Cleaning Your Notebook Guide Part 2: Cleaning the Keyboard and Case Discussion

Part two of our four-part notebook cleaning guide continues. This time, we focus on the keyboard, touchpad, and exterior case. After all, what's the point of clean insides if the outside looks like trash? Take a look at how you can freshen up that soiled notebook of yours.

Read the full content of this Article: Cleaning Your Notebook Guide Part 2: Cleaning the Keyboard and Case

 

Caleb Some observations (if I may)
Grubby sticks look like they would work
Alas I am somewhat compulsive and If I have to clean a keybord or computer
I tend to use what i have Just now cleaned my keyboard ( because of your Post) with Fantastic Oxy Clean and a sponge that has scotch brite.
Cut in a 1/2 inch strip it cleans the keys pretty well . While I would not use the scotchbrite on an LCD it does really well since it is mildly abrasive.

As far a s canned air I have found it never has quite enough pressure
to really blow out a computer Whenever I can I use a compressor and an air chuck But i must forewarn too much pressure on a fan can screw it up
So either keep the air farther away or (BEST) hold the fan blade when blowing up close, Also know from my plastic supplier is to NOT use a cleaner with amonia IE glasswax etc. Over time it will cause creazeing
One other thing to mention Do not clean your LCD when it is on the heat causes streaks and poor results.
GL keep up the good work

eek

 

Just curious - for the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser, is there a difference in getting the Original strength or Extra Power? I own a Toshiba Tecra Oil Magnet 7, and it's pretty horrifying to look at.

Sometimes overkill is fun. But not in a cleaning product. =P

 

Wow, now that would definitely be a sight to see. If using a compressor to clean the keyboard, make sure all keys are attached well otherwise the keys might get blasted off!

 

I agree with eek, a can of compressed air isn't good enough for cleaning debris underneath the keyboard.

I'll have to try the methods listed above for cleaning the keycaps, though. My keys are starting to look a bit shiny (though I think in my case, it's more wear than grease, so we'll see).

 

I have only tried the basic magic sponge products, but they work well. I would say give the high power one a try, but keep in mind that you don't want to make the computer any worse.

As for the air compressor idea - I want to get a small air brush compressor, thats 30-45lbs of air and I have an endless supply. I just don't have the cash to do it right now.

 

The shiny problem can often be because the matte texture rubs off of the keyboard.

 

Correct, as I said in the article, only some of the shiny can be cleaned (the appearance can be minimized). In some of the pictures I took you could see this, however, you had to really know what to look for. Look on your own keyboard sometime, you can see it isn't just nasty grease.

 

Y'know, the grease on my laptop makes me want to almost start typing with surgical gloves on just to protect my damn laptop from any other funk.

 

If you just wash your hands before you use it, and if you are good about cleaning it that helps. Keep watching for the preventative maintenance section for some other tips.

 

Hey, just wanted to let you know that I tried the Magic Erasers and it did a pretty good job. Took almost ten days for the erasers to come in to my base, but it was worth it! Not perfect, but it really made a difference for my ol' Toshiba M7.

Thanks.

 

Glad to hear it. I was surprised when I first tried them, especially since I had never heard of them being used on computers, I was afraid they would remove the lettering.

 

I will try this as soon as I get ahold of the products mentioned. Thank you for your how to guide

 

eagle one spray wax on the keys and the casing here. removes grease and shines and adds a wax layer under your fingers so later the grease is easier to remove. IT DOES NOT DAMAGE PAINT OR PLASTICS..use a microfiber cloth and only a single spray or two of eagle one on the CLOTH not the microfiber. apply the wet wax to the keys and where ever else you want it. give it maybe 10-20 seconds and wipe off and then turn the towel and buff very lightly again. I AM A FREAK about my notebooks. trust me this is by far the single best thing i have found. if you have heavier junk... mequires yellow car wax. put a small dab on a microfiber towel and dab it wet over the grime... let set to a haze then wipe up with the wet spot on the towel let haze again and very lightly wipe back off. this removes (almost all of the time) even the glue left behind from peeling fresh stickers off.

neither of these harm your finish, what DOES harm the finish is using a to abrasive towel or say a tshirt to wipe things off. this cause a shiny spot where you've now buffed the finish a bit smoother the the rest of the area around it. i have a freind who did this and left a nice shiny black spot where he cleaned off the glue from the intel sticker. he dropped it off to me and i proceeded to "buff" the rest of it by hand to make the finish the same all over. trust me i am literally ocd with my notebooks.....


btw eagle one spray wax works awesome and almost every hard surface porus or not. i use it on the tables which are wood and the dining room chairs, my tv stands which are metal, my comp desk, my desk tower my monitor housing, stereo component cases, the microwave and fridge and dishwasher outside panels.... etc... it does not harm anything and as i said makes it easier to clean next time. i can not recc any other brand as i have not fully tested them as extensively i sell eagle one products out of my shop so i said for the heck of it one day i would try it i now keep 3-4 bottles in the house...

yes i have even used it on the dreaded dell black matte finish and it worked perfectly

 

my weapons of choice lol...

 

sorry to bring an old thread back but do you know how to get rid of this? i need help i use to have the magic eraser but it didn't clean out the grease spot on my keys but i will be giving it another shot tomorrow i will provide a couple of pictures but the main spot i want to clean this where my left palm rests its like a dark yellow-ish spot it feels just like the other side that has no spot so caleb can you help me? thanks in advance

 

That appears to me to be more than just a grease spot. The spots you just can't get rid of are actually paint and surface wear on the computer and keyboard. You are starting to wear the paint of on the palm rest, and the keys are getting smoothed out by your fingers as you type. There really isn't anything you can do about it short of replacing the keyboard and palm rest.

 

thanks for replying, but **** forreals? that sucks i got that black spot fairly quick after using my laptop too =[ **** it it annoys me sometimes