Laptop keyboards: what breaks them and how to prevent it

A keyboard that stops responding, a few keys that no longer register, or keys that repeat themselves — these are among the most frequent faults we see. In most cases the cause built up gradually rather than happening all at once.

What damages a keyboard

• Spilled liquid. Water, tea and coffee corrode the contacts and membrane underneath, and the fault can appear days later.
• Dust, hair and crumbs. The most common cause of sticking or unresponsive keys.
• Pressing too hard. The membrane tears and the key stops springing back.
• Damp environments. Contacts oxidise and short circuits become possible.
• The wrong cleaning method. Wet wipes and too much alcohol remove the printed letters and seep downwards.

Six habits that prevent it

1. Keep drinks away from the laptop. After a spill, shut it down immediately and disconnect the adapter and, if possible, the battery — switching it back on while powered is the single most damaging mistake.
2. Clean it with a dry brush and a blower every one to two weeks. Damp cleaning only when it is off, and only barely damp.
3. Keep your hands clean and dry. Oil carries dirt between the keys, which is what makes keys stop registering or repeat.
4. Type gently and evenly. A keyboard does not sense pressure — hitting it harder does not type faster, it only shortens its life.
5. Use a thin keyboard cover. It blocks 80 to 90 per cent of water, dust and crumbs.
6. Have it cleaned internally once a year. Dust collecting under the keyboard is the first cause of keys failing.

When to stop using it

If some keys are completely dead, if keys repeat on their own, or if liquid has been spilled at any point, stop using it and have it diagnosed. After a spill, leaving it powered on is what spreads the damage from the keyboard to the motherboard — and the difference in repair cost between those two is considerable.