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Alternate to compressed air - clean butterfly keyboard

kirky29

kirky29

macrumors 68000
Original poster
Jun 17, 2009
1,705
1,216
Lincolnshire, England
Is there anything else I could try to clean my MacBook Pro (Touch Bar) butterfly keys?

I've got quite a few that are sticky/unresponsive.

I might have got some sand stuck under a few and I'm in the middle of know where in Australia, no shops here sell cans of compressed air and the mail takes 3 weeks.......

Thank you!
 
Do you try using your mouth to blow out the sand? Seriously, I'm sure its not ideal but if you don't have access to compressed air...
 
Do you have access to a computer/mechanics/electronic/automotive shop ? If so, they should all have compressed air that is used for power tools. You can hose down the computer keyboard with that source. This is actually the preferred method at my local computer shops, because mechanically compressed air with a compressor is way cheaper than buying cans after cans of compressed air. Just watch the amount of flow, some may be too high, use your sense of discretion.

I suppose in a real big pinch, you can try a bicycle pump and pump vigorously while aiming the nozzle at the keyboard...
 
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Maxx Power said:
If so, they should all have compressed air that is used for power tools
Click to expand...
The only risk there is the air pressure leaving the hose, may be much higher then in the canned stuff, and that could damage the delicate parts in the keyboard.
 
Maxx Power said:
Do you have access to a computer/mechanics/electronic/automotive shop ? If so, they should all have compressed air that is used for power tools. You can hose down the computer keyboard with that source. This is actually the preferred method at my local computer shops, because mechanically compressed air with a compressor is way cheaper than buying cans after cans of compressed air. Just watch the amount of flow, some may be too high, use your sense of discretion.

I suppose in a real big pinch, you can try a bicycle pump and pump vigorously while aiming the nozzle at the keyboard...
Click to expand...

Good idea, I could take it down to the local mechanics shop! I've got an airbed compressor in my car, maybe I'll give that a try!!
 
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maflynn said:
The only risk there is the air pressure leaving the hose, may be much higher then in the canned stuff, and that could damage the delicate parts in the keyboard.
Click to expand...

I agree, absolutely be careful. There is usually an air-spray attachment to any compressor that allows you to use the compressed air specifically for air-cleaning and it offers some level of control. Can also hold the hose/nozzle further back from the keyboard to reduce air pressure.
 
kirky29 said:
Good idea, I could take it down to the local mechanics shop! I've got an airbed compressor in my car, maybe I'll give that a try!!
Click to expand...

Just do a palm-check on the pressure and flow rate first, from a distance and gradually closer to find a decent point. Some of these compressed air systems can generate enough flow to potentially remove key caps, if you use them up close (about several inches).


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Falhófnir said:
would a vacuum set to the lowest setting with a small nozzle attachment work?
Click to expand...

I'm not sure. I use a vacuum to clean lots of dirty computers and they do a good preliminary job, but for the remainder, I would always switch to compressed air, because the vacuum, even at the highest setting is not competitive with compressed air. Another concern may be that if your keys are loose (you may not know this), you risk sucking up some key caps into the vacuum.
 
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Maxx Power said:
I'm not sure. I use a vacuum to clean lots of dirty computers and they do a good preliminary job, but for the remainder, I would always switch to compressed air, because the vacuum, even at the highest setting is not competitive with compressed air. Another concern may be that if your keys are loose (you may not know this), you risk sucking up some key caps into the vacuum.
Click to expand...
Yeah I was thinking along those lines when I suggested lowest pressure - that'd be a bit of a thing :confused:
 
Jumping in here to say that using an air compressor is a poor idea, not only because of the pressure potentially blowing the keys off but also the moisture from the line.

Condensation develops in the lines and tank and can exit when expelling air. I'd suggest using a compressor with a filter/moisture trap attached or not at all. Buy a can.
 
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If you have a camera shop nearby you might be able to find one of the Giottos Rocket Blaster Dust Removal Tools. Just squeeze the bulb.

They run about $12 USD

b9d51da78bfc563512cba3dae2132acd.jpg
 
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Just out of curiosity, but who thinks it's acceptable for a keyboard to be prone to these type of problems? I've lot count of the number of laptops I've had over the years and I've never had one that is bothered by tiny bits of sand or generic dust/debris from every day life. Only Apple have managed this.

Seriously, sling it back at Apple and tell them to fix it. This should not be happening, it is NOT normal. You are not 'holding it wrong'. It's simply a poor design. The type covers on most tablets offer a more tactile and reliable typing experience and that really shouldn't be the case.

I'm not trolling or Apple-bashing, it just think it's unacceptable from Apple to release such dire products in the name of making stuff thinner. Think I'm wrong, have a look at the number of threads on the same subject.
 
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kirky29 said:
Is there anything else I could try to clean my MacBook Pro (Touch Bar) butterfly keys?

I've got quite a few that are sticky/unresponsive.

I might have got some sand stuck under a few and I'm in the middle of know where in Australia, no shops here sell cans of compressed air and the mail takes 3 weeks.......

Thank you!
Click to expand...

I used a small piece of thin paper (a piece of notebook A4 page). Inserted it partially under the key and tried to move it as far as the key allowed me, back and forth. It eventually unstuck the Enter key that was half-responsive and had lost its clicky feel.
 
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antonis said:
I used a small piece of thin paper (a piece of notebook A4 page). Inserted it partially under the key and tried to move it as far as the key allowed me, back and forth. It eventually unstuck the Enter key that was half-responsive and had lost its clicky feel.
Click to expand...

This worked for me! Thanks!
 
I use my shop compressor set to 90PSI and have been doing this forever, on a 2017 MBP15. Haven’t had any troubles with the keyboard or computer. I’ll shoot air into the intake ports along the side, and across the display hinge. I also use a dyson v6 with a soft brush attachment and vacuum the keyboard without a care in the world. I also have a lens pen and I will stab at the gap between the keys to “agitate” any lodged dust from time to time. This is all preventative/maintenance to me, not as solutions to faulty keys.

Two things I’d watch out for:

1) if you get access to a compressor, shoot some air to clear the line of any moisture or oil build up. You’ll see a stream of white appear from the nozzle then it just vanishes. Do short bursts to clean the keyboard. Avoid shooting air into the speaker grilles

2) if you use a vacuum just be careful not to mar the laptop with the plastic nozzle. That’s why I use a soft brush attachment. I’ve allowed almost a total vacuum to build up and so far it has not sucked the keys off. Also, avoid vacuuming over the speaker grilles as that may possibly damage the speaker diaphragm.
 
antonis said:
I used a small piece of thin paper (a piece of notebook A4 page). Inserted it partially under the key and tried to move it as far as the key allowed me, back and forth. It eventually unstuck the Enter key that was half-responsive and had lost its clicky feel.
Click to expand...

This method worked for me for my 2016 MBP which regularly got stuck keys (until I got it replaced).
 
By far the best thing that has worked for me, is to press down hard on the keys in question, and hope whatever is in there gets loose. Second best was a vacuum cleaner with a small tip with hairs on it.

I am still going down to get my keyboard fixed the third time now though.
 
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