The Signature Type Cover and Surface Ergonomic Keyboard feature Alcantara. We recently looked at just how durable these pricey extras can be, but here we show you how to keep it looking like new.
Products used in this guide
- Lint-free cloth: MIMAATEX Microfiber Cleaning Cloth ($15 at Amazon)
- Mild liquid soap: GOJO LTX-12 Clear & Mild Foam Soap ($48 at Amazon)
- Alcantera cleaner: Sonax Upholstery and Alcantara Cleaner ($20 at Amazon)
- Better than air cans: EasyGo CompuCleaner 2.0 ($45 at Amazon)
- Pure ethyl alcohol — You can find this at your local drug store.
How to clean your Alcantara keyboard
Cleaning Alcantara is not a difficult task. Microsoft recommends the to follow this guide when cleaning its Type Cover Keyboards.
First, you're going to want to use some compressed gas or a lint-free cloth to get rid of any dirt and particles that may have collected on or underneath the keys, as well as the surface and on all sides. Once this has been completed, it'll be easier to analyze just how much cleaning you'll need to do to remove tough marks or oil stains from daily use.
- Pour some warm water into a bowl.
- Add the mild liquid soap.
- Dampen a lint-free cloth into the mixture.
- Rinse and gently wipe down the Keyboard/Type Cover.
- Repeat until clean.
If stains and marks remain after a few runs with the cloth, it may be time to apply some Alcantara cleaner, which should get rid of these unwanted blemishes. We recommend giving a keyboard or Type Cover a cleaning once a week (depending on use) to prevent build-up.
How to clean specific substances from Alcantara
The official Alcantara website details how you can remove specific stains or spillages:
- Fruit juice, jam, jelly, syrup or ketchup — Lukewarm water; rinse by dabbing with clean water.
- Blood, egg, excrement or urine — Cold water; avoid warm water because it makes these substances coagulate, rinse by dabbing with clean water.
- Liquors, alcoholic beverages, wine, beer, coke or tea — Lukewarm water; if the color mark remains, treat with lemon juice and then rinse it well.
- Indelible pencil, cocoa, chocolate, pastry with cream or chocolate, ice-cream, or mustard — Lukewarm water; rinse by dabbing with clean water.
- Vinegar, hair gel, tomato sauce or coffee with sugar — Lemon juice and then wipe with lukewarm water; rinse by dabbing with clean water.
The best way to clean
You'll need the following equipment to clean your Alcantara keyboard.
Microfiber cloths are handy to own for general cleaning
When giving an Alcantara surface a full clean, microfiber cloths are invaluable at removing dirt and other particles that get trapped around keys, without damaging the material. They're also excellent at cleaning other parts of your office, including PC peripherals.
Cloths aren't just great for cleaning all your PC gear. They're fantastic for using around the house, picking up all manner of dirt. This pack of 12 allows you to deploy them for different tasks, switch them out for washing and more.
Other cleaning supplies
As well as the microfiber cloth, you'll want to purchase these additional accessories to really make your Alcantara last.
GOJO LTX-12 Clear & Mild Foam Soap ($48 at Amazon)
Clean all the germs, grime and other nastiness from the Alcantara surface.
Sonax Upholstery and Alcantara Cleaner ($20 at Amazon)
A great solution to spray some life back into worn Alcantara.
EasyGo CompuCleaner 2.0 ($45 at Amazon)
Cans of compressed air are useful, but save yourself money in the long term with this compressor.
