customer service (or me). But not all computer and office equipment repair service centers will bother with your stained keyboard; the minimum they will offer you is to disable it as a device and offer you to use a plug-in external keyboard. The maximum that the service center can offer you is to replace the entire keyboard, which is not cheap considering the labor and waiting time until the ordered keyboard is delivered.

Disassemble for cleaning

So, the first thing you need to do is, of course, turn off the device and disconnect it from the network. Then you should disconnect the keyboard from the laptop (netbook). As a rule, manufacturers try to simplify the procedure for replacing keyboards on laptops, so it is attached on top with several latches that need to be pulled off with something flat. But sometimes there are also keyboards that are “soldered” into the top cover along with the touchpad and other buttons. In this case, you will have to poke around without disconnecting the keyboard from the device.

To remove the keyboard from the Toshiba NB520 netbook, you need to disconnect it from battery. Underneath there are five screws that need to be unscrewed.

Then you need to disconnect the small semicircular panel with the power button.

To do this, use a flat, thin screwdriver to pry it off from the side of the keyboard and snap it off. After removal, we can access the top edge of the keyboard

and it can now be removed from the housing. Pull up the sides of the keyboard and release them from the mounts. Carefully turn it over and remove the connecting cable from its socket.

That's it, now we have access to a keyboard separate from the netbook. I came across a not very clean owner of this device:

Let's start analyzing the keyboard. This description will be relevant for owners of all keyboards with a scissor mechanism. First you need to unfasten the keys from the keyboard body. They are mounted on the scissor mechanism itself, which, as a rule, has two types of fastening simultaneously for each key. The first is antennae shaped like an “G” that fit into the corresponding grooves on the key or in the keyboard body. The second is the crossbars, which are inserted into the sockets of the key or housing.

The L-shaped antennae are very, very fragile, so extreme care should be taken when detaching the key. The key must be disconnected from the side of the fastening-crossbar and in no case from the side of the antennae with the letter “G”! Therefore, first you need to slightly lift the key and look under it to find out the side that is attached with the crossbars.

This is the one that needs to be pulled off first. There will be two clicks - the crossbars will come out of their sockets.

Now all that remains is to disconnect the antennae. To do this, pull the key towards one of them, and it will be released.

The principle has been mastered, now you can remove the remaining keys. For convenience, I laid them out on the table in the same order in which they were on the keyboard. Before this, armed with wet wipes, I took an individual approach to each key and wiped it.

When all the keys are unfastened, you can begin to remove the scissor mechanism itself. On different keyboards it is attached to the body with slight differences, but the principle is the same - with its legs it holds on to the small antennae of the body. We find the most movable corner and pull it, releasing it from the tendril. Next, we free another nearby corner in the same way; the remaining two legs of the mechanism will not be difficult to remove from their places. If the mechanism is dirty, it must also be wiped with a damp cloth.

After all the manipulations I got the following picture:

And here’s a “chic” view of a dirty keyboard case:

It should be said that under the keys in the center of the scissor mechanism there are rubber caps, which close the contacts of the pressed key. I was lucky, on this keyboard they were glued to the case, but previously there were removable ones. Special care should also be taken with them, because they are very light and can “fly away” from the slightest exhalation.

You can start cleaning the keyboard case itself. The same wet wipes are used for initial rough cleaning of the surface. Then, armed with cotton swabs and an alcohol-containing solution, cleaning is carried out more thoroughly. After completing the “water procedures”, you can assemble the keyboard in the reverse order. First, we insert the scissor mechanisms into place.


And then carefully snap the keys themselves into place. And this is what I ended up with:

Installing the keyboard on a netbook is done in the reverse order.

I would like to note the fact that on some laptop keyboards one of the contacts is rear end keyboard housing, made in the form of a stretched foil film. Be extremely careful with it when cleaning the case, do not crush or tear it. Any deformation of this contact may lead to sticking of any of the keys during operation of the device.

