Cleaning a MacBook keyboard prevents sticky keys and dirty marks on your screen. But prying keys off or getting the keyboard wet can break more than you would like. This article explains how to clean your MacBook keyboard safely, with the method Apple itself recommends for the sensitive butterfly keyboards.
Blue Apple repairs MacBooks in Amsterdam and sees many keyboards that started to falter because of crumbs or a spilled drink. Regular cleaning prevents a lot of that.
What do you need?
- A can of compressed air with a straw.
- A soft, lint-free cloth (microfibre).
- A little water, or a 70 percent isopropyl alcohol wipe to disinfect.
Step 1: switch off and disconnect
Turn the MacBook off and remove the charger and all cables. That way you do not type or delete anything by accident.
Step 2: blow the crumbs out
Apple recommends this method for MacBooks with a butterfly keyboard (about 2016 to 2019), and it works for other models too:
- Hold the MacBook at an angle of about 75 degrees, so the keyboard is almost upright.
- Spray the compressed air across the keyboard from left to right in a zigzag motion. Keep the straw about a centimetre from the keys.
- Turn the MacBook a quarter turn to the right and repeat.
- Turn it another quarter turn and repeat once more.
Keep the can upright while spraying. Tilted or upside down, cold liquid comes out, and you do not want that in your keyboard.
Step 3: wipe the keys
Make the cloth slightly damp with water and wipe the keys. To disinfect you can carefully wipe the keys with a 70 percent isopropyl alcohol wipe. Make sure no moisture runs between the keys and never use bleach, abrasives or a spray directly on the keyboard.
What not to do
- Prying keys off. On most modern MacBooks you break the small clips underneath. Putting a loose key back is tricky.
- A vacuum cleaner directly on the keys. It can pull keycaps off.
- Getting the keyboard wet. Moisture under the keys can damage the keyboard and the logic board underneath.
The outside and the ports
Also wipe the palm rests next to the trackpad with the slightly damp cloth; that is where most grease sits. Carefully blow out the ports on the side with compressed air. Never put anything metal into a port.
A key still sticks after cleaning
Repeat the compressed-air method on that one key, from different sides. If it still sticks or does not respond, something is stuck in the mechanism or the key is worn. Read MacBook keyboard not working.
Something was spilled on the keyboard
Then cleaning is not enough. Turn the MacBook off immediately, unplug the charger, dry what you can and do not turn it on again before it has been checked. Sugar and acids from coffee, tea or soft drinks leave residue that later causes corrosion. Read liquid spilled on a MacBook: what to do right away.
What we do at Blue Apple in Amsterdam
If keys stick or something was spilled, we open the MacBook, clean the logic board too where needed and check whether the keyboard needs replacing. You hear beforehand what is needed. More on our pages about MacBook keyboard repair and MacBook water damage repair.
Frequently asked questions
How often should I clean my keyboard?
Compressed air and a damp cloth once a month is enough. If you often eat at your laptop, do it more often.
Can I use disinfecting wipes?
Yes, 70 percent isopropyl alcohol wipes are fine on the keys. Do not squeeze them out above the keyboard.
Can I use a keyboard cover?
Preferably not: it can press on the screen when the MacBook is closed and it traps heat.
