TapNoiseDisconnect or switch off an external keyboard before cleaning it. Follow its manufacturer’s instructions, especially for coatings, removable keycaps and cleaning products; an Apple keyboard and a custom mechanical board may need different care.
Separate the hardware from the Mac
Save your work, disconnect the keyboard or turn it off, and check that it cannot send accidental input. This is simpler than holding the whole Mac’s keyboard and pointer when the device can be disconnected directly.
Use a soft, lint-free cloth and keep moisture away from openings. Do not spray cleaner onto the device or assume that a wipe suitable for one finish is suitable for another.
Treat keycaps and switches deliberately
Only remove parts if the keyboard maker describes that maintenance procedure. MacBook-style mechanisms and removable mechanical keycaps are not interchangeable designs.
Likewise, Apple’s compressed-air instructions have a stated device scope. They should not become a universal recipe for every external keyboard, speaker grille or laptop port.
Reconnect and test
Let the device reach the condition required by its cleaning instructions before powering it again. Test letters, modifiers and connection stability in a scratch document.
If a key still sticks physically, investigate the mechanism rather than using audio feedback as proof it is repaired. For the built-in laptop, use the MacBook cleaning guide; for accidental input while working, Clean Mode addresses only that software layer.
Sources: Apple’s cleaning guidance for its products, TapNoise input hold.