I hope this article will help you figure out how to clean your netbook keyboard.

The keyboard is easy to care for. This requires cleaning - one of the basic processes that will ensure its proper operation. In this article we will talk about popular methods for cleaning a laptop keyboard. Step by step guide This will allow you to clean it carefully without damaging other parts of the laptop.

Collected dust, animal hair, hair and other contaminants must be regularly removed from under the keyboard buttons: at least once every two months. This is especially important for those who like to have snacks without looking up from the screen. As a result, a large number of crumbs collect under the buttons, which lead to the fact that parts of the keyboard begin to either sink or stick. In this case, it will no longer be possible to print text normally. That is why for all owners of a laptop or netbook we present the most effective tips for cleaning the keyboard at home.

Tip 1: How to clean a laptop keyboard at home: getting started

Safety comes first when removing dirt. Therefore, before you start cleaning your laptop keyboard, be sure to turn it off. If it is charging, then turn it off too. You should also disconnect the battery.

Tip 2: The most effective and easiest way to remove dirt

One of the easiest and most cost-effective methods prompt cleaning keys is to use the vacuum cleaner. A small car vacuum cleaner with a special nozzle (tapered towards the end) is better suited for this. If you do not have such equipment, then a regular vacuum cleaner will do.

To clean your laptop keyboard as effectively as possible, you need to thoroughly vacuum each key, especially the space bar. We also recommend carefully processing the gaps between the keys, stopping at each for about 3-5 seconds.

Today in specialized stores you can find various products that make cleaning your laptop keyboard much easier. We recommend that you pay attention to a can of compressed air: it is designed for cleaning hard-to-reach areas of various equipment. Method of application: you need to spray air at an angle, this will remove dust and other dirt from inside the keyboard.

Tip 4: How to clean the outside of a laptop keyboard

The top (visible) layer of the keys becomes actively dirty due to dust or dirty hands. Dirt deposits, which are especially visible on a light-colored keyboard, may indicate the need for cleaning.

At first glance, wiping the keyboard with a rag or alcohol is not difficult. However, here you need to use safe materials that will help both clean the keys and preserve the appropriate inscriptions on them. For external damp use:

  • microfiber cloth, cotton sponge or swab (if not the entire surface of the keyboard is dirty, it is enough to use a piece of cotton wool, which must be moistened with water or lubricated with a cleanser);
  • a barely damp cloth (wring out the cloth well before you start cleaning, as drippings can get inside the laptop and drench important circuits, the motherboard, etc., after which the laptop will stop working);
  • isopropyl alcohol, as well as products made on its basis (ethyl alcohol cannot be used in this case, as it can erase characters from the keyboard along with dirt).

You can purchase this new product on the Internet. The main properties of a jelly cloth are its sticky base and good plasticity. Thanks to this, the sticky “lump” will collect dust not only on top of the keyboard, but also remove dirt from hard-to-reach places. Using a jelly cloth, you need to carefully crush each key from different sides. This will leave any dust, dirt, hair or crumbs on it. If the keyboard is not too dirty, then the jelly sponge can be used several times.

Thorough and most best cleaning The keyboard can be cleaned if you disassemble it and carefully wipe every part inside. But not everyone knows how to disassemble a laptop for cleaning and do it without breaking the keys. Difficulties may also arise with how to put it back together. Therefore we offer step by step instructions How to disassemble and wash the inside of a laptop keyboard:

  1. Take a photo of the keyboard so that later you don’t have any questions related to its assembly and the location of the keys.
  2. Some laptops differ in disassembly, but most of them (Asus, Samsung and other popular brands) have keys that can be easily removed with a fingernail or a small screwdriver. To do this, you need to lightly pry the edge of the key and gently pull. After this it should come off easily.
  3. We recommend carrying out zonal cleaning: remove one key and put it back in place, since if you remove all the keys at the same time, there is a high probability that you will put them back together with errors or spend a lot of time on this process.
  4. The internal parts of the keyboard can be cleaned with a cotton swab dipped in water, and it is better to wash the removable keys separately in a bowl of warm water. Please note that cleaned parts must be completely dry before assembly.
  5. Assembling the keys is quite easy: you need to put the plastic part in place, then press lightly until you hear a characteristic sound. Then test its functionality: if the key is pressed as usual and does not fall out, then you have successfully completed the assembly process.

