Thread: Preventing Problems

Keyboard problems do not happen suddenly (unless the keyboard is dropped or badly treated). The accumulation of dust and debris is a slow process that can take months (sometimes years) to produce serious repetitive keyboard problems. By following a regimen of regular cleaning, you can stop problems before they manifest themselves in your keyboard. In normal office environments, keyboards should be cleaned once every four months. Keyboards in home environments should be cleaned every two months. Keyboard in harsh or industrial environments should be cleaned even more frequently.



Turn your keyboard upside down and use a soft¬bristled brush to clean between the keys. This prevents debris that may already be on the keys from entering the keyboard. Next, run the long thin nozzle of your compressed air can between the key spaces to blowout any accumulations of dust. Since compressed air tends to blow dust in all directions, you may consider doing this outside or in an area away from your work-bench. Instead of compressed air, you use a static-safe vacuum cleaner to remove dust debris.