Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Emergo

macrumors member
Original poster
Mar 20, 2016
61
9
This is a little ADD but I notice oily stains on my keyboard and track pad. Anyone else have it too? or found a way to prevent it? I can't simply wipe it off dry, it stays on there. I have to actually lick my fingers and rub it off.

Didn't expect this either, I have really dry hands.
 
Same gripe here ... I had the 2015 model and now the 2016. The keys are oil magnets, and they will permanently stain/shine after awhile even with regular cleaning.

I've learned to live with it.
 
I buy the Moshi clear guard for all my Macs. It's worth it IMO a it keeps keyboard clean which helps resale value in long run.
 
I buy the Moshi clear guard for all my Macs. It's worth it IMO a it keeps keyboard clean which helps resale value in long run.

SSD-GUY:
I've used these before, but find that they always rub against/stain the screen when the lid is shut. Is this the case with the Moshi for the MacBook or is it thin enough that it's not a problem?

Thanks!
Nick
 
This is a little ADD but I notice oily stains on my keyboard and track pad. Anyone else have it too? or found a way to prevent it? I can't simply wipe it off dry, it stays on there. I have to actually lick my fingers and rub it off.

Didn't expect this either, I have really dry hands.

Kinda OCD so I wash and dry my hands before using my laptop. Still gets stains, sigh.

Really hate those keyboard protectors though. I wonder if there are clear film stickers for each individual key.
 
This is a little ADD but I notice oily stains on my keyboard and track pad. Anyone else have it too? or found a way to prevent it? I can't simply wipe it off dry, it stays on there. I have to actually lick my fingers and rub it off.

Didn't expect this either, I have really dry hands.


Wash your hands you filthy b*****d.


//joke.
 
  • Like
Reactions: iMi and AreanFSL
SSD-GUY:
I've used these before, but find that they always rub against/stain the screen when the lid is shut. Is this the case with the Moshi for the MacBook or is it thin enough that it's not a problem?

Thanks!
Nick

That did happen on my rMBP, however on my rMB, I have a screen protector installed, so it's not an issue anymore.
 
Shiny keys rule :) it`s going to happen sooner or later. So I just don't care. I observe that the newer Mac`s tend to show wear/polishing of the key`s sooner than the older Mac`s. Given choice I would prefer that Apple designed the KB to be more resistant, as they obviously can. I just scrub the KB with screen cleaner from time to time, it`s a good enough solution.

Q-6
 
2 months in, there is a “stain” on the spacebar where I tend to hit quite often. Seems more like wear than oil stain.

Coming from the old silver keyboard MacBook Pro which only started to wear after some 6 years, this is quite disappointing. :(
 
I don't own a Macbook, but I'm interested by this topic as I'm looking to buy one in the near future. I've owned at least a dozen MBP's over the years and it wasn't until probably five years ago that I started using keyboard covers to prevent this issue. Is it oil on the keys or the matte coating wearing off that's giving it a shine? That's what I assumed was happening on my MBP's at least.
 
I don't own a Macbook, but I'm interested by this topic as I'm looking to buy one in the near future. I've owned at least a dozen MBP's over the years and it wasn't until probably five years ago that I started using keyboard covers to prevent this issue. Is it oil on the keys or the matte coating wearing off that's giving it a shine? That's what I assumed was happening on my MBP's at least.

Pretty sure it’s wear. I’ve tried rubbing the part with alcohol and it is not coming. I am quite OCD and I wash my hands regularly, especially before using my MacBook.
 
About 3 months of using MacBook and now the keyboard has shown its shine. It's very annoying.

And it seems to affect the palm rest area too. It's looking slightly discoloured now.

Does MacBook perhaps using lower quality material/finishing?
 
i've had my rmb for about a year, use it everyday, and the keys etc are as mint as when i bought it.
 
i've had my rmb for about a year, use it everyday, and the keys etc are as mint as when i bought it.

My 2015 rMB the key`s are well and truly polished up from use. It`s a business machine so it gets hammered, nor will any form of cleaning remove the shine. It`s simply related to Apple`s choice of suppliers & materials.

What I think is Apple want an ultra matte look to the keys, which is fine when new as it contrasts beautifully with the aluminium unibody, however the trade off is the keys pick up oil and the surface finish degrades faster as a result when used hard.