Your keyboard is now clean and ready to go!

From time to time, your computer keyboard gets dirty. Food crumbs, drink drops, dust, pet hair - all this debris gets clogged between the keys and slows down the operation of the device. Those who like to drink coffee with a laptop at hand run the risk of flooding the device with sweet liquid, which is very dangerous for electronics. The device begins to “glitch”, and in especially severe cases it may even fail. To avoid troubles, you need to clean your keyboard in a timely manner. It is best to contact service center, but if you wish, you can do the cleaning yourself.

It may seem that the easiest option is to wash the keyboard with water. You shouldn’t do this, because electronics are afraid of liquids. You can only rinse the keys of an already disassembled device under running water. In addition, a number of rules should be followed:

  1. Do not wipe the keyboard with cloths dampened with plain water. There is a high probability of liquid droplets getting inside.
  2. Do not use aggressive chemicals or abrasive powders.
  3. Do not use hard brushes or sharp objects such as needles or toothpicks.
  4. It is also undesirable to use terry rags - they leave fluff on the surface, which will quickly attract other debris.
  5. Do not pick under the buttons too actively - there is a danger of damaging fragile elements.

Technology loves to be treated with care. Be careful and attentive when cleaning.

Easy surface cleaning

If the device appears slightly dirty, you can clean it without disassembling it. Any user can clean the keyboard.

Turn the keyboard over and shake it gently. Tap the body. You'll be surprised how many crumbs and debris you can get out. This procedure should be carried out regularly. Just remember to disconnect the device from the computer (or turn off the power to the laptop).

If there are greasy sticky spots on the keys, proceed as follows:

  1. Pour 1-2 tbsp into a saucer. l. vodka or alcohol. You can also take ammonia.
  2. Dampen a cotton pad or old toothbrush.
  3. Clean the keys thoroughly. Impurities will literally dissolve.

It's okay if a couple of drops of alcohol get inside; alcohol is not as dangerous for electronic parts as water. But you shouldn’t be too zealous.

Advice! Get special wet wipes for equipment for cleaning. They are indispensable in cases where you need to quickly clean grease and dirt.

It is convenient to clean the gaps between the buttons with a special brush, or you can take a regular one for painting. The soft bristles will not scratch the elements and will effectively remove debris.

A mini keyboard vacuum cleaner helps a lot. However, not every user has such a device. Instead, you can use a regular hair dryer to dry your hair. Direct the air stream at the upside-down keyboard, paying attention to the space between the keys. Then shake. This way you can remove crumbs, hair and other debris.

Attention! Turn on only cold air. Hot will create a “bath effect”, which is extremely harmful to electronics.

Deep cleaning with key removal

If the device is heavily soiled or damaged by liquid, it should be disassembled and thoroughly cleaned. The need to disassemble the keyboard can frighten owners who have not yet encountered this process. However, if handled properly, the procedure will not harm your equipment.

How to clean a laptop keyboard will be discussed below; it requires special care.

In case of personal computer You need to disconnect the device and carefully remove all the keys. You will need a flathead screwdriver, tweezers or a regular paper clip:

  1. Using a suitable tool, remove the bottom cover by turning the keyboard over.
  2. Remove the film with contact tracks. This must be done extremely carefully, if possible checking the instructions for the product.
  3. Remove the buttons by prying them off with a screwdriver.

