So I looked down at my keayboard today (guess I'm used to typing without looking at it) and I became disgusted with what I saw. I've never cleaned it before since I got it (it was the year BioShock came out, so I guess 2007), and it was terriyl dirty. I had no ideea what to do, so I just threw it in the trash and bought a new one.

My question is: what cleaning methods can i use, so this predicament will never happen again? Should I use a vacuum cleaner or what?

with my vaio laptop (keys are spaced like on a mac) i:

- lightly vacuum

- get a coton bud, dip it in a little water, soak out the water but make sure the bud is still moist, and use it to clean the keyboard

i do this often, so i don't need to use chemical cleaners. 

if yours is really stinky you'l prolly need something a bit stronger though....

It's currenty in the trash. I can't believe I actually touched it this morning (and the mornings before, 'cause who knows for how long it's been this dirty). Disgusting.

yea....better go wash your hands :)

i'm kinda ocd about cleanliness, so i don't have such issues!

I did wash my hands... repeteadly!!!

Last time I decided to clean the keyboard, I just used a toothpick to fish out the gunk.

Kept fishing out cache of dust and hair particles.

Mines wireless. I unscrew it, pop all the keys out, put them in an old pillow case in a plastic bag, chuck tons of water in and go wild.

Then clean the inside with a hoover and dry cloth.

Take it a apart with a screwdriver, clean the case on its own as you would a dirty plate.

I normally pull all the keys off and swill them about in a tub of warm soapy water. While the muck is softening, I take the rest of the 'board to bits with a screwdriver and wipe the plastic parts down.

Since moving to a laptop, doing this has been easier in some ways (I can just undo 4 screws and take the whole keyboard out), and harder in others (oh shit laptop keys are fragile, and tricky to reattach).