This is a sign to clean your laptop keyboard. 

Crumbs, pet hair, germs, oils, dust, dead skin cells: Your trusty laptop is routinely subjected to some pretty nasty stuff (and that’s not counting any deep dives into the dark corners of the internet). 

But your device deserves more routine care than a cursory swipe across the screen every now and then. Indeed, cleaning your laptop on a regular basis is a good idea for a couple of reasons. First of all, who wants to be tapping away on a grime-encrusted keyboard everyday? And second, keeping your laptop clean means its function will improve significantly, especially when it comes to integral parts like the fan that gathers lots of dust.

But before you grab a bottle of disinfectant and start spraying your screen down, keep in mind there’s a proper way to clean a laptop – and not following some simple steps can damage (or completely destroy) your delicate device. First of all, experts recommend staying away from harsh chemicals and bleach- or ammonia-based household cleaners, which can damage the screen, keyboard, and other delicate parts. And be sure to never spray cleaners directly onto your machine: Instead, spray them onto a microfiber cloth first (more on that below), and then, ever so gently, wipe down your machine.

You don’t have to spend a lot of money, either: According to the computer pros at PCMag, a simple mix of dish detergent, diluted 50/50 with water, does the trick nicely. You can also add vinegar, isopropyl alcohol, or hydrogen peroxide as disinfecting agents (and, let’s face it, who doesn’t want their device disinfected in this day and age?).

A couple other necessary items: A cloth (microfiber is your friend: Stay away from cotton and anything that produces lint), a can of pressurized air, and perhaps a brush or two. The experts at HP recommend cleaning your laptop every three to six months to make sure it’s operating at optimum capacity. Ready to get started?

All those Zoom sessions we endured during the pandemic shone a spotlight (and not in a good way) on those greasy fingerprints, streaks, and other errant marks smeared across our laptop screens. Fortunately, attaining a clean screen is simple and fairly quick – again, just be sure to avoid bleach-based cleaners. Here are some products that will help make getting a clean screen a cinch.

It’s a little pricey, but this all-natural screen cleaner comes with a microfiber cloth, has earned 20,000+ glowing reviews. It’s safe to use on all sensitive screens, including LED, LRT, and CRT, so you can clean multiple devices. It also removes static electricity – no more annoying zaps when you’re cleaning your screen. And at 16 ounces, it will last quite a while.  

Along with the right cleanser, these hardworking cloths will have your screen looking spiffy in no time. Made with ultra-absorbent microfiber, the handy black squares won’t scratch your screen, pill or shed, and they also dry quickly. Pro tip: If you’re prone to spills – i.e., your morning coffee all over your keyboard – keep a couple of them at close hand when you’re working on your laptop.

Pure Sky By Persik Cleaning Cloth

This popular cleaning cloth uses no harsh chemicals – instead, its antibacterial fibers only require water to get a nice, fresh clean. Reviews praise its ability to get eyeglasses clean and streak free, but it’s also great for laptops, and it’s reusable (just throw it in the wash as needed). 

Armed with a few key items and less than 30 minutes of time, you can easily rid your keyboard of the crumbs, dust, and other assorted debris. Turn the laptop off, disconnect from power, and get to work (again, gently). Avoid the urge to simply sweep your microfiber cloth (or a paper towel – never!) across the keyboard, which can pop the keys off. 

OXO Grips Sweeps Laptop Cleaner

Get a literal grip on your grimy keyboard with this low-tech gadget that punches way above its weight. The nifty, double-sided device comes equipped with a microfiber pad on one end, perfect for wiping away smudges from screens, while the soft brush on the other end keeps keyboards tidy from dust, crumbs, and dirt. And since the brush is retractable and the pad comes with a cover, it’s a cinch to keep this tool clean, too. Many of the 13,300+ reviewers also love that it’s compact enough for travel: Just pop it into your briefcase, backpack, or carry-on, and bring your good laptop cleaning habits wherever you go. 

Zarami Compressed Air Duster/Keyboard Cleaner

All the nooks and crannies of your keyboard – as well as USB ports and, equally importantly, the fan underneath your laptop – are magnets for dust, lint, and other particles that get stubbornly stuck within. A can of compressed air is just the ticket to coaxing those unwelcome invaders from their hidey holes, and this one is a top seller on Amazon. The price is a little steep, but keep in mind you’ll be saving over the long term since you won’t be shelling out for disposable cans of pressurized air. The handy air blower, which reviewers praise for being powerful and compact, also comes with several brush tools, as well as a nifty light that comes on when it’s in use in one of its three speeds – a gratifying way to see all the gunk you’re saying goodbye to.

Just one spill of your morning coffee across your laptop keyboard can do damage that no kind of cleaning can fix. Prevent such mishaps with a keyboard cover like this one, which comes in a bunch of fun colors that add a pop of personality to your keys. It’s made of a resilient silicon material that molds easily to your keyboard. As an added bonus, it also helps muffle some typing sounds (hear that, aggressive slam-the-keyboard types?).