To clean a MacBook keyboard safely and effectively, start by turning off the MacBook. Use compressed air to spray the keyboard in a left-to-right motion and from different angles to dislodge dust and debris. Then, gently wipe the keys with a microfiber cloth slightly dampened with disinfectant liquid or isopropyl alcohol. For deeper cleaning, especially if the keys are sticky, you can carefully remove the keycaps, clean them in water with a toothbrush, dry them, and clean the underlying keyboard with isopropyl alcohol, but take care with this method.
Step-by-step cleaning
- Turn off the MacBook.
- Hold the MacBook at a slight angle and use compressed air to spray the keyboard from left to right, including different sides of the notebook.
- Use a microfiber cloth with disinfectant liquid or isopropyl alcohol to wipe the keys.
- Optionally, use a soft brush to remove crumbs from between the keys.
- For sticky keys, gently remove the keycaps, soak and clean them in water, dry thoroughly, then clean beneath with isopropyl alcohol using a toothbrush.
- Avoid using excessive moisture or inverting the air can when using compressed air.
Additional tips
- Regular cleaning every other day or after use helps prevent buildup.
- Avoid eating over the keyboard and wash hands frequently to reduce oil and dirt.
- If keys remain unresponsive after cleaning, consider professional service.
This method is recommended for MacBook (2015 and later) and MacBook Pro (2016 and later) models and is endorsed by Apple and respected tech sources.
