How to Clean Your Mechanical Keyboard Keycaps

25. Mai 2025

Mechanical keyboards are prized for their tactile feel, clicky feedback, and durability. But what’s often overlooked is how quickly they become magnets for dust, food crumbs, and bacteria. If you've ever popped off a few keycaps and been horrified at the grime underneath—you’re not alone.

Whether you’re an avid gamer, programmer, or office worker, knowing how to clean your mechanical keyboard keycaps properly isn’t just about aesthetics—it’s about health and hygiene too.

This comprehensive guide will show you how to clean your keycaps safely and effectively, what products work best, and how often to clean to avoid turning your keyboard into a bacterial breeding ground.

Why Cleaning Your Keycaps Matters More Than You Think

Mechanical keyboards aren’t just tools—they’re contact points for thousands of daily touches. Over time, they become reservoirs for bacteria, especially in shared environments.

Over 90% of keyboards are contaminated with bacteria including Staphylococcus aureus, E. coli, and MRSA (Schultz et al., 2003).
Shared-use keyboards (like in gaming cafés, schools, or offices) carry significantly higher microbial loads than personal ones (Ali, 2024).
Contamination has been directly linked to transmission of infections in hospitals and clinical settings (Fukada et al., 2008).

Even if you wash your hands, you’re not immune. Frequent cleaning is the only solution.

Top 4 Keycap Cleaning Methods

1. Disinfectant Wipes

Effectiveness: Removes 90–95% of bacteria (Wong et al., 2020).
Best For: Weekly maintenance cleaning.
Tip: Use wipes with quaternary ammonium, isopropyl alcohol (70%), or hydrogen peroxide.

2. Soaking Keycaps

Effectiveness: Excellent for deep cleaning.
Best For: Monthly cleanups or post-virus season.
Tip: Soak in warm water with mild dish soap or a diluted isopropyl alcohol solution for 30–60 minutes.

3. Manual Brushing

Effectiveness: Removes visible dirt and 78% of bacteria through mechanical action alone.
Best For: Cleaning between keycap removals.
Tip: Use a soft toothbrush or antistatic brush.

4. Ultrasonic Cleaners

Effectiveness: Widely used for precision cleaning in medical/dental fields.
Best For: High-end PBT or artisan keycap sets.
Tip: Use with plain water or gentle cleaning solution—avoid overheating ABS plastic.

Step-by-Step: How to Deep Clean Your Keycaps

You’ll Need:

Keycap puller
Bowl or ultrasonic cleaner
Dish soap or isopropyl alcohol (70%)
Brush or microfiber cloth
Towel and time to dry

Steps:

Unplug your mechanical keyboard.
Remove the keycaps with a puller (take a photo first to remember layout).
Soak the keycaps in warm soapy water or alcohol for 30–60 minutes.
Brush each keycap if they’re still grimy.
Rinse thoroughly, then air-dry for 12–24 hours.
Clean the keyboard base using disinfectant wipes.
Reinstall the keycaps and enjoy the satisfying "pop" of clean keys.

Does Keycap Material Matter?

Yes, the material of your keycaps plays a significant role in how well they hold up during cleaning—and over time. The two most common types are ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) and PBT (Polybutylene Terephthalate). ABS is more affordable and is commonly found on prebuilt or budget mechanical keyboards. However, it’s more prone to developing a shiny, worn surface with extended use, especially after repeated exposure to oils from your fingers and frequent cleaning. In contrast, PBT keycaps, like those on the Dareu A104 Pro, are denser, more durable, and resistant to heat, chemicals, and shine. This makes them particularly well-suited for people who clean their keyboards often or want long-lasting aesthetics.

Studies show that both ABS and PBT can withstand repeated exposure to alcohol-based cleaning agents without noticeable structural or cosmetic damage (Rutala et al., 2006). However, real-world experience indicates that PBT is better at maintaining its texture and legend visibility over time, especially with dye-sublimated or double-shot legends. If you’re serious about keeping your setup clean without compromising durability or aesthetics, PBT keycaps are the clear winner.

Why Most People Don’t Clean Their Keyboards

Despite the benefits, only 1 in 4 users regularly clean their mechanical keyboards (Wilson et al., 2008). Here’s why:

It seems time-consuming
Fear of breaking parts
Lack of awareness about health risks

But when reminders or automated alerts are added (e.g. a cleaning alarm on hospital keyboards), cleaning compliance jumps to 87%.

Pro Tip: Set a recurring reminder on your calendar every month to clean your board!

Smart Design = Easier Cleaning

Modern mechanical keyboards are being built with cleaning in mind.

Modular or detachable keycaps make users more likely to clean regularly.
Magnetic designs and separable board layouts improve access to internal parts, reducing long-term buildup. The Dareu A75 HE utilizes this feature with strong magnetic connectors, allowing easy disassembly and cleaning, which helps maintain performance and extends the keyboard’s lifespan.
Antimicrobial layers, like tea tree oil-coated films, help kill microbes between cleanings (Melegari et al., 2020).

Conclusion

Cleaning your mechanical keyboard keycaps is essential for both hygiene and longevity. Regular wipe-downs with alcohol or disinfectant and monthly deep cleans can drastically reduce bacteria buildup. PBT keycaps hold up better than ABS to frequent cleaning and resist shine and wear. Modular or detachable key designs also make cleaning easier and more frequent. By making cleaning part of your routine, you’ll keep your Dareu keyboard looking and feeling its best—while staying healthier, too.

References:

Ali, S. (2024). Assessment of Microbial Contamination on Keyboards and Mice of Computers in Administrative Office in Surman City. AlQalam Journal of Medical and Applied Sciences.
Fukada, T., Iwakiri, H., & Ozaki, M. (2008). Anaesthetists' role in computer keyboard contamination in an operating room.. The Journal of hospital infection, 70 2, 148-53.
Melegari, G., Iseppi, R., Mariani, M., Giuliani, E., Caciagli, V., Bertellini, E., Messi, P., & Barbieri, A. (2020). Keyboard Contamination in Intensive Care Unit: Is Cleaning Enough? Prospective Research of In Situ Effectiveness of a Tea Tree Oil (KTEO) Film.. Advances in experimental medicine and biology.
Rutala, W., White, M., Gergen, M., & Weber, D. (2006). Bacterial Contamination of Keyboards: Efficacy and Functional Impact of Disinfectants. Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology, 27, 372 - 377.
Schultz, M., Gill, J., Zubairi, S., Huber, R., & Gordin, F. (2003). Bacterial Contamination of Computer Keyboards in a Teaching Hospital. Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology, 24, 302 - 303.
Wilson, P., Ostro, P., Magnussen, M., & Cooper, B. (2008). Laboratory and in-use assessment of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus contamination of ergonomic computer keyboards for ward use.. American journal of infection control, 36 10, e19-25 .
Wong, E., Burgess, B., Brainard, B., Greene, C., Hurley, D., & Koenig, A. (2020). The comparative efficacy of disinfectant wipes on common-use computer keyboards in a veterinary teaching hospital.. The Canadian veterinary journal = La revue veterinaire canadienne, 61 1, 69-74 .