How to Clean a MacBook Pro Keyboard the Easy Way with Keyboard Cleaner
Cleaning the keyboard on a MacBook, MacBook Pro, or MacBook Air is a necessary chore from time to time, but it can also be more challenging than expected as anyone who has done so can attest. The moment you start wiping down the Mac keyboard, it’s inevitable for keys to be pressed, and as a result, things are typed, applications are accessed, messages are sent, improper code is written, gobbledegook is made, amongst other potential mishaps. Of course with a desktop Mac, you can simply disconnect the keyboard, but that isn’t possible on any laptop in the MacBook line. You can’t put the Mac to sleep because then hitting a key would wake it up, and you don’t want to shut down the Mac because aside from being inconvenient, you almost certainly want to clean the power key as well.
This is where a little app that has been around for ages called Keyboard Cleaner comes in to play, it locks down the Mac keyboard and rejects all input (aside from the quit command) so that you can press as many keys as needed as you wipe down and clean the keyboard. Once you’re finished, you leave the app. Easy. So, let’s walk through how to use Keyboard Cleaner in Mac OS X to properly clean the keyboard on a MacBook, MacBook Pro, or MacBook Air.
Cleaning MacBook Keys by Locking Them Down with Keyboard Cleaner
Technically this app works on any Mac keyboard at all, but we’re focusing on the MacBook Pro and MacBook line since they can’t simply disconnect the keyboard for cleaning purposes. Instead, we’ll lock down the keys and prevent input and improper text entry with the help of a free little app.
- Download Keyboard Cleaner app from here (a similar app is here), decompress the archive, then right-click and choose “Open” to get around Gatekeeper (the app is from ’06, but still works great)
When the screen turns to all black and says “Happy Cleaning”, you’re ready to clean the MacBook keyboard:
Works wonderfully, doesn’t it? No more shutting down the MacBook, and no more pressing a gazillion keys into who knows what application as you clean the keyboard. Just launch Keyboard Cleaner, clean up the keyboard, quit the app, and you’re good as new again.
I recommend using water only to clean the keyboard, but if you have stubborn grime, gunk, or some other mystery crud on the MacBook keyboard, you may want to use a small amount of isopropyl alcohol solution. You can also use small amounts of isopropyl alcohol with a cotton swap like a q-tip to clean the area between keys on the keyboard as well.
If you plan on doing this often, you’ll probably want to keep the Keyboard Cleaner app handy in the /Applications/ folder for future usage.
* Be absolutely certain the cloth rag is not too damp, it should be just slightly wet to the touch. If you can squeeze any water out of it whatsoever, it is too wet and you need to use a different cloth. Liquid or water getting in between the keys or other surface crevices on the Mac can cause liquid damage to the Mac and you want to avoid that.
Know of any other tips or tricks for cleaning keyboards? Let us know your key cleaning secrets in the comments.
Keyboard Cleaner for Mac
Keyboard Cleaner for Mac
Publisher’s Description
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Category
«A useful little app»
«A useful little app»
VirgoSG December 19, 2014 / Version: Keyboard Cleaner 1.0
2014-12-19 00:32:02 | By VirgoSG
Simple but effective
It does what it says on the can, and my screens and keyboards are way cleaner now that I just need one click to freeze everything up and do a bit of housekeeping
«Good job Developers!.»
«Good job Developers!.»
TysonKan January 11, 2013 / Version: Keyboard Cleaner 1.0
2013-01-11 10:34:49 | By TysonKan
Simple, self explanatory and straight to the point. Locks the keyboard when it runs, and says «Happy Cleaning! CMD — Q to get out.»
Blanks the screen by pulling a black «curtain-like thing» down from the top — it would be nice to be able to still see whats happening on the screen, and sometimes it doesn’t go down _all_ the way to the bottom of the screen, until for just a split second between the time you hit CMD-Q and the program closes.
Basically it does it’s job better than expected (I was afraid that it would have settings on what key combination would unlock it, etc., etc., etc.) and while it has a bug or two, the are cosmetic and do not inhibit it’s function.
All around, Good Job Developers! I have downloaded software from CNET for about two years, and this was the first program that worked so much like the description said it would that I wrote a review!
Thanks, you may have saved my life.
Seriously. My keyboard was getting to the point where at any time it might grow arms and legs, then try to kill me! 🙂
richardhanish March 24, 2011 / Version: Keyboard Cleaner 1.0
2011-03-24 13:16:09 | By richardhanish
Allows you to clean your keyboard without shutting down — no more, no less.
Smart, simple and useful.
«quick, simple and works like a charm»
«quick, simple and works like a charm»
yinn2yang February 08, 2011 / Version: Keyboard Cleaner 1.0
2011-02-08 10:33:41 | By yinn2yang
makes cleaning your keyboard easier, you won’t have to shut down your computer in order to clean it
none: this works great
i would recommend this simple app.
ecdltf July 12, 2007 / Version: Keyboard Cleaner 1.0
2007-07-12 01:21:26 | By ecdltf
This review was originally posted on VersionTracker.com.
Wow! This is the first application that really works 100%! Very stable and easy to use, and it’s UB, too! Well, the functionality is a bit limited, compared to Indesign e.g., but â?? considering the different scope â?? I can live with this. Finally I can place my coffee cup on my MacBook’s keyboard without any concern. Thanks.
My only complaint: Where is the f. manual.
Nanuq January 18, 2007 / Version: Keyboard Cleaner 1.0
2007-01-18 18:32:30 | By Nanuq
This review was originally posted on VersionTracker.com.
I can’t believe an app like this has taken this long to emerge! I have been wishing for this functionality for years.
Simple and well done.
Ancient_Boii_Tribe December 21, 2006 / Version: Keyboard Cleaner 1.0
2006-12-21 16:35:07 | By Ancient_Boii_Tribe
Keyboard Cleaner
Описание
Keyboard Cleaner 1.2 для macOS можно бесплатно скачать с нашего сайта. Самая популярная версия программного обеспечения: 1.0. Идентификатор этого приложения de.prima.jan.KeyboardCleaner.
Последняя версия пакета установки, доступная для скачивания, требует 137 KB на вашем диске.
Наша антивирусная программа проверила эту загрузку и признала ее полностью безопасной. Это бесплатное приложение для macOS было разработано Jan Lehnardt. ПО принадлежит к категории Системные утилиты. По умолчанию название для установочного файла keyboard_cleaner.zip.
It comes in handy when you want to clean your keyboard, but you are afraid you might trigger a command or change or delete some of your current work beyond repair and undo. Of course you could save and close everything. Sometimes however, it is just not what you want.
Enter Keyboard Cleaner . It shields your desktop and intercepts every keystroke you might accidentally make — except for Command-Q.
Мы предлагаем оценить другие macOS программы, такие как QuickBoot, EAGLE или Sapiens, которые часто используются вместе с Keyboard Cleaner.