Keeping your computer in good condition at all times is important, no matter what brand you are using. Now when we say computers, it covers everything that you have on the desk, including a laptop, desktop, external storage drives, cables, keyboard, and other peripherals.
The article is dedicated to keyboard cleaning and optimization tips to help you get the most out of it for years. Not only will you learn to clean the computer, but the importance of function keys, the process of removing the keycaps, or easy-to-utilize keyboard shortcuts.
Let’s start with the most basic suggestion, cleaning the keyboard.
Cleaning the Keys
Most of the time, users clean their computer or laptop keyboards roughly by wiping them with a cloth, and we bet you can relate to this. However, your keyboard demands a thorough cleaning at some point in time, generally once a month.
Wiping a keyboard once a week with a disinfectant will keep it clean. Deeper cleaning under the keycaps and the surface is recommended once every four weeks. Cleaning your keyboard is as necessary as any other gadget, but people often wonder why they even need to clean their keyboard.
Other than functional reasons, maintaining hygiene is one probable aspect that you need to keep in mind. And that’s what calls upon the need to clean the peripherals often. You operate the keyboard with your fingers, so keeping it germs-free is vital for good health.
Using Function Keys
Another important thing that helps users master their keyboard skills is learning the ways to use the Function (F) keys. You will find a lot of information on using the F keys on Windows; however, Apple users often wonder how to use f keys on mac. Special function keys provide shortcuts to tasks that you use widely on your computer.
You can use function keys to launch a specific app, play music, or control volume. These keys often work to print a file, save a document, or refresh a webpage. The function keys are the keys on a terminal keyboard or laptop that are programmed to instruct the operating system to perform a certain action.
You will find 12 F keys on the keyboard that are positioned at the top of the keyboard. These keys are called F1 through F12. These keys work differently based on the operating system you use. For example, F5 is used to refresh a page on Windows, whereas it helps decrease keyboard brightness on Mac.
Learning Keyboard Shortcuts
Keyboard shortcut keys are usually the key combinations that we use as an alternate way to perform an action quickly. The best advantage is that you can perform almost any task without sifting between the mouse or other peripherals. It may take time to get acquainted with keyboard shortcuts, but once you learn them, you become more efficient.
On Windows computers, you can use the Ctrl, Fn, Alt, and Shift keys along with other alphabet keys to perform a specific task. For example, Ctrl + Z keys will undo your last act, Alt + Tab will help you switch between open apps, Windows logo + Tab will enable you to open Task View, whereas Windows logo + L keys will lock the computer.
On your Mac computer, the Command + F keys will open the Find window or find items in the document. Moreover, Command + W will close the front window, Command + M will minimize a window to the Dock, Option + Command + Esc will force quit an app, or Control + Command + Spacebar will allow you to choose a symbol or emoji from the Character Viewer.
Removing Keycaps on Keyboard
Removing the keyboard keys is quite easy; however, users often find it to be complex as they fear damage in case something goes wrong. If you need to remove multiple keys, it is recommended that you capture a photo of the keyboard so that you can refer to it to understand the positioning of the keys.
On a standard keyboard, press the key cap on the front and then push it upwards by placing a small screwdriver or car keys. You may need to twist the object lightly till the key pops up. To remove more than one key, you need to repeat the process. Make sure to be gentle while removing the keys to prevent any damage.
In most cases, the purpose is to clean the dust and dust particles from under the keys. You will also need to remove the keys if anything spills on the keyboard accidentally. Generally, you must remove the keys once a month and clean the keyboard thoroughly, as discussed earlier in this article.
The Conclusion
The article explains some useful tips that result in getting the most out of the keyboard and working efficiently on computers. Learning these tips will make you more proficient in using keyboards in the long run.