Don't Throw Out That Old Keyboard, Fix Up It Up Instead

How to Clean and Repair a Broken Keyboard

I always have some tools ready before starting to repair any computer parts:

• Precision screwdriver set
• Cotton swab
• Isopropanol
• Magnetic bowl

In addition, you need gentle dishwashing liquid, toothpicks, compressed air and keycap puller.

Easy to pull out the key caps.

After preparing the materials, you must first determine the degree of damage to the keyboard. Be sure to check for damage to the cable first. Just stained with soda and dust? Or are mechanical parts damaged? Or is there a circuit problem?

The easiest first step to diagnose a problem is to open Notepad (or other plain text editor) and press each key on the keyboard to make sure they all appear correctly in Notepad. Note any keys that don't work, are difficult to press, or are stuck.

Be sure to check all Ctrl, Alt, and Shift keys on the keyboard. I usually use Ctrl Shift Esc and Ctrl Alt Delete to check these keys because I have memorized these shortcut keys.

Quick cleaning

If your keyboard only has a look problem, you're so lucky: you only need a little effort and time.

First, use the keycap puller to remove all keycaps on the keyboard.

If there is a lot of dirt on the key caps (usually the sides), put them in a bowl filled with a small amount of dish soap and warm water (not hot water!). As you clean the rest of the keyboard, dishwashing detergent and water will loosen the dirt that sticks to the sides of the keycap.

On my refurbished keyboard, there was some dirt on the sides of all the keycaps.

After removing all the keycaps, you need to deal with the rest of the keyboard. Always remove dry debris before using any liquid, or it will only form a paste. I usually take it outside, turn it upside down, and slap it hard a few times to remove any loose debris that sticks under the keycaps. You can use a vacuum cleaner, but if you are cleaning a mechanical keyboard with a removable switch, you may suck one off. Operation is careful.

After completing this step, I usually use a cotton swab dipped in clean water or isopropanol to remove the dirt that still sticks. If some keys are difficult to press or stuck, carefully clean the surrounding area. Just make sure not to use too much liquid – you don’t want any liquid to drip into the inside of the keyboard.

If it is difficult to remove any dirt, just use a toothpick to scrape it off easily.

When done, gently stir the soaked keycaps, rinse them and then dry. Avoid using direct heat sources (such as hair dryers) to speed up the drying process – you may melt them. However, fans can be used.

Deep cleaning

If some keys don't work at all, you'll have to clean it deeper. Follow the cleaning steps first, but the next steps will vary depending on your keyboard.

Hot-swap mechanical keyboard

Some mechanical keyboards are "hot-swap", which means you can easily change the switches. In some cases, corrosion or dirt around contacts on the switch or keyboard PCB can cause the keys to not work.

Purchase a new keyboard? Choose a hot-swap model!

Remove the switch completely and check the contacts. Ideally, both the contacts on the PCB and the switch should be bright. If the contact on the switch is bent, gently bend it back to its original position. If it breaks, you are unfortunate. You need to replace the switch.

The contacts of the replaceable switch are usually gold and are very corrosion resistant, but I have seen non-gold contacts before. In addition, even if gold is resistant to corrosion, viscous liquids (such as Meinida) can dry and act as an insulator.

Anyway, if they aren't shining, use medical alcohol to clean the contacts on the switch and try again. If it still doesn't work, use as little medical alcohol as possible to clean the contacts on the keyboard PCB - you need to minimize the amount of alcohol entering the keyboard itself.

Clean all keyboards

Unfortunately, if no way so far works, you will have to disassemble the entire keyboard.

To remove the keyboard, turn it over and look for the small screws. You should see at least 8 screws. Use a precision screwdriver set to unscrew it and place it where it is not lost. I have a magnetic bowl from Radio Shack, but anything like that would do.

If the screws are different in size (most likely), be sure to note where they come from.

Take a picture at every step. This will make it easier for you to reassemble.

Sometimes the screws are hidden under the anti-slip pad or sticker, so if you can't find any screws, check there. Sometimes the keyboard case just stuck together. In this case, you have to pry open the keyboard with a plastic (not metal) tool. Operation is careful. They break easily.

After disassembling all parts, look for obvious signs of damage: broken traces, bad soldering points, or dry liquid blocking contacts.

The film keyboard has a soft (usually white or translucent) film located under the keycap. Remove it gently and clean both sides with isopropanol.

You should also gently wipe the area where the film comes into contact with the PCB. If the viscous liquid penetrates deep into the keyboard, the film may actually stick to the PCB, which can make the keys behave abnormally.

Repairing a damaged keyboard

If you have thoroughly cleaned all parts and the keyboard still doesn't work, there is little chance of fixing it.

USB cables are the easiest part to repair, as you can usually buy replacement cables online. One end will be a USB plug and the other end will be some smaller connectors connected to the PCB. If it is soldered, you need to buy an unterminated USB cable.

If there is a problem with the electronic components or the trace itself on the PCB, the cost of repairing the keyboard may be much higher than replacing the keyboard.

Best keyboards of 2025

In this case, it is best to stop loss. However, the keyboard is relatively simple, and if you are willing to pay, an electronic repair shop should be able to fix almost any problem on the keyboard.

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