It is better for beginners not to touch long and large keys. They have strong mounts that won't give way easily. Don't take risks. Apply a couple of drops of alcohol to the buttons and clean with a cotton swab.

The removed keys can be rinsed under running water or soaked in an alcohol solution for an hour. Two tablespoons of alcohol or vodka per glass of water is enough. Sticky and greasy stains will come off easily. The keyboard housing can be cleaned with a toothbrush.

The film does not require active washing, except that you can brush off the coating and wipe it with a cotton swab.

Advice! Add dish soap, shampoo, or liquid soap to a bowl of water, shake until foamy, and place on dirty keys to clean.

How to clean your PC keyboard (video)

How to put the keyboard back together?

Simple advice! Do on mobile phone A photo of the keyboard before disassembling it.

This will make the subsequent assembly process easier:


Cleaning computer parts with disassembly is quite difficult. A mistake can cost you equipment that is disabled. If you are not confident in your abilities, do not take risks. Contact a more experienced user.

What to do if liquid is spilled on the keyboard?

There are times when equipment needs to be saved quickly, literally seconds count. Very often people eat at the computer and spill drinks on the keys.

If the user flooded the keyboard with plain water, then it will most likely be able to be restored. It is much worse if tea, coffee with sugar, soda or beer have been spilled. Sticky liquids are treacherous: their destructive effects may not appear immediately. You may decide that the danger has passed and continue using the keyboard. Then the buttons will start to stick, the contacts will oxidize, and the device will come to an end.

Therefore, it is important to dry any moisture:

  1. Unplug your keyboard.
  2. If disaster strikes your laptop, turn it over and remove the battery. Remember - it will be easier to restore data on the disk than to buy a new device.
  3. Turn the keyboard upside down and shake vigorously so that the liquid flows out and does not penetrate deep into the case.
  4. Blot any remaining liquid with a towel.

If clean water gets on the equipment, it is not necessary to disassemble it. Dry it with a hairdryer (cold air only!) and leave it for a day in a warm, dry place.

If other liquids get in, disassembly is inevitable. Follow the already known algorithm.

When the keyboard is disassembled, you will understand the scale of the disaster. Clean the dirt on the soft film as carefully as possible. Use a cotton pad and never use aggressive cleaning agents - they will only cause harm. A small amount of distilled water will help, but if you don’t have it on hand, regular water will do.

If there are too many stains that cannot be cleaned, do not scrub the electronics vigorously. Take the item to a service center for professional assistance.

Features of cleaning a laptop keyboard

How to clean the keyboard on a laptop is worth talking about separately. The destruction of a desktop computer keyboard will not cause significant damage. Careless handling of laptop parts can lead to irreparable consequences: HDD, the motherboard and other vital “organs” are located in close proximity to the buttons.

Disassembling a laptop keyboard is quite simple. The panel with the keys is held on by special latches that are easy to unfasten. Be sure to read the instructions for your device. If the keyboard is not very dirty, this method will help clean it:


Drying a laptop keyboard from spills is a little more difficult. Buttons here are the lesser of evils, since the internal board of the computer may be damaged. Try to provide first aid as quickly as possible - there will be a chance to save the equipment.

Algorithm of actions:

  1. Do not hesitate to unplug your laptop without waiting for the work to complete.
  2. Remove the battery.
  3. Dry the keyboard with cloth or paper towels.
  4. Place toilet paper between the keys - the deeper the better. The method may seem funny, but it will dry hard-to-reach areas effectively.
  5. Leave the gadget upside down for a day, in the shape of a “house”.
  6. Check the paper periodically. If it instantly becomes saturated with moisture and drying turns out to be ineffective, immediately contact a professional.

Remember that laptop parts can oxidize due to humidity. Before using dried equipment, take it to a service center.

