MacBook | Tomokatsu Yukishita | yre.jp

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

Stick It Wrapper Review: Self-Clinging Lens and Laptop Protective Cloth, M vs XL Size Comparison

Thu, 31 Mar 2022 00:00:00 +0000

This is a review of Stick It Wrapper, a protective cloth that clings to itself when layered — no velcro, no clips. I bought it to protect a large telephoto lens and tested both the M and XL sizes against real gear so you can choose the right size without guessing.

The Problem: Carrying a Large Telephoto Lens Safely

I recently bought the mirrorless lens TAMRON 150-500mm F/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD. It is a substantial piece of glass, and throwing it loose into a camera bag felt like a reliable way to accumulate scratches. I needed some kind of protection.

Hard Cases Are Too Bulky

Dedicated hard cases are available, but they make a large lens even larger. My camera bag would barely fit anything else. I wanted something compact that would still prevent scratches — and that search led me to a furoshiki-style wrap cloth.

The Solution: Stick It Wrapper

Stick It Wrapper Self-Clinging Protective Cloth (M Size, Digital Camouflage Gray)

Amazonで見る

The material grips itself when layered, with no velcro texture or loud ripping sound. It just holds. To avoid a sizing mistake, I ordered both the M size and the XL size at once.

Digital camouflage gray — a pattern that hides dirt well

First Impressions: Stiffer Than Expected

My first reaction when pulling it out of the package was “this is stiffer than I expected.” If you are imagining something soft and fluffy that cradles a lens gently, this is not quite that.

The stiffness is precisely what enables the self-clinging mechanism, and it does provide some cushioning. The lens is not going to be scratched by the material itself.

Front of the packaging

Back of the packaging with usage notes

The ‘High Ken’ label on the cloth

The fabric looks fluffy in photos but has a firm, structured feel in hand

Size Testing with Real Gear

Test 1: M Size (350×350 mm) with TAMRON 150-500mm

M size falls short — the wrap is too snug to hold securely

Size comparison with the lens laid on the open cloth

Result: not enough. You can just barely wrap it, but the hold is weak and the whole thing feels insecure. The M size is better suited to standard zoom lenses, small primes, or compact cameras.

Test 2: XL Size (580×580 mm) with TAMRON 150-500mm

XL size wraps the large lens comfortably with room to spare

Result: plenty of room. Enough material to wrap the lens twice over, with solid grip and a reassuring hold. For a lens in this class, XL is the only sensible choice.

Bonus: XL Size with a 16-inch MacBook Pro

With that much material, I also tried wrapping a 16-inch MacBook Pro (2021 model).

The 16-inch MacBook Pro fits as if the XL size were made for it

Result: a near-perfect fit. It wraps the laptop as though it were designed for it. Bulky laptop sleeves are one of the biggest space-wasters in a bag — this is a much slimmer alternative.

Size Selection Guide

Size	Dimensions	Best for
M	350×350 mm	Standard zoom lenses, small primes, compact cameras, small gadgets
XL	580×580 mm	Large telephoto lenses, DSLR bodies, 15–16 inch laptops

For any lens in the TAMRON 150-500mm class or larger, go straight to XL.

Quality and Limitations

Build quality is reasonable for the price — functional rather than premium. The one important caveat: this is scratch protection only. It is not designed to absorb impact. If you drop a lens or laptop while it is wrapped, the cloth will not save it. Use it to prevent the gear from rubbing against other items inside a bag, not as a substitute for a padded case.

Summary

This solves a specific problem: gear that is too valuable to throw loose into a bag, but for which a full hard case would be overkill or too bulky.

M size: standard lenses, compact cameras, smaller gadgets
XL size: large telephoto lenses, DSLR bodies, 15–16 inch laptops

When not in use it folds down to handkerchief size, so it is easy to keep one in a camera bag at all times. If you want lightweight scratch protection without adding bulk, Stick It Wrapper is worth it.

Stick It Wrapper Self-Clinging Protective Cloth (XL Size)

Amazonで見る