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How to Clean Sticky Keys on Your Keyboard

Sticky keys can make typing tough. Soda and juice won’t do your keyboard any favors, so here’s how to clean up the mess. Products featured in this video: XPOWER A-2 Multi-Purpose Powered Air Duster: J JOYACCESS 2.4G Slim and Compact Wireless Keyboard: MageGee Blue Switch 104 Keys White Backlit Keyboard: Rii RK907 Ultra-Slim Compact USB…

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Sticky keys can make typing tough. Soda and juice won’t do your keyboard any favors, so here’s how to clean up the mess.

Products featured in this video:
XPOWER A-2 Multi-Purpose Powered Air Duster:
J JOYACCESS 2.4G Slim and Compact Wireless Keyboard:
MageGee Blue Switch 104 Keys White Backlit Keyboard:
Rii RK907 Ultra-Slim Compact USB Wired Keyboard:
*CNET May get a commission from these offers

0:00 Clean up sticky spills
0:08 What to do if you spill soda on your keyboard
0:56 Clean the debris out of your keyboard
1:29 Remove keycaps to clean underneath
2:17 Clean the sticky keys

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19 Comments

  1. Mickey Pullin

    July 28, 2022 at 4:05 pm

    So helpful a lot of my keys are sticky from egh …Soda as well
    remember to repeat the shake and wipe method until nothing more is coming out.
    1:21 you can try a vacuum is that’s more your style but you do run the risk of losing little pieces if everything isn’t firmly attached lol

  2. Dylan .T

    July 28, 2022 at 4:07 pm

    Handy thanks

  3. Drakey Fenix

    July 28, 2022 at 4:10 pm

    The humour in these videos are always welcome!

  4. Mastari

    July 28, 2022 at 4:26 pm

    How to clean a flat screen while having explosive diarrhea. Asking for a friend.

  5. Bubbernino

    July 28, 2022 at 4:37 pm

    How does CNET know that I spilled a whole cup of Mio water on my keyboard 2 nights ago? I didn’t even search anything about this… Now my offline life is in the algorithm!? 😬… But thanks, I’ll try those pointers. 👍🏽

  6. Tomás Gerardo Guadarrama Sánchez

    July 28, 2022 at 4:48 pm

    ¡Great tip! thank you

  7. Mr G

    July 28, 2022 at 5:53 pm

    This only works if you unplugged the keyboard before any liquid reached the mainboard. The moment any liquid hits that mainboard, it’s over. Board will be fried almost instantly. If you were able to unplug the keyboard fast enough, go and buy some 99% isopropyl alcohol, soak the entire keyboard in it. This will clean any sticky residues. Dry dry dry (1% water can kill your keyboard) dry dry dry dry dry dry dry dry (best is to open up your keyboard and let it air dry for few days).

  8. Ross Robson

    July 28, 2022 at 6:41 pm

    Easy, bin it and buy a new one.

  9. Paul Seidl

    July 28, 2022 at 6:58 pm

    Outstanding short solution to an occasional problem with sticky keys! Solutions not so good for an IBM Selectric Type II machine…alignment of metal underworld and connected points take a professional/specialist to deal with slow, aging, unused typewriter or gummy lubricant of past that acts like/stiffens over time…a complete disassembly is required to renew the action and, speed of keys hitting the mark on paper as expected!

  10. E'Osiris

    July 28, 2022 at 7:16 pm

    come on, people. No comments about human fluids yet? where has the comedy in this world gone to? SMH 😩🤦

  11. Worf

    July 28, 2022 at 7:38 pm

    Nice one, my keyboard gets sticky all the time and I don’t even drink soda.

    • canada goose

      July 29, 2022 at 7:21 am

      pause

  12. THE_JARMEL

    July 28, 2022 at 8:10 pm

    I’m a stoner .. picture of the key board before removing anything is needed .. haha

  13. Gravity Storm

    July 28, 2022 at 8:26 pm

    Little is much when you have God in it. Have a blessed day and week, Praise and Glory to Christ

  14. Shawn Lion

    July 28, 2022 at 9:33 pm

    I thought you were talking about another type of stickiness on the keyboard….. Excuse me.

  15. youxkio

    July 28, 2022 at 10:01 pm

    I will look for that tool. It seems very useful.

  16. TooFocus

    July 29, 2022 at 4:09 am

    Just remove all power source and throw it in a dish washer, when it’s done let it dry for a couple days before connecting to power.

  17. butterfingersman

    July 29, 2022 at 7:18 am

    the presenter on this is actually legitimately funny

  18. wm8806

    July 30, 2022 at 4:00 am

    I’m realizing so many things in my life are analogous to a problematic key cap. And that I keep trying to fix them by soaking it all in alcohol 😶

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