- 9.40/10 1. Premium pick: DataVac Electric Dust Blower
- 9.20/10 2. Editors choice: Hagibis Cleaning Soft Brush Kit
- 9.20/10 3. Premium pick: Uppercase GhostCover
- 8.60/10 4. Fesciory Dust Cleaning Gel Kit
- 9.20/10 5. MiracleSpray Cleaner
- 7.80/10 6. Meco Keyboard Cleaner
- 8.80/10 7. OXO Good Grips Sweep & Swipe
Whether you only use your PC for gaming or as a dedicated workspace, your keyboard will inevitably experience much of the traffic. That also means it can be a hot zone for bacteria, not to mention pretty gross over time.
That's to be expected considering oils are left behind by your fingers, attracting all manner of dust and dirt. After a month of use, grime is caked onto the surface and underneath the keys.
Here are the best keyboard cleaners.
Compressed air is great at blasting away dust and dirt caked on electronics and keyboards, especially the bits that get trapped in tiny corners and crevices. Unfortunately, canned air isn't infinite, and, worse still, you run the risk of spraying liquid refrigerant. That's not good and, quite frankly, a waste of money. Save yourself the hassle and invest in the powerful DataVac Electric Dust Blower.
The DataVac Electric Dust Blower doesn't blow air from a reservoir, but rather takes in the air around you with its 500W motor, then blasts a very strong jet of air out the other end with 70 CFM of airflow. You get the performance of those finite cans of air without the harm of spraying liquids all over your hardware and keyboard.
Best of all, the DataVac Electric Dust Blower comes packed with a series of attachments. The pinpoint attachment, for example, is perfect for reaching smaller spaces or the air flare nozzle to widen the jet of air. It turns this keyboard cleaner from a simple air duster to an essential device for cleaning not just your keyboard but all of your electronics.
- Bundles with several attatchments
- 500W motor
- 12ft cable
- Brand: Metro
- Weight: 2.7lbs
- Dimensions: 6.75 x 4 x 7.5 inches
- Power Supply: Corded Electric
- Power: 70 CFM airflow
- Package Includes: Duster, Air Pin-pointer, Air Concentration Nozzle, Air-flare Nozzle, Micro-cleaning tool kit
- GIves you a reason to drop canned air
- Can be used on other electronics
- Powerful stream of air
- Needs a more effective brush
Maintaining a healthy keyboard involves more than just a quick dusting; a happy keyboard is one that has every corner and crevice detailed. Dirt and dust always manage to slip underneath the keys and onto the board underneath. To get into all the necessary spaces, the Hagibis Cleaning Soft Brush Kit is a great option.
At first glance, it looks like the Hagibis Cleaning Soft Brush Kit is just a simple nylon brush, but it's hiding its superpower: Pop the top of the handle off and you'll find a metal pen tip fitted with a high-density brush and a flocking sponge, both of which excel at scrubbing away dirt and dust in the little crevices of your keyboard. For sweeping away large swathes of debris, the soft nylon brush does the trick without damaging your keycaps or the internet circuitry.
Best of all, the Hagibis Cleaning Soft Brush Kit makes cleaning your keyboard a cinch without forcing you to invest in massive, unwieldy tools. It's so compact that you can easily store it or bring it with you on your travels.
- 5-in-1 cleaning kit
- Includes a key puller
- Nylon brush
- Brand: Hagibis
- Color: Black, Gray, Pink, Red
- Weight: 2.46oz
- Dimensions: 5.91 x 3.15 x 1.1 inches
- Package Includes: Nylon Bristles, Flocking Sponge, High-density Brush, Metal Pen Tip and Keycap Puller
- Soft, fine bristles won't damage your keyboard or internal circuitry
- Portable and easy to store
- Has all the right tools to clean every crevice
- Tools are easy to lose if you aren't careful
Having tools and whatnot on hand to clean your keyboard is great and all, but what about preventative measures? With the Uppercase GhostCover, you not only have a protective cover for your keyboard but one that also excels at cleaning up the day's dirt and Cheeto dust from your laptop keyboard.
The Uppercase GhostCover isn't your average microfiber cloth that breaks down over time. Thanks to trimmed edges and a premium, high-density blend used in its making, the microfiber is quite resistant to fraying and tearing. You'll definitely have the Uppercase GhostCover for years to come.
More importantly, the Uppercase GhostCover's microfiber blend is also what makes it much more effective at cleaning keyboards as well as screens. It wipes away fingerprints, grime, oil, dirt, and dust with ease, and when everything is said and done, you can lay it across the keyboard as a protective layer.
- Microfiber material
- Fits 13-inch to 16-inch laptops
- Oil-resistant properties
- Brand: UPPERCASE
- Connectivity: None
- Color: Clear
- Material: TPU
- Weight: 0.317oz
- Very effective at cleaning and preventing dust build up
- Trimmed edges add great durability
- Easy to clean after multiple uses
- It is not machine washable
Are you concerned with every flake of dust and dirt that lands on your keyboard? With the Fesciory Dust Cleaning Gel Kit, you not only have a great way to maintain your keyboard but have all the necessary tools for getting underneath, too.
For starters, the Fesciory Dust Cleaning Gel Kit comes packaged with four packs of cleaning gel that gobbles up dirt and dust on your keyboard rather than scattering it to the winds to only land on the keyboard again. Best of all, the gel doesn't leave behind residue or a bad smell; in fact, it has a slight fragrance to it.