Cleaning equipment is quite difficult for the average user. To avoid having to do general cleaning, follow simple rules of care and use:

  1. Try not to eat or drink while on the computer. One careless move can cause serious damage to your equipment.
  2. Maintain your keyboard periodically. Take half an hour to clean it with cleaning wipes or an alcohol-soaked cotton wool. Of course, this must be done with the power off.
  3. Shake out small debris regularly.
  4. Wash your hands before using the computer to avoid grease stains, which accumulate on the surface and collect dirt.
  5. Don't hit the keys too hard as they may become loose.

Compliance with operating rules will save the life of your computer or laptop for a long time. Handle your equipment with care, and it will be for you best assistant in business.

Keyboard repair Acer laptop is, first of all, difficult because the keyboard and the device itself are a single unit. Without removing the keyboard from the laptop, most types of repairs cannot be made, and this is an example with.

2 How to clean the keyboard of an Acer laptop?

You can clean your keyboard from dust, dirt from your fingers, and just crumbs and drops of liquid both at home and in a specialized service center.

Typically, several types of materials are used:

  • soft brushes and cloths for;
  • non-aggressive cleaning liquid without acetone or alcohol (you can damage not only the paint of the symbols, but also the contacts under the panel);
  • a special small vacuum cleaner that is powered by USB. He does not have high power, works for blowing. Just be careful with the force of the air flow, otherwise you can knock out the key;
  • compressed air cans for .

Do not use water or liquid with solvent properties to clean the laptop keyboard. Isopropylene alcohol can be used. Also, do not try to pick up dirt with sharp objects. It is recommended to simply wipe it and use soft brushes regularly.

2.1 Repairing an Acer laptop key

The “flight” of a key, which for some reason leaves its place on the keyboard quite easily. The reasons may be:

  • wear and tear due to constant and strong blows when typing (wear of the “rocker” under the key);
  • using a vacuum cleaner to clean the keyboard from dust with too much power (the key is simply knocked out by a stream of air).

Repairing an Acer laptop key is carried out as follows:

  • if the “rocker” (two fastened spring elements, thanks to which pressing and contact with the electronics occurs) is intact, then the ejected key is cleaned, and the two grooves for the latches and two grooves for the ears of the “rocker” are carefully connected to the corresponding elements of the latter. For convenience, you can use a needle;
  • If the key flies out along with the “rocker”, then first carefully separate it from the key and attach it back to the hinge. There are grooves for this. Then we do the work described in the previous paragraph.

Replacing an Acer laptop keyboard - video


2.2 How the service works

After the laptop has been sent to the service center, the technician must diagnose its condition: whether there are parts burnt out from overvoltage or internal damage from hitting the keyboard. The laptop is also checked for corrosion of parts.

If there is visible damage to the keyboard, it is dismantled. Only when it is separated is the ability of the contacts to close to be checked and the keys that have flown out are returned to their place. After that it is put in place. Additionally, it can be cleaned.

In such types of work - cleaning the keyboard, replacing keys - the cost of the work will be from 10 to 50 USD. It depends on the complexity of the repair. But repairs are even cheaper.

The keyboard is constantly exposed mechanical impact and for this reason it often requires replacement. However, many of its breakdowns are explained by contamination, which means that by knowing how to clean a laptop keyboard at home, you can significantly extend its “life” and get rid of the significant expenses of buying and installing a new one.

Choosing a cleaning method

On a desktop PC, dirt getting inside the keyboard can cause only that device to malfunction without causing harm to the computer. In a laptop, the keyboard is built into the case, which means that everything that penetrates under the buttons can get inside to the electronic “stuffing”. In this case, the owner may face serious troubles - from poor ventilation, which leads to overheating and spontaneous shutdown of the PC, to failure of the electronics ( motherboard, processor, etc.). Therefore, you need to know how to clean the keyboard on your laptop yourself. It is advisable to carry out this work regularly, without waiting for signs of device malfunction to appear.


The choice of method for cleaning the laptop keyboard depends on the type and degree of contamination.

