How To Lube Mechanical Keyboard Switches: Step-by-step Guide

I'm a keyboard enthusiast. I love typing on all sorts of keyboards, but my favorite is the mechanical keyboard. These keyboards have been around for decades and they're still being manufactured today.

They're not just used in offices anymore; gamers are using them as well- everyone loves their clicky sound and satisfying tactile feedback when you press down on the keys. There's no denying that mechanical keyboards feel amazing to type on, but they sometimes can require some maintenance!

The first thing you want to do is take a look at the switches on your keyboard. You can usually tell by looking if they're lubed or not, but it's best just in case that we open up our mechanical keyboards and check! If there are no signs of lubrication (such as an oily residue), then don't worry - this guide will show how easy maintenance for these types of keyboards, what kind of lubricant should be used and the different kinds of tools...

Why lube your keyboard switches?

Although they don't require as much maintenance, lubing your mechanical keyboard switches is an important step that will make them last for years and feel even better to type on.

Your fingers can slip off the keys more easily when a switch isn’t properly maintained; this makes it difficult or impossible during fast typing sessions because your fingers can’t find the keys when they need to.

Lubricating your switches will also make them quieter; this is great for those who use their mechanical keyboard in a shared space such as an office or dorm room!

Lubing switches also help for gaming. When you press a key that doesn’t have lube on it, the switch will slam into place. This can cause your fingers to feel cramped and less comfortable while typing or gaming for long periods of time because they are being forced against each other by an unmoving object (the keyboard).

It's also worth noting that generally it's only recommended to lube linear and tactile mechanical switches. You can lube blue clicky switches but due to the nature of the clicky mechanism it's not really recommended. 

What lube should you use?

There are many different lubricants out there, so it may take a little bit of experimentation to find what you like. Some people swear by the more expensive “contact” or silicone oil, while others say that it doesn't last long enough and prefer something less thick such as petroleum jelly (aka Vaseline).

Keyboard switch parts

Mechanical keyboard switches are not as complicated as they may seem. Each switch is composed of four separate components: the stem, the spring, the bottom housing and the top housing.

There may be some components inside like springs that need attention too, so make sure those get cleaned out before reassembling everything back together again with new grease applied where needed most! It doesn’t matter what type of switch mechanism has been used either – every single one needs regular care from time-to-time.

Tools need to lube mechanical switches