For the most part, a MIDI keyboard requires little maintenance. You will rarely have complaints as long as you don’t do anything important to him, like dropping him from a 10-story building or getting hit by an 18-wheeler.

Okay, maybe those are extreme examples, but barring major incidents, intentional or not, expect to enjoy a useful life of use (that is, the life of your keyboard). That being said, it doesn’t mean your equipment doesn’t have to be taken care of. Precisely because life is unpredictable, you need to take care of your MIDI keyboard.

An easy way to do this is to make sure you keep everything clean. Now wait before you take all the cleaners in the house, you should know that cleaning your electronic keyboard is different from cleaning other things. For one thing, the fact that it’s an electronic keyboard should give you a signal: it uses electricity, so you shouldn’t use liquids like water unless you want to fry everything, including yourself.

Also do not spray or use chemical cleaners. Your keyboard may not like it and discoloration is the least of your problems.

Use a soft, lint-free cloth to flare around. To reach between the keys, use those little paintbrushes sold in computer stores that pick up dirt and yet have soft bristles so they won’t scratch your MIDI keyboard.

Compressed or canned air is great as it can blow out that pesky dirt, dust, and debris without affecting your equipment. Or you can use those little vacuums or the little tube attachment from your regular vacuum cleaner.

To really clean those nooks and crannies, the knobs and sliders, for example, use a cotton swab and some rubbing alcohol. Be gentle and don’t rub hard. Once you’re done, be sure to dry everything, again with a soft, lint-free cloth.

You can also be proactive in taking care of your MIDI keyboard. For example, before you start using it, wash your hands to remove body oils and dead skin that may remain on the keys. You can also use a cover when you are not using your computer to prevent dust from accumulating.

It also helps if you don’t eat or drink anything when you use or play on the keyboard. Even if you’re careful, you won’t notice all those little crumbs that can fall into cracks or between keys, potentially attracting ants that can wreak havoc on circuitry.

The best way to do this is to clean everything regularly, even if you don’t see any dirt. In this way, you establish the routine to clean and not forget it; It also helps prevent things from building up and making cleaning difficult in the future.

Keeping your MIDI keyboard clean makes it aesthetically pleasing to look at, which can make it feel better to use or play and can make it last longer to produce higher quality music for you.