One of the most efficient methods to change your keyboard is to lubricate the switches on the keyboard itself. When you write more evenly, it helps to smooth out any sticking or scratchiness that may occur.

 The best part is that lubrication will eliminate any bothersome clacking of keys that have developed as a result of normal wear and tear over the course of time. The dilemma for most people is what to use for lubricating a keyboard. Can you use WD40 to lubricate a keyboard?

As a general guide, you can not use wd40 on a keyboard. The WD-40 Company says “No.”  You can not use WD-40 on most electronics; it may damage the keyboard due to its highly volatile chemicals.

Also, there are documented problems of using WD-40 on keyboards! If you like taking risks with your PC, go ahead and try using WD-40 on your keyboard (or any other electronic components). You might succeed or you might not. There are no guarantees, so why risk it?

Finding the most efficient keyboard lubricant is a challenge. Some people report success with WD-40, while others say it caused problems.

Keyboards are complex mechanisms, and they need to be treated with respect. Using any solvent or oil on a keyboard is risky; the solvents in WD-40 may dissolve certain types of keyboard plastic faster than you realize — making your keyboard keys fall off.

No maker of keyboard lubricant recommends WD-40 for keyboards, which is probably one of the best reasons NOT to use it.

Why Not Use WD-40 on Your Keyboard? LUBRIPLATE WORKS! It contains real lube, not solvents with LUBRIPLATE has proven itself to be the best all-purpose keyboard lubricant on the market. It’s made in Germany and contains real lubricants (PTFE) so it won’t damage your keyboard like WD40.

In fact keyboards are designed to be lubricated using specific solvents so the keys move freely.

The WD-40 company recommends that you do not use their product to lubricate a keyboard. You should use a specialist keyboard lubricant such as LUBRIPLATE. 

Can you use WD-40 (in particular) on the keyboard? Although some use WD40 for keyboards, it is not recommended since the problems it creates exceed the advantages of using it. WD40 has the ability to lubricate your mechanical keyboards. 

When it comes to penetrants, WD-40 is a great choice, but it should not be used to lubricate mechanical keyboard switches. Due to its low viscosity, WD-40 dries up within the switch casing over time, causing it to become unresponsive. 

Then, in addition to providing no advantage in terms of friction reduction or buffering flaws in key travel, it may also leave behind a residue that might damage plastic components and introduce a new source of unpleasant noise into the system.

If you’re considering using WD-40 as a keyboard switch lubricant, we’ll go through the advantages and cons of doing so in this post, as well as provide you with some suggestions for alternatives.

What is the purpose of WD40?

Even if you haven’t heard of WD-40 before, it wouldn’t be shocking if you did. Considering the fact that it’s one of the most widely used home lubricants in the country, it makes sense.

What’s inside that famous blue and yellow spray can, however, is something you should know. In order to keep it liquid even in frigid conditions, WD-40 is a blend of lubricating oils and a variety of other compounds.

Mineral oil is the primary lubricating element; mineral oils are a transparent distillate of petroleum that is produced from petroleum jelly (also known as paraffin oil) (think Vaseline).

Parafluoroalkanes (also known by their scientific name ‘alkanes’) are a family of waxy chemicals that are used to give WD-40 additional body and stability while also preventing it from becoming brittle.

A chemical solvent that aids in the breakdown of rust is dimethyl naphthalene. Carbon dioxide (CO2) is a propellant gas that enables you to spray WD-40 directly from a can of the product.

Over the course of its two-step operation, WD-40 first breaks down and removes rust, dust, and grease, and then lubricates surfaces to ensure that they continue performing properly.

WD-40 should not be used to lubricate the keys on your computer keyboard

Because of the mineral oils and paraffin compounds in the product, there is a school of thinking that WD-40 will melt your keyboard switches into pools of plastic when they come into touch with the ABS plastics that are often used in the construction of keyboards.

Because WD-40 is a proprietary blend, it is difficult to test the compounds in the product against every type of plastic to determine whether they will cause damage to a keyboard. However, the WD-40 Company itself recommends using their multi-use product to clean plastics, with the exception of polycarbonate (car headlamps, baby feeding bottles) and clear polystyrene.

As a result of several real-world experiments, it has been shown that the melting plastic issue is unfounded, at least when it comes to the little amount of WD-40 necessary for keyboard switches and the short period of time that the two are in touch.

Why is WD40 Inappropriate for Keyboards

The reason why WD-40 is inappropriate for use as a mechanical keyboard lubricant is that it has a very low viscosity, which results in a thin coating of lubrication that is susceptible to drying out. 

While WD-40 may not even be a sufficient buffer to completely minimize friction, it will ultimately dry up and leave behind a tiny amount of residue that may increase wear and tear as well as noise levels in the long run.

Many keyboard owners who have opted to experiment with WD-40 as a lubricant has reported rattling in their keyboards.

What can you use to lubricate a keyboard in place of WD-40?

A good keyboard lubricant is something you should consider investing in. Designed exclusively for use with mechanical keyboard switches and stabilizers, these goods are a great addition to your computer. In the event that you use these goods, you will know that your keyboard will not be adversely impacted, and you will have an improved outcome.

You may want to consider any of the following top choices:

• Tactile and linear switches both benefit from the use of Krytox 205G0, a thick grease with a buttery flavor.
• A fluorinated polymer lubricant with a thinner consistency, Tribosys 3203 is ideal for tactile switches and spring-loaded switches.
• In addition to being less viscous than grease, Krytox GPL105 is also suitable for use on all switch springs, since it will not clog up the spring or cause resistance to the switch.
• Grease for tuning up dielectric capacitors (Permatex 22058 Dielectric Tune-Up Grease) While lubing clicky switch springs, use a delicate hand when applying the lubricant to avoid damaging the springs.

The majority of these items may be found online or at your local office supply shop.

Conclusion

The difficulty that using WD-40 as a keyboard lubricant will create will exceed any short-term advantages that you may get from doing so. Locate a heavier grease-based lubricant for linear and tactile switches.

 You may use an oil-based lubricant to lubricate clicky switches if you must. With this method, you’ll have a much better overall experience, and your keyboard will be better protected for a longer period of time than it would be with WD-40.