Clean Your Apple MacBook Keyboard

Keep your MacBook as clean as a whistle

By
Jordan Baranowski
Jordan Baranowski
Jordan Baranowski
Writer
  • University of Kansas
  • Avila University
Jordan Baranowski is a former Lifewire writer and educator with experience writing for SVG, The Nerd Stash, and Feast Magazine.
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Updated on August 5, 2020

Like with any appliance or tech, routine maintenance on your MacBook keyboard goes a long way. Make a few passes at taking care of your MacBook every six months or so, and it will pay off in the long run.

Maintaining a clean keyboard seems like a simple enough task. Here are a few tips for helping to clean and maintain your MacBook keyboard.

How to Clean Your MacBook Keyboard With Compressed Air

Compressed air is the recommended way to clean your MacBook keyboard, as well as the Mac and its accessories.

Before you spray down your MacBook, turn it off and unhook anything plugged into the USB or other ports. Additionally, remove the keyboard cover, if you use one.

  1. With your MacBook open, hold it at roughly a 75-degree angle so the keyboard is almost vertical.

    hold computer at 75 degrees
    Apple

  2. With a can of compressed air, spray the keyboard. Move in a zig-zagging pattern from left to right to loosen any dust or crumbs that may be caught in the keys.

  3. Turn the computer 90 degrees so the Tab and Caps Lock keys are at the top.

  4. Repeat the same zig-zagging motion with the compressed air, again moving from top to bottom, left to right.

    spray keys with compressed air
    Apple

  5. Rotate the MacBook and repeat the process one last time, with Tab and Caps Lock on the bottom.

  6. Finally, run a lint-free, microfiber cloth over the surface of the keyboard to wipe off anything remaining on the keyboard.

Microfiber cloths are inexpensive, can be used for a variety of cleaning tasks, and can be reused after washing.

How to Clean MacBook Keyboard Using Rubbing Alcohol and Cleaning Slime

If you have stickiness or built-up residue on your MacBook keyboard, you might need a deeper cleaning. Your two best options are cleaning slime or rubbing alcohol.

Cleaning Slime

Cleaning slime is a sticky goop that can get deep down into cracks to pull trapped particles and dust out of your keyboard. Gently press the slime down on the keyboard and then pull it back. If done correctly, it will bring huge amounts of grime up with it.

Just like when using compressed air, make sure your computer is powered down and everything is unplugged from it before starting the process.

Rubbing Alcohol

If something stubborn is stuck on a specific key, rubbing alcohol may be your best bet. Add a few drops to a cotton swab and apply it to the offending areas of your keyboard.

Make sure the rubbing alcohol does not seep underneath the keys. Keep it on the surface of the keys only.

If a Clean MacBook Keyboard Doesn't Work, Get It Repaired

If your keyboard is still having issues even after utilizing these cleaning methods, there is probably something bigger to worry about in there.

Make an Apple Genius Bar Appointment and take your MacBook to a local Apple store, or check online about getting it repaired if there are no Apple Stores nearby. Check to see if your MacBook is still under warranty, too. If it has serious issues, you may need to send it in for repairs.

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