How to Clean a MacBook Keyboard with WHOOSH! Screen Cleaner and KeyboardCleanTool

Mon, 16 May 2022 00:00:00 +0000

I use a MacBook every day, and my biggest frustration has always been how quickly the keyboard attracts fingerprints and oily smudges. No matter how often I wash my hands, the dark keycaps end up coated in grime. I wanted something safe, effective, and easy to use — and that search led me to the method I describe here.

The Solution: WHOOSH Screen Cleaner

WHOOSH! screen cleaner package

While browsing Amazon for a well-reviewed screen cleaner, I came across WHOOSH!. It was apparently used officially in Apple Stores at one point, which raised my expectations considerably.

What Is in the Box

Two-bottle set with reusable microfiber cloth

I bought the two-bottle set (large and small) for JPY 3,840.

WHOOSH! Screen Cleaner Kit — for Smartphones, Tablets, Glasses, Monitors, and TVs

Amazonで見る

The Japanese product description reads a bit like machine translation, but the packaging also claims antibacterial properties. Hard to verify, but reassuring.

Cleaning the Keyboard

The process is very simple.

The cloth is washable and reusable

Spray the cleaner onto the included cloth, then wipe the keyboard. Do not spray directly onto the keyboard — liquid near the keys can cause damage.

Prevent Accidental Input with KeyboardCleanTool

MacBooks wake from sleep the moment you touch the keyboard, even when the lid is closed. Convenient under normal circumstances, but a nuisance when cleaning.

The solution is KeyboardCleanTool, a free macOS utility that completely locks keyboard and TouchBar input.

KeyboardCleanTool — folivora.ai

Launch the app, click the button, and all key input is disabled until you click again. This lets you scrub the keys thoroughly without triggering anything.

Click ‘Start Cleaning Mode’ to lock all keyboard input

Results

A quick wipe made a dramatic difference. There is something about a clean keyboard that makes the whole machine feel better to use.

Almost like new after a single wipe

Before and After

Before

Fingerprints and oil smudges clearly visible on the dark keys

After

Matte finish restored, fingerprints gone

Notes on Screen Cleaning and Long-Term Cost

On MacBook Displays

WHOOSH! is marketed primarily as a screen cleaner. When I used it on the MacBook display (which has a glossy coating), it left a few slight streaks. On a matte monitor it might work perfectly, but for a glossy MacBook screen you may need a dry follow-up wipe.

Cost Per Year Is Very Low

I previously used the smallest bottle, and one bottle lasted about a year. With the larger set, normal use should last two to three years. The upfront cost is a few thousand yen, but the per-use cost over time is very low.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use water or alcohol instead?

Water risks seeping into the keyboard and causing damage. Standard alcohol can strip the anti-reflective coating from the display. A dedicated cleaner like WHOOSH! is both safer and more effective.

How often should I clean?

I clean whenever it looks noticeably dirty. As a general guideline, once every one to two weeks is enough to keep the keyboard looking clean consistently.

Does it work on all MacBook models?

Yes — the approach works regardless of keyboard layout (JIS, ANSI, ISO) or MacBook generation.

Summary

Item	Assessment
WHOOSH! cleaning power	Excellent — removes oils and fingerprints effectively
Antibacterial claim	Present on packaging; hard to verify
Cost per year	Very low with the larger set
Screen use	May leave slight streaks on glossy displays
KeyboardCleanTool	Free, essential for safe cleaning on macOS

WHOOSH! removes oils and fingerprints effectively, and the large bottle lasts years
KeyboardCleanTool is a free macOS utility that prevents accidental input during cleaning — highly recommended

Keyboard Cleaning | Tomokatsu Yukishita | yre.jp