Cleaning A Keyboard

[ssw_96]

I was using the internet laz nite and I was eating a can of peaches. Clumsy me tuned the can over and some spilled into my keyboard. I have a Dell Quiet Type keyboard. The Tab, Caps Lock, Shift, Ctrl, WIndows button, Alt, Space Bar, C, & Q buttons are hard to push. Especially the C and Q, space bar too. What can I do to clean the keyboard, or will I have to order another one? When I spilled it, I turned the keyboard upside down to let some of the juice run out.

[sniper297]

Hee-hee, that's why I don't let my youngest eat or drink at his computer anymore, I was going thru a keyboard every week.

Best thing is to have a backup anyway, cheap keyboards can be found for 10 to 20 bucks.

For cleaning, first you gotta unplug it (duh!) and then take it apart. Sometimes this is more trouble than it's worth since there are usually rubber suction cups under each key that act as spring and contact pad. If something like peach syrup gets underneath those it's sticky as hell and requires prying all the keys off, removing all the suction cups, and washing the whole mess.

It might be possible to salvage it without all that, unscrew whatever screws are on the base, open it up and dump it in the bathtub with dishwashing detergent and swish it around. I know that sounds nuts, but electronic components are actually waterproof, you just have to make sure it's thoroughly dry before plugging it back in. :o A hair dryer will do that job, altho sometimes you just have to let it air dry for several days if moisture gets trapped somewhere. Depends on the keyboard design.

Buy another cheap keyboard first, and use that while cleaning the peachy keyboard, just in case. If this is an irreplaceable super-duper millineum keyboard or whatever, then it's best to do the whole smash - get a dishpan so you don't lose keys and suction cups, wash all the keys and suction cups individually and put them in something like a collander or strainer to dry, or lay them out on a towel. Wash the circuit board and inside of the case and dry, wait a few days before reassembling everything, which will probably take another week. x(

Won't hurt the computer no matter what, even with a dead short inside the keyboard you'll just get 3 beeps and a 301 keyboard error message on bootup.

[rpicardi1]

What! You don't have a keyboard skin to protect the keyboard?

Time to invest in a new keyboard. They are now cheaper then a keyboard skin which was used in the days when a keyboard cost a lot more.

SRV Ron

[Gixxer86g]

You can get cheapo ones for about ten bucks,but Comp-USA has a Memorex Multimedia/Internet one that is pretty solid for only 20 bucks.To me,keyboards and mice are VERY expendible items.Keep spilling my beer on them!:+

[Baldwinbob]

I have the same keyboard, spilled milk on mine.

Actually, it was easy to clean, peach syrup may be more difficult.

When you take it apart, you'll see the suction cups under the keys are one big piece, keeps the yuck off the electronics.

Remove the electronic thingie, careful of the 3 little lights, it's all hooked together.

Once you've done that, do like Jim says, throw the rubber thing and the keys in the tub, they will stay connected to the top piece.

After it's dry, tip it over and back to see if any keys stick.

I would buy another just in case, I think it was only $30.

Bob

[BNSFLADY]

Just put it in the dishwater, make sure the heat is turned down to low.

Cyndi

[dti407]

I spilled Mountain Dew on mine. :-P

[ATSF107]

>I spilled Mountain Dew on mine. :-P
Try cleaning out Peanut Butter!

[ATSF104]

Peanut Butter? Where you making a sandwich? LOL.

-Matt

[calr]

Come on, guys. You have overlooked the obvious, easy method of cleaning. Put it in the dishwasher. Loop or tie the cable so it doesn't get wound up in the spray arm(s). Set the cycle for pots and pans, put in a detergent tablet, and push the start button. When it is done, open the dishwasher immediately and remove the keyboard. See how clean it is. Now, go throw it into the trash and go buy a new one. :+ :+ :+

Cal Rasmussen
Beaverton, OR
(My email is in my profile)

Columbia Gorge Route (Phase 2-- Started)

[CRSD40]

Water pretty much destroyed the one I used to have on my upstairs computer, might have been able to dry it out but I found a no-name brand one at the local Staples for 9.99. I've had it for about 4 months now and it seems the same quality as the one that Gateway sent.

[mrWM734]

When cleaning my keyboard, I remove the keys one at a time. I then found that putting a drop of labelle plastic oil in the shaft of the spring does a good job of getting any key unstuck. I borrowed the oil from my HO scale layout.