Laptop Cleaning Kits

Everything for a clean in one box

A cleaning kit saves hunting for the right cloth and brush with the laptop half cleaned. The kits here range from small keyboard sets to boxes of twenty or more pieces that also clean earphones, phones and cameras. They suit anyone who wants one tidy set that lives in a drawer or a laptop bag.

The kinds of kit here

• Keyboard and screen kits pair a brush for the gaps between keys with a microfibre cloth, and often a small spray bottle or a screen-cleaning pad. Several also include a keycap puller.
• Multi-tool kits of twenty or so pieces add picks, fine brushes and sticks for earphones and the corners of keyboards and ports.
• Camera-style kits have a squeeze air blower, a lens pen, a soft brush and a cloth. They were made for camera lenses, and suit people who clean a laptop, glasses and a camera with one set.
• Screen kits combine a cleaning liquid, a dust brush and a cloth for laptop, monitor and TV screens.

Using a kit the way the laptop makers advise

A kit is only as safe as the way it is used, and the makers of laptops are clear on the main points. Shut the laptop down and unplug it first. Brush and blow before you wipe, so grit is lifted rather than rubbed across the screen. Put liquid on the cloth, not on the laptop, and keep the cloth damp, not dripping. For a refillable spray bottle, plain water is the safe choice for every laptop, and it is what Apple recommends for MacBook screens; Apple and HP allow 70 per cent isopropyl alcohol on the cloth for stubborn smudges. Keep the screen dry before you close the lid.

Two pieces need care on a laptop. A keycap puller is for keyboards whose keys are made to come off, such as mechanical keyboards. Laptop keys are held by small clips that break easily, so do not pull them off unless your laptop maker's guide says it is safe for your model. And keep metal picks and pen tips out of the laptop's sockets: the makers warn that metal can bend the contacts.

Choosing a kit

For a laptop at a desk, a keyboard and screen kit covers most jobs. For a bag, a small kit in its own case keeps the cloth clean. If the vents need more than a squeeze blower, look at electric air dusters.

Questions people ask about laptop cleaning kits

Is a kit safe on a MacBook screen?

The soft cloth is. Apple says to clean MacBook screens with a soft, lint-free cloth dampened with water. MacBooks with nano-texture glass have their own page on Apple's site.

Can I use the kit's brush on the vents?

Yes, gently, with the laptop off. A soft brush lifts dust from the grilles without pushing it further in.

More to look at

• Screen sprays and cloths
• Keyboard brushes and cleaning gel
• Electric air dusters
• Port dust plugs
• All laptop cleaning and care
• Guide: How to clean a laptop safely
• Guide: How to choose a wireless mouse