Q-6
 
Last edited:
About 3 months of using MacBook and now the keyboard has shown its shine. It's very annoying.

And it seems to affect the palm rest area too. It's looking slightly discoloured now.

Does MacBook perhaps using lower quality material/finishing?

Noticed that about the palm rest too. What colour is your MacBook? Mine is Space Grey and I see some subtle, darker coloured shades.
 
Having not used a keyboard protector, the keyboard shine was already there two months into use. I have had it for more than a year now. Yes, the palm area too, the shine is only visible when I wipe it with a damp cloth.
 
My rMB is around one and a half months old now and the keyboard already shows a decent amount of shine, even though I always wash my hands before using this little fellow. Don't like keyboard protectors, so I just have to live with it I guess, but to me it seems like those new keys are even more prone to "shining" than previous apple keyboards.

Not that big of a deal, though.
 
Really hate those keyboard protectors though. I wonder if there are clear film stickers for each individual key.

The wear and tear that comes up on Mac keyboards is one thing that always really bothered me. I wish Apple would make their Macs with a white keyboard option because in my experience of using white Apple keyboards the wear is much less prevalent.

I used Moshi keyboard covers on all of my Macs and they are great products. While they do leave some dust marks on the screen, the marks are easily cleaned off and the keyboard will look as good as new. I've used the Moshi covers on my 2010 MBA, 2012 retina MBP, and 2015 retina MB.

The thing that always bothered be about the keyboard covers is that they change the typing experience. I got used to it, but I never liked it as much as typing directly on the keys.

When I got my 2016 retina MB I decided to give Keyshorts a try and so far I like like them a lot. They are easily removable, protect the keys from wear and tear, and give your Mac a unique look. They won’t protect from spills like a keyboard cover will, but I’ll take that risk over a better typing experience.

The stickers are installed on each key individually and I recommend giving them a try if you don’t like keyboard covers but want to protect your keyboard from wear. Here’s how they look on my retina MB:

rMB1.jpg


rMB2.jpg
 
The wear and tear that comes up on Mac keyboards is one thing that always really bothered me. I wish Apple would make their Macs with a white keyboard option because in my experience of using white Apple keyboards the wear is much less prevalent.

I used Moshi keyboard covers on all of my Macs and they are great products. While they do leave some dust marks on the screen, the marks are easily cleaned off and the keyboard will look as good as new. I've used the Moshi covers on my 2010 MBA, 2012 retina MBP, and 2015 retina MB.

The thing that always bothered be about the keyboard covers is that they change the typing experience. I got used to it, but I never liked it as much as typing directly on the keys.

When I got my 2016 retina MB I decided to give Keyshorts a try and so far I like like them a lot. They are easily removable, protect the keys from wear and tear, and give your Mac a unique look. They won’t protect from spills like a keyboard cover will, but I’ll take that risk over a better typing experience.

The stickers are installed on each key individually and I recommend giving them a try if you don’t like keyboard covers but want to protect your keyboard from wear. Here’s how they look on my retina MB:

I would far prefer that Apple simply produced keyboards that didn't so wear so easily, they were once capable of this previously. My now retired Early 2008 15" MBP & 2012 15" rMB have less wear on the keys than my 2015 rMB & 2014 13" rMBP, with the latter rapidly polishing up...

FWIW the 2008 MBP was used continuously for 7 years.

Q-6
 
  • Like
Reactions: Acronyc
I would far prefer that Apple simply produced keyboards that didn't so wear so easily, they were once capable of this previously. Q-6

Yeah, good point that I completely agree with! That would be the more desirable option, though personally I am still partial to white keyboards.
 
Yeah, good point that I completely agree with! That would be the more desirable option, though personally I am still partial to white keyboards.

I like the silver KB on the early Mac`s. Would love to come across one of the pre unibody MBP (high res 15" or 17") in mint conditions would make for a nice casual web browser.

Recently booted the Early 2008 MBP up on 10.6 and WOW, it really made me realise just what a poor job Apple has done with the UI of recent iterations of OS X.

Nice job on the keys on your rMB, look good, just not fond of stickers.

Q-6
 
  • Like
Reactions: ErnstStavroBlohard
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.