How to turn the keyboard off to clean Macbook
Lots of people have this issue, and since these questions get closed pretty much as soon as they are opened I figure I'd post my solution here for anyone looking.
Finally, something that somewhat works and is easy to do!
- lock the screen using Command+Shift+Q
- turn the brightness all the way down on the screen using the F1 key!
It isn't identical to having the computer off as some of the keys still register, but because the mac is locked they really don't do anything and even when you press them the screen stays dark enough to see the smudges!