  1. Dirt, greasy stains from your hands and dust on the outer surface of the keys do not interfere with the operation of the device, but they seriously damage it appearance and just unhygienic. Cleaning requires a cloth and cleaning fluid.
  2. Debris and dirt getting inside the keyboard may cause separate buttons will jam or not work (not press through). In this case, more serious work is required to remove dirt from the device.
  3. If tea, coffee or other liquid is spilled on the device, emergency measures must be taken to save the device and laptop.


Superficial cleaning

It is used in the first case to remove dirt directly from the keys and in the space between them. It is advisable to clean your PC keyboard once a month. The buttons should be cleaned with a soft, lint-free cloth. The use of cotton wool for these purposes is not advisable. The space between the buttons is cleaned with a soft brush, or, in extreme cases, with cotton swabs, but you should carefully ensure that no lint remains between the keys.


It is advisable to use special cleaning compounds as a cleaning liquid, for example Defender gel. But you can do it with home remedies. Diluted isopropyl alcohol is suitable; it cleans plastic well, but not everyone has this substance. There is a universal remedy that everyone has. The keys can be washed perfectly and safely with ordinary soapy water.

Before cleaning the keyboard, be sure to turn off the computer and remove the battery!

The prepared napkin must be slightly moistened with the cleaning liquid so that its drops cannot get inside the keyboard and gently wipe (not wash) all the keys with it. Moisten a brush or cotton swab with soapy water, be sure to blot it with a napkin, and then clean the space between the buttons. At the end, you need to thoroughly wipe the device with a dry cloth and do not turn on the computer for 20-30 minutes.

Do not use acetone or other solvents for cleaning, as they can dissolve (melt) the keyboard and the body of the device. Do not wash buttons with vodka or other compounds containing ethyl alcohol. This very aggressive substance will easily remove dirt, and at the same time paint on the keys.

Regular removal of dirt from the keys significantly extends the service life of the device. In addition, the need for deep cleaning will be much less likely.

Deep cleaning your keyboard

If debris and dirt get under the keys, it is impossible to operate the laptop normally. In this case, you cannot do without thorough cleaning. First you should try to remove dirt without disassembling the keyboard:

  • Use a long-bristled brush to clean the spaces between the keys, turning the laptop over from time to time and shaking it lightly.
  • Place the laptop at an angle and blow off the keyboard with a hairdryer (cold air)
  • Do the same using a portable can of compressed air.
  • Use a special miniature USB vacuum cleaner.


If after these manipulations the buttons continue to stick or cannot be pressed, then you will have to disassemble and wash the keyboard. It's better to remove it from the laptop. Before attempting to remove the keyboard, you need to find out how it is secured to the laptop. In different models it is secured differently in the body. Most often, the keyboard is secured using latches. Use a thin screwdriver to press out the latches, starting from the upper left corner. Having freed the top and sides, the keyboard is carefully pulled out of the case. This must be done very carefully so as not to damage the cable connecting it to the motherboard. Having carefully disconnected the cable, you can begin disassembly. But before this, the keyboard must be photographed, otherwise it will be difficult to return the keys to their places later. The buttons are removed with a screwdriver, but this must be done very carefully, since their fastenings are quite “delicate”.


After disassembling the buttons, you can wash them with soapy water, and clean the base and contacts with a soft brush. If the contacts and rubber bands are heavily soiled, wipe them with a cloth moistened with a cleaning solution or soapy water, and then wipe them dry. Under no circumstances should they be washed.

After finishing cleaning, it is advisable to allow all parts to dry thoroughly, after which you can assemble the keyboard and install it in place.

If after the procedure some keys do not work, then there is no point in disassembling and washing the keyboard again, since, most likely, it is not a matter of dirt, but a malfunction, and it will have to be replaced.

Every laptop owner can perform preventative surface cleaning himself. Complete disassembly You can also do the cleaning yourself, but it is better to entrust this work to specialists.