How to Disinfect an Apple Keyboard, Trackpad, and Mouse

[stumpapi]

How do I do this on a 2019 MacBook Pro? I shut down the machine but as soon as any key is pressed, it turns on.
[/https://www.howtogeek.com/fyi/temporarily-disable-your-laptop-keyboard-so-you-can-clean-all-that-gunk-off/

 

[MallardDuck]

If it's actually shut down and not just asleep, only the power key will turn it on.

 

[krfr]

Gotta wipe the coronavirus off those keyboards/trackpads.

 

[ignatius345]

Great that they are helping to contribute to said panic.

How so? It's not bad advice to keep surfaces clean even just during a normal flu season. And it's especially prudent when there's a virus spreading with a lethality rate at least 10x as high as the flu.

 

[SantaFeNM]

Um, about that….

I used to work in a clean environment in a biotech and we used laminar flow cabinets with built-in UV to sterilize the inside when not in use. I used to love taking the nalgene beakers, which could stand up to just about anything, and crush them easily with one hand once the UV had its way with them. Of course, that was some industrial strength lighting we had there, so maybe it’s not enough in these products to do any real damage over time. Or maybe it can.

Only thing I can add is that there are a lot of wrinkly, tanned old-looking people living in Florida for a reason.

Thanks for the cautionary tale. I only do it maybe once a week and it's about a 15 minute total cycle. If things get weird, I may do it more often. I work from home, so it's not like my computer gets a lot of new contamination. I do think it's probably quite a bit lower level than what you're referring to in biotech, thankfully.

 

[user_xyz]

I'm surprised Apple doesn't sell their own version of Lysol wipes called "Apple Wipes" and charge $37.95!!

 

[lllusion]

What about cleaning the screen.... and having it streak-free afterwards?

 

[1345873]

How do I do this on a 2019 MacBook Pro? I shut down the machine but as soon as any key is pressed, it turns on.

Just wash your hands before use..
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I'm surprised Apple doesn't sell their own version of Lysol wipes called "Apple Wipes" and charge $37.95!!

They will charge you for the defect keyboard.. profit enough...

 

[Steve686]

How about when you’re in there washing your hands and you hear someone in a stall pooping their guts out and then they flush and walk past you and out the door? I don’t expect those people to ever start washing their hands for any reason.

Oh ya, man.

The worst thing is, I play a lot of poker and Blackjack here in Florida. Casinos tend to have the highest rate of non hand washers, in my experience.

Touching those chips at the tables is a risky proposition.

 

[Baymowe335]

Wearing gloves doesn't stop the transmission of pathogens... It only makes the wearer think it does and therefore causes them to be less aware of what they're touching and reduce the number of times they actually wash their hands. This is especially true in food service. People think because they wear gloves they can do a weak job of washing their hands and then proceed to touch money, tables, handles, trash cans, cutting boards, food items, etc. in the kitchen without ever rewashing. My favorite move is when the glove wearer touches all over the outside of the gloves while he's putting them on, and assumes because he's wearing gloves he's ok. 🤦‍

Clean hands are preferable to dirty gloves.

McDonald's uses this process.

 

[coolfactor]

Bacteria and viruses are two entirely different things.

Your best course of action is keeping your own hands clean. Soap and water, 20 seconds.

... and there needs to be an automatic trip-line installed in bathroom doorways for everyone that doesn't wash after using the facilities. Humans are disgusting!

 

[44267547]

Bacteria and viruses are two entirely different things.

Your best course of action is keeping your own hands clean. Soap and

... and there needs to be an automatic trip-line installed in bathroom doorways for everyone that doesn't wash after using the facilities. Humans are disgusting!

Bolded: Your claim about 20 seconds is very accurate. The misconception people have with washing their hands, is they don’t do it nearly long enough To be effective. It’s Not a difficult concept to grasp, but apparently it is for some. Aside from washing your hands for 20 seconds, the water should be semi-hot Where it allows the pores in your hands to open to clean more thoroughly.
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What about cleaning the screen.... and having it streak-free afterwards?

Apple stores carry a product called ‘Whoosh’. It’s safe for displays, it’s also available on Amazon. Highly rated and backed by solid reviews. Word of caution though, _Never_ spray the product directly onto the display/device. Always spray the product on a microfiber cloth first, then apply to the display/keyboard.

 

[randomgeeza]

If it's actually shut down and not just asleep, only the power key will turn it on.

The new, 2019 MBP's all start up even when powered down, just by pressing a key or brushing the trackpad. A stupid decision IMHO. But it's there... And there is no toggle for it. Doh!

 

[smirking]

The new, 2019 MBP's all start up even when powered down, just by pressing a key or brushing the trackpad. A stupid decision IMHO. But it's there... And there is no toggle for it. Doh!

Every MBP since the 2016 MBP does this. I really hate it. It makes cleaning the keyboard a lot harder. There's a program out there called "Keyboard Clean" that's made by the same guy who makes Better Touch Tool (BTT). All it does is lock your keyboard so no keypresses register. Unfortunately, it doesn't lock the touchbar or the trackpad, but it does make a quick wipe down a lot easier to manage.

folivora.ai - Great Tools for your Mac!

folivora.ai

 

[randomgeeza]

I stand corrected... Although my 2017 never did it...? It had auto boot, so that when you lifted the lid the bloody thing came on... which I hated, so I turned that off in Terminal. But I was able to clean the keyboard. Whereas now, I can't. But will check out that tool you mention.

 

[nylonsteel]

tips are straight up right on
just like what ive been doing for years
hope cdc or anyone else will come out with covid19 vaccine asap

 

[velocityg4]

I've used paper towels with 91% alcohol on my iOS devices for years. Never noticed any damage, though maybe it does something to the "oleophobic coating". I've never seen a definitive answer or noticed any difference though. I've also never seen it damage plastics on other devices (such as key surfaces or the magic trackpad 2), but it leaves (non permanent) streaks on aluminum.

I've had 90% ruin the surfaces on some laptops and other devices in one pass. Certain types of plastics and coatings are susceptible. So, I only use 70% unless I know for certain it can handle 90%.

 

[icanhazmac]

If it’s one of the MacBooks with the butterfly keys, do you have to wipe the keys that don’t work?

YOU'RE CLEANING IT WRONG! Sorry, I just had to do it.

 

[2010mini]

This cov-19 is going to lead people into overusing hand sanitizers. Which can be bad in the long run.

 

[omihek]

Great that they are helping to contribute to said panic.

Yes I often get panicky anytime someone tells me to wash my hands too. Birds of a feather, you and I.

 

[Unity451]

Clean hands are preferable to dirty gloves.

McDonald's uses this process.

It's true. I took a food safety class taught by the head of the public health department (the department in charge of handing out the letter grades to restaurants), and he said the same thing.

 

[nottorp]

If it’s one of the MacBooks with the butterfly keys, do you have to wipe the keys that don’t work?

What do you mean, keys that don't work? Did you have the audacity to use your MacBook... shudder... OUTSIDE?
2016-2019 Macs are perfect for pandemic isolation since the keyboard is functional only in a clean room environment anyway.