How to clean keyboard?

Tom - Thank you for the link to this site. I checked it out and it looks like a 'keeper'. I will definetly be exploring it some more. Again, thank you for your help.
AJ

My sister used the key removal method to clean a thrift-shop keyboard she bought for a quarter. She then rearranged the letters in Dvorak layout, partly to prove her superior geekiness and partly to deter visitors from checking their e-mail on her computer.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dvorak_Simplified_Keyboard

I take keyboard turn it upside down and tap it lightly on the side, this will get rid off big stuff, then take compressed air can and blow on the key while turn upside down. To complete cleaning proces, you may want to take clean small cloth with rubbing alcohol and go gently over the greased keys.
It works all the time.

wat i did was, get some wet disposable tissue/towel, pluck out all my keys from the keyboard, using the wet disposable tissue, wipe all my keys till sparking again and at the same time use a mini vacuum cleaner to suck out all the particles lying on the bed of my keys. and viola.. sparkling white keys on my yellowish keyboard lol

Vacume while brushing with a small paint brush with computer turned off also works great.

It's best to head off the problem before it gets worse. Today's kitten is tomorrow's adult cat. While it's cute and endearing, I know I'd not want my 13# Siamese napping on my keyboard. Get the kitten a Purr Padd & put it into a suitable basket. Position the basket near the PC desk where the kitten can see you at all times. Remember that (good or bad) behaviour learned young is usually permanent. The kitten likely thinks you're its' mother and will readily take cues from you. Teaching your pets just what is yours vs theirs is easy & will head off problems with destructive behavior later. My 10 year old cat still thinks I'm His mother and knows I'm the boss of the household. Never let the pet assume the power position in the home...

As for the keyboard: a simple dusting brush on a vacuum cleaner will get out all the loose fuzz & accumulated donut crumbs. Compressed air will only relocate the debris. Keep the cat off the keyboard & your problems are solved. Otherwise, brush the kitten daily to reduce shedding, and don't even consider using the clothes dryer set on 'Air Fluff' for touch ups on the cat...

If you've got Microsoft Outlook to read your email just set a wav file of a barking dog and everytime you recieve a new email maybe the sound of the dog's voice will scare him to get off the computer. Well it was a cute idea...

Joe - I wanted to thank you for your post and suggestion. I will check out the compressed air can. I had even wondered about a hair dryer on 'cool' setting?
AJ

I am always getting asked this and although it would appear an easy way to clean your keyboard I always advise against it. This is because all the air can will do is force all the c%^p into the workings of your keyboard.
Turn it upside down and shake it out, then use a long haired brush, then spray some cleaner onto a cloth and use that.

Glenn- Thank you for your suggestion. I will check into one. Appreciate your taking time to comment. AJ

I was also about to suggest a keyboard cover to prevent future problems.
[Actually I've been thinking I should buy one myself too.]

I've had a hard plactic cover that fit snugly of the all of the keys, don't know if you can get it these days.

Of course a clearish vinyl cover that drapes over the sides of the keyboard should be easy to find. They fold up into a small size too.

I wonder why these ''keyboard covers'' aren't as popular as they were twenty years ago, when they used to be everywhere, in racks of different sizes.

Glad my dogs can't sleep on my keyboard!

Good luck!
Cris

put 'em in the dishwasher. Run the washing cycle without heated drying of course. Once it's finsihed take it out, stand it up where any remaning water will drain and let a fan blow over it for a few hours. Has worked well for me 4 or 5 timre.

VAPCMD

PS...NOT FOR USE WITH LAPTOPs

I must have neglected to state that I have Dell notebook. I have read up on numerous cleaning tips but they all have to do with desktops where you can at least seperate them to do more in depth cleaning. I can do the air pressure blowing out and wiping down of keys but is this thorough enough to get everything out from underneath the keys? Of course, turning upside down and shaking out of any debris is obvious. Just wanted to thank you all for your suggestions. AJ

Well, it would have been nice to know this as a"laptop kybd" it makes narrowing down a solution that much more easier.

The FACT is laptop kybd. are more than just kybd. as real estate is precious on laptop so alot of space is used for other services/devices. If a kybd. is compromised other problem(s) may arise totally different of real system problem. The only real solution is to remove and using electronics rated cleaners, wipe and brush, dap, drip or immerse in liquids designed not to attack or dissolve it. In short, users really can't do much other than blowing out or simple wiping. As for cat hair and such, quick attention is prudent to lessen build-up. Heaven forbid you spill any "sugared liquids" into it. Enuff said...

tada -----Willy

The simple solution for prevention is to close your laptop when you are not using it.

Even when you walk away for a while, you could close the cover most of the way to keep the cat off of it. If he closes the cover it should either hibernate or go to sleep.

Cleaning can be a real pain due to the closeness of the keys.

Cris

Dishwasher detergent is full of chlorine and is therefore very corrosive. I have no problem with aquaeous cleaning of almost any electronics (mind anything that is mechanical though, like a relay unless it is sealed) but I prefer to use liquid dish-washing soap rather than dishwasher detergent. The key is to rinse and let everything dry thoughly. I even used this on a laptop keyboard when my dad spilled cough syrup into it (yech).

It is always best if you can totally disassemble it - this usually means a housing, a circuit board, a rubber sheet full of domes, and the keys themselves (usually held captive by the top cover). Disassembled like this, you can do a better job of cleaning, rinsing and air drying. With assembled cleaning, there is always that danger that water got in some place under pressure that it will take ages to air-dry out of.

Don't thinks it'a accurate to say it's the dishwasher and during the process, the keyboards aren't subjected to anything for any extended period of time.

And you're free to use any liquid cleaning desired ... it's worked well for me and thus far no problems, failures or cruddy keyboards.

VAPCMD

I don't think anybody would recommend putting dishwasher DETERGENT into the dishwasher with the keyboard!!!! Maybe a little vinegar or a TINY bit of Dawn dishwashing liquid with a double rinse. And wait a couple of days if possible before reconnecting it.

debri and occasionally something stickey. If it works you're ahead. If not...nothing lost. As indicated I cover the keyboard connector, don't use heated dry, run it through one cycle (not immersed forever), shake the excess water out and stand it up on end in front of a fan to thoroughly dry for a few days. Some of the oldies (keyboards) are far better than the newbies.

I've had great success cleaning my keyboard in a dishwasher

Sue, Good for your success. My wife thinks that it work also as long as you do not use any dishwashing detergent.
Sybon/Barnstead cleans electronic boards in pure distilled hot water.
That's why I suggested it.
Thanks for your input.
Sue, How do you dry out your keyboard?
I will bet there are many out there on this forum that thinks we are out of our mind! :