Disconnect it, turn it upside down and tap out the loose crumbs, blow out what is left with short bursts of compressed air, then wipe the keys with a cloth that is barely damp. On a mechanical keyboard you can go further and pull the keycaps off; on most other keyboards, leave them on.
1. Disconnect it. Unplug the cable or switch a wireless keyboard off, so cleaning does not send keystrokes — and so no liquid reaches powered electronics.
2. Tip and tap. Hold it upside down over a bin or a sheet of paper and tap the back gently. Most crumbs come out here.
3. Blow out the rest. Use compressed air in short bursts, with the can held upright and the nozzle at an angle between the keys. Long bursts or a tilted can can spray propellant as a cold liquid. A soft brush works too.
4. Wipe the surface. A microfibre cloth lightly dampened with water — or with isopropyl alcohol for greasy keys — cleans the keycaps and frame. Wring it out well, never spray onto the keyboard, and let it dry before reconnecting.
On a mechanical keyboard, pull the keycaps. Mechanical keycaps press onto the switch stems and come off with a keycap puller pulled straight up. Photograph the layout first. Soak the caps in warm, soapy water, rinse and dry them fully; clean the exposed plate with air and a brush. Large keys — space, Shift, Enter — have stabilizer wires, so pull and refit them carefully.
On a membrane or scissor-switch keyboard, don’t. Their keycaps clip onto small plastic hinges that break easily, and many are not meant to come off. Clean around them with air and a cloth. The four keyboards in our ergonomic keyboards hub do not describe themselves as mechanical, so treat them this way unless the manual says otherwise.
Clean the palm rest too. Skin oil and crumbs collect on and around a palm rest. The Logitech ERGO K860 and the LogiLink set both have a padded rest built in; wipe it with a damp cloth and a little mild soap, then dry it. Separate pads are compared in the wrist rests hub.
Your screen needs different care — see how to clean a monitor screen safely.
What buyers ask us first
Can I put keycaps in the dishwasher?
Better not: the heat can warp plastic keycaps and fade printed legends. Soak them in warm, soapy water instead, rinse, and let them dry completely before refitting.
What if I spill a drink on my keyboard?
Disconnect it or switch it off at once, turn it upside down to drain, and leave it to dry for a day or two before using it. Sugary drinks leave a residue that can make keys stick even after drying.
Last reviewed 13 October 2026