How to Clean Your MacBook Pro Keyboard

Turn off and unplug your MacBook Pro. You might accidentally press the wrong keys while cleaning, so it's best to shut down your laptop first to prevent any interruptions or disruptions to what's on the screen. Additionally, unplugging the laptop will ensure your safety.

• You might not want to turn off your computer, but don't skip this step. We need to press all the keys comfortably without worrying about changing any important settings or accidentally sending an email to your boss with a bunch of random characters. Just think of it as a little break for your computer.

Open the laptop and gently shake it over the trash bin. Turn the laptop upside down and shake it to allow dust, food crumbs, and any debris trapped under the keys to fall out.

• Try pressing all the keys repeatedly and shake the laptop over the trash bin again. Pressing the keys will help dislodge any dirt or particles that have been stuck in the keyboard for weeks or even years (since the last time you cleaned the keyboard).
• Even if no debris falls out, don’t get discouraged. Whether or not the dirt comes out, gently shaking the laptop still significantly aids the cleaning process to come.

Use compressed air to spray the keyboard. Hold your MacBook Pro at a 75-degree angle while using the compressed air can. This angle ensures that dust and debris fall out rather than being pushed further inside the laptop. Move the air can from left to right, top to bottom along the keyboard, and repeat to ensure every crevice is covered.

• Make sure to hold the nozzle of the air can about 1 cm above the keyboard.
• Do not turn the can upside down while spraying.
• If possible, have someone hold the laptop in this angle to help you spray.
• If you have a MacBook Pro from 2016 or earlier, you can skip this step. Using compressed air on older models could force debris deeper inside the keyboard.

Turn the laptop around and spray the keyboard with compressed air. Flip the laptop to the right and spray the keyboard from left to right, both above and below the keys. Keep the 75-degree angle to ensure dirt continues falling out of the keyboard. This turn allows the air can to continue cleaning the keyboard’s hard-to-reach spots.

• Don’t forget to keep the nozzle about 1 cm above the keyboard. This distance ensures the compressed air works effectively. Spraying from closer may damage the keys.

Turn the laptop once more and spray the keyboard with compressed air. Flip the laptop to the left to give it a thorough and complete cleaning by spraying compressed air under all the keys from multiple angles. Continue spraying from left to right, up and down in a zigzag motion.

• This is the final use of the air can. If you feel you missed any spot, now is the time to target and finish up.
• Consider gently shaking the laptop over the trash bin again to allow any remaining debris to fall out.

Wipe the keyboard surface with a lint-free cloth. Avoid using rough fabric or paper towels, as they can scratch the keyboard. A soft microfiber cloth is the best choice for this task.

• While wiping, be gentle and avoid applying unnecessary force on the keyboard.

Use disinfecting wet wipes to clean the keyboard surface. This deep cleaning step is the most satisfying part of the keyboard cleaning process. The keyboard is the area you touch most frequently when using your laptop, so it's no surprise that dust (even in small amounts) accumulates here. The disinfectant in the wipes will remove smudges from liquids, stains, and especially the dust-filled gaps between the keys. Bacteria and germs that are invisible to the naked eye will also be eliminated. Take your time to wipe carefully, paying special attention to food stains and the dusty crevices. Although this process requires a gentle touch, you can scrub a bit harder in areas with significant dirt buildup.

• Check to ensure the disinfecting wipes you’re using are non-abrasive. Lysol Wipes and Clorox Kitchen Disinfecting Wipes are recommended by Apple.
• You can also use an electronics cleaning cloth or microfiber cloth as an alternative to wet wipes. Additionally, you can make your own cleaning solution by mixing water and isopropyl alcohol in a 1:1 ratio.
• Be very careful not to leave any liquid behind on the keyboard. Keep a dry cloth on hand to wipe up any cleaning solution.
• Never spray liquid directly onto the keyboard. Instead, dampen the microfiber cloth with the cleaning solution. Remember: liquids are harmful to electronic devices, so you don’t want to damage your keyboard while trying to clean it. When using a cleaning solution, less is more.

Wipe the keyboard with a damp microfiber cloth. After wiping with the cleaning solution, use a damp cloth to remove any leftover residue and also to tackle any stubborn dirt.

• Make sure to wring out the cloth in the sink before wiping, ensuring that no excess water gets on the keyboard.

Dry the keyboard with a dry, lint-free microfiber cloth. We need to ensure that the keyboard is completely dry before closing the laptop. Liquids are the enemy of electronics, so take extra time to dry the crevices between the keys and ports. After this final step, your MacBook Pro’s keyboard will look brand new.

• Take a moment to check the entire keyboard to ensure everything is functioning properly.