Quick clean — for normal dust and crumbs
Shut down + unplug. Hold the MacBook at 75° angle (almost vertical), keyboard down. Use compressed air can to blow across keyboard in a left-to-right (or right-to-left) pattern.
Then rotate to other side and repeat. Then hold upside down and blow again. Apple specifically recommends this 3-position method.
Sticky key cleaning — for spilled drinks dried in
Slightly damp microfiber cloth (water only, or 70% isopropyl alcohol). Wipe around each affected key. Press the key gently — if it still feels sticky, you need keycap removal.
Magic Keyboard (2019+): keycaps can be carefully levered off with a thin tool. Underneath, clean the mechanism with cotton swab + isopropyl. Reattach by pressing firmly.
Butterfly keyboard (2015–2019 Pro): DO NOT attempt to remove keycaps. Clips break and the keyboard becomes unusable. Need full top-case replacement.
What you should NEVER do
Don't use vacuum cleaners (static damage). Don't pour water or any liquid directly onto keyboard. Don't use sharp metal tools to pry keycaps. Don't use household cleaning sprays (damages key coating).
When cleaning won't fix it — top-case replacement needed
Key stuck physically pressed down. Key not registering keystrokes. Key feels gritty when pressed. Multiple keys affected after a liquid spill.
Cost of top-case replacement: PKR 30k–80k depending on model. Includes new battery + trackpad in the same unit.
Liquid-spill timeline
Within first 30 seconds: power off Mac, disconnect power, hold lid-down on towel. Within first 24 hours: bring to workshop for full liquid-damage clean. Beyond 48 hours: corrosion starts, sticky keys become permanent.