How to Clean an iMac Display and Keyboard

CLEANING THE DISPLAY

  1. If necessary, darken the display so you can see the smudges better by using this keyboard shortcut: [control] + [shift] + [⏏]
  2. Create a cleaning cloth by layering 2-3 paper towels together. The paper towels by the sinks in the art studios and the restrooms will do just fine.
  3. Pump 2 or 3 sprays of screen cleaner evenly on the paper towels. Don't use too much or you'll get a lot of streaks and residue. "A little goes a long way."
    Tip: If a screen is particularly smudgy, you can spray directly on the screen, but if you do, use no more than 2 sprays at a time, keep your distance when spraying so that you only "mist" the screen, and be careful not to spray too close to the edges where the glass display meets the aluminum body.
  4. Supporting the computer from behind with one hand, use the sprayed side of your paper cleaning cloth to wipe the display clean with your other hand.
  5. If needed, use the other, dry side of your paper cleaning cloth to buff the screen and removing any streaks that were left behind.
  6. If still needed, use the microfiber cloth in the cleaning bin to buff, shine, and polish away any remaining streaks.

CLEANING THE KEYBOARD

  1. Temporarily disable the keyboard by disconnecting its USB connector from the back of the computer.
    Tip: The keyboard's USB cable is the white one.
  2. There is at least one sponge in the cleaning bin in each lab. Lightly wet the sponge and wring as much water out of it as you can so that it's barely damp. Too much water in the sponge will damage the keyboard.
    Tip: Blot the sponge on some paper towels or let it air dry for ten minutes so that it's barely damp.
  3. Pump 2 or 3 sprays of screen cleaner onto the sponge.
    Warning: Don't spray cleaner directly on the keyboard!
  4. Wipe the barely damp sponge with the cleaner on it across the entire keyboard until the keys are white again, lightly spraying the sponge with a little bit more screen cleaner if needed.
  5. There's no need to clean the keys one at a time. That would take forever. Just wipe the entire barely damp sponge across the keyboard, listening to the clickety-clack of the keys as you go.
  6. For particularly dirty keyboards, try spraying and using the abrasive side of the sponge first to break up the grime and then switch back to the spongy side to finish. Don't worry: you won't rub the characters off the keys.
  7. Reconnect the keyboard's USB cable when you're finished.