Caring for a mechanical keyboard so it outlives your computer
A good board is a ten-year purchase if you treat it like one. Here is the maintenance that actually matters.
Keycaps come off, and should
A puller costs very little and lets you clean properly. Warm water and a drop of washing-up liquid, left to dry fully overnight — never in direct sun, which warps and fades them.
Compressed air is a first pass, not a clean
It moves dust around the case. A soft brush and a vacuum with a narrow nozzle does the job properly, and takes about five minutes.
Lubrication is optional and easy to overdo
Stabilisers on the longer keys benefit most. Switches themselves rarely need it unless you are chasing a particular sound. Too much lubricant makes a board feel mushy and is far harder to remove than to apply.
Replace, do not discard
If a single switch fails on a hot-swap board, it is a thirty-second repair. Even on a soldered board it is a repair rather than a replacement.