Before you get ahead of yourself though, you'll want to use the cleaning kit that comes with it first, which is greatly appreciated and goes a long way to extending the life of a single gel pack as they're only good for a few uses. With what's given, you can brush away dust, pull keycaps off, get into corners, and even a cloth to wipe the keyboard down before ending with the cleaning gel.
- Long expiration date (2 years unopened)
- Cleaning kit bundled with gel
- Includes 4 packs of cleaning gel
- Brand: Fesciory
- Material: Biodegradable gel
- Weight: 5.6oz
- Package Includes: 4 Packs of Cleaning Gel
- Traps dirt and dust instead of sweeping it away
- Doesn't leave behind residue
- Malleable shape
- Only has a limited number of uses
5. MiracleSpray Cleaner
If there's one thing a fine nylon brush can't do is scrub away the dried-on crust your keyboard will inevitably collect. To help lift away dirt and grime that's caked on your keys and everywhere in between, get yourself a bottle of MiracleSpray Cleaner.
Thanks to the MiracleSpray Cleaner's anti-static design, you can safely use it on your precious electronics and keyboard without causing damage. It's even useable across multiple surfaces, including screens, and, best of all, it won't leave behind streaks or residue.
What's just as important is the microfiber towel that's included with MiracleSpray Cleaner because what's cleaner without a good cleaning cloth? Its edges are nicely stitched for durability, and when combined with the cleaner, does an excellent job soaking up oils as well as collecting dirt and dust along the way.
- Includes a microfiber towel
- Anti-static properties
- Multi-surface cleaner
- Brand: Miracle Brands
- Capacity: 16oz
- Package Includes: 16 ounce cleaner, Microfiber towel
- Doesn't leave behind streaks
- Durable microfiber towel
- Won't leave behind residue
- Does a poor job reaching corners and small gaps
6. Meco Keyboard Cleaner
Having a fine brush on hand as your preferred keyboard cleaner is fine, but have you wondered where all that dust ends up? Into the air and eventually recollecting on your keyboard or something surface in the room. To prevent that and make the air that much cleaner to breathe, it’s time to consider the Meco Keyboard Cleaner.
The Meco Keyboard Cleaner is a handy, rechargeable handheld vacuum featuring an attachable duster. Not only will it wipe away debris, but it also funnels the dirt, dust, and liquids, straight into the vacuum where it’s sucked up with 2200KPA of suction power.
Best of all, the Meco Keyboard Cleaner won’t cost you a cent, outside of your initial purchase. This is because the HEPA filter inside is quite easy to clean with just a quick rinse under the sink and left aside to dry.
- Washable HEPA filter
- Fully charged indicator light
- Includes attachments
- Weight: 15.5oz
- Collection Capacity: 500 Milliliters
- Wattage: 5W
- Filters: Cartridge, HAPA
- Brand: Meco
- Suction Power: 2200KPA
- Battery Type: Rechargeable
- Runtime: Up to 4 hours
- Really good suction for its size
- Can brush away dust while you vacuum
- Solid battery life
- Small capacity
7. OXO Good Grips Sweep & Swipe
If there’s one thing you can count on, it’s that your keyboard is a magnet for dust and crumbs. Of course, it doesn’t help that you keep eating at your desk, but if you keep an OXO Good Grips Sweep and Swipe nearby, what’s the harm?
The OXO Good Grips Sweep & Swipe is a compact retractable brush with soft, fine bristles to sweep away debris without scratching the keyboard. For the smaller crevices though, you can pull out the thin-tipped brush that bundles with the OXO Good Grips Sweep and Swipe which also features a silicone wiper.
What of smudges and oils? That’s what debris ultimately clings to. Well, on the other end of the OXO Good Grips Sweep and Swipe, you’ll find a microfiber pad. It does an excellent job wiping up leftover grime.
- 2-in-1 design
- Soft retractable brush
- Includes thin brush with silicone wiper
- Brand: OXO
- Weight: 1.41oz
- Dimensions: 1 x 3 x 3 inches
- Package Includes: Cleaning Brush, 2-in-1 Brush and Microfiber Pad Tool
- Silicone tip can reach tight corners and crevices
- Microfiber pad cleans smudges and oils
- Small; easy to store or travel with
- Can't remove the microfiber pad
FAQ
Q: Should I Spray Cleaner Directly On My Keyboard?
No, that's not a good idea at all.
Even with the keycaps still attached, liquid will find its way in between the keys and reach the electronics underneath. Instead, spray cleaner (designed for electronics) onto a microfiber cloth and use that on the appropriate sections of the keyboard. It should by no means be soaked with cleaner, only enough to make it slightly damp.
Q: What Accessories Do I Need For Cleaning Keyboards?
It's a combination of the type of keyboard you have and the mess you're dealing with.
Low-profile keyboards, like Apple's Magic Keyboard, are far easier to clean with a good microfiber cloth and a bit of cleaner and you're good to go. However, for something like a mechanical keyboard, an electric blower and cleaning gel go a long way in lifting dirt and grime from the surface and cracks. In both cases, having a semi-soft brush to scrub away caked-on dirt is always a plus.
Q: Do I Have To Clean My Keyboard?
Yes, and you should make a habit of cleaning the surface of your keyboard at least every day, even if you're just wiping it down for the night.
Aside from health, it also disrupts the keyboard itself. There's enough space between the keycaps for dirt and cookie crumbs to slip through and hide under the keys. You're then left with a sticky mess for your keys to stick to and ruin your gaming or typing experience.