My favorite MacBook accessory gives my keyboard a simple but useful upgrade for cheap

Kayla Solino/ZDNET

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I work from home, and have a serious habit of snacking and typing. I suppose it comes with the territory of working as ZDNET's deals and shopping editor, but the fast-paced nature of my day-to-day activities is a breeding ground for crumbs, dirt, and spills on my keyboard. 

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My MacBook Pro has really seen it all -- accidental water and coffee spills, cracker crumbs, oily fingerprints, and even a healthy dash of hair from my unsupportive coworker who insists on lying across my keys -- my cat, Otis. About a year ago, I decided I had to find something to keep my keys spotless and make it easier to give my MacBook a bath when necessary. 

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I wasn't new to the idea of a keyboard cover, but my previous experiences included bulky options that left weird residues and junk all over my keyboard. So, I turned to the internet, and that's how I found the Uppercase GhostCover while searching on Amazon. 

The GhostCover is a paper-thin, clear keyboard cover that plops right on top of my MacBook Pro M3 keys. It's silky to the touch, but is so sleek I never notice it's even there. It's translucent, so it doesn't hinder my view of the keys, and it has a dedicated cutout for Touch ID. My laptop still closes flush, too, so it's not bulky in the slightest. 

It's perfect. And it only costs $13. And I really wish I had bought it before my mocha latte began to permanently stick my escape key after a nasty spill. 

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The best part about the GhostCover is that it easily lifts off your keyboard, so you can easily clean your keys and your cover. I frequently shake off crumbs and other debris from my GhostCover for a quick refresh, and I've wiped down larger messes off of it with no problems. 

The esteemed coworker in question. 

Kayla Solino/ZDNET

I've had my GhostCover for nearly two years now, and it's held up great. In fact, I love it so much I shared it in our editors' tech products we loved in 2025 guide before the holiday season last year. 

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The GhostCover is available in clear or translucent tinted and is compatible with most US ANSI keyboard layouts for MacBooks, including the M1, M2, M3, M4, and M5 MacBook Pros and multiple MacBook Air models. It's also compatible with the newer MacBook Neo (TouchID). 

Why I recommend this product

Investing in protection for your tech is universally recommended, and just a good idea. For $13, I don't think there's a better investment in keyboard protection. Fingerprints, crumbs, and spills are easier to manage with a GhostCover on, and I appreciate nothing more than being able to continue my snacking and working in solace. Just buy the keyboard cover!