By Graham K. Rogers

I have a friend who smokes, eats and drinks while working on the computer. As well as the dust from the atmosphere from living in Bangkok, there is a lot more detritus between the keys than I would be happy with. Even in my slightly less grubby environment, there is a buildup of dirt from sweat, dust and other causes in the environments I work in either at home, in my office or in the classroom.

Introduction

On the notebook computers I mostly use, I do not have the luxury of detaching the keyboard. Wiping the keys produces input affecting the computer. Usually, the only way to clean the keys is to shut down. I prefer a slightly damp cloth -- I mean with the merest touch of water -- rubbing the keys gently. I do not use cleaning fluids (see above).

One reason I use a notebook computer is that I can just leave it running (or asleep) so starting work does not mean a start of the computer each time. I lift the lid, press a key and the computer is ready. Shutting down for a minor clean of the keyboard is a waste of time, so I procrastinate and the dust builds up.

Keyboard Clean Tool

When started, a straightforward panel opens on the desktop with a green icon to the left and information in the main section. There is a single control: Click to start cleaning mode / lock the keyboard. A warning in bold is given that explains exactly what will happen. A checkbox lower down allows the lock to be applied whenever the utility is started.

When the button is pressed, the icon changes to red and the instructions on the button are changed: Click to stop cleaning mode / unlock the keyboard.

When the utility is active all keys are locked but the trackpad (and cursor) are available as is the Dock and the Finder. The Keyboard Clean Tool remained the front application, whatever window I clicked on. As a note, instead of the key command for the screenshot, I had to use the Apple utility, Grab to take the second image.

Comment

Now I have no more excuses. I just need to find a suitable cloth.

Graham K. Rogers teaches at the Faculty of Engineering, Mahidol University in Thailand. He wrote in the Bangkok Post, Database supplement on IT subjects. For the last seven years of Database he wrote a column on Apple and Macs.