How to clean keyboard?

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Dishwasher

by dboanca Mar 2, 2006 11:07PM PST

I took mine (because they are so cheap I wasn't going to fret if it didn't work) and took it to the sink, held it upside down and took a brush and some SoftScrub and went to it. Then while it was still upside down I rinsed it with the hose sprayer in the sink (still holding it upside down), should have seen what came out of it! After that I set it upside down for a few days to dry out.
Hooked it back up, worked like a charm, keys were a little sticky though they came out of it after a couple weeks. Like brand new then!

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This just might be crazy enough to work...

by swather Mar 3, 2006 12:01AM PST

If your keyboard is really filthy, my recommendation would be to buy a new keyboard. This applies to just your basic models and not those "exotic" ones. At about 10 to 12 dollars these should not break the bank.

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keyboard for a laptop

by Toni Stancliff Mar 3, 2006 11:43AM PST

Would the removing the keys method work for a laptop or would I damage mine? I have a few keys that give me trouble (they don't work sometimes), and i needed to buy a portable keyboard.
Thanks for any help.

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(NT) Cleaning? Easy!

by taboma Mar 3, 2006 1:09PM PST

Put the keyboard either in a dishwasher or in a clothes washing machine.
Just put the cycle on gentle. Works all the time for me.

Another way is to tie the keyboard to your dog's collar. Have your dog go outside and play in the snow.
All the cracker crumbs are cleaned out between the keys. Than all you have to do is to use a hair dryer on both. (The keyboard and your smiling dog.) Your dog will love you. The keyboard won't know the difference.

Any other ways to clean a keyboard out there?

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My head is spinning!

by cduran02 Mar 4, 2006 8:46AM PST

So many great ideas to clean a keyboard! And laptops, no less! My head is spinning as I'm reading them all... However, being just a tad on the OCD when it comes to clean electronics, for desktops, the standard method mentioned in the first reply is by far the best and causes the least damage. For laptops, I still don't have a clear understanding. Can someone out there point to a website????

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Need help from puddgyone here

by taboma Mar 4, 2006 1:12PM PST

Are you reading this post?

-Kevin

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Kevin cleans

by PudgyOne Mar 13, 2006 2:28PM PST

Kevin cleans his keyboard here

Rick

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Kevin and Rick: LOL ! ! :-))

by ajvaught Mar 17, 2006 3:56AM PST

Thanks guys!! I needed that laugh- it's the best one I've had in awhile. Especially after reading Kid A's answer to my question. Keep up the good work. The world needs more laughter in it!

AJ

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What a way to clean?

by taboma Mar 17, 2006 12:07PM PST

?your keyboard.
Rick likes the bowl method, which is hard on your hand and that continual flushing. Not counting the water bill.
I really prefer the dog method. Tying the keyboard to your dog's collar. Let your dog run and play in the snow. Works great and all that it costs you is a doggie treat of some kind.
Maybe your wife's slipper. Let the dog take it back out in the snow and share it with all his other friends. When your dog brings it back into the house you and your dog will receive a special treat from the wife!!

Glad to help out here with hardware cleaning problems. For a while there I thought that this forum issue and the posts were too serious.
Rick's office and workstation looks great, don't you think?
His chair is really cool!
I told my wife that I posted and I also recommended the dish washer. She said to me ?I hope you do not use soap on it!?
I told her no. just hot water.
You missed a great deal on woot,com. They had two Logiteck wireless keyboards and two wireless optical mouse for $29.99 on sale for only 24 hours. Sold out all 280 of them by 10am. check out woot.com.
You won't believe their site.
In the meantime, do not use the pot-scrubber function!

-Kevin

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Keyboard Cleaning

by toga42 Mar 5, 2006 8:44PM PST

Sometimes when I'm about to discard a label, I fold it in half sticky side out and run it between the keys. This works good on the fly.

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Re: Sticky Side by toga42

by ajvaught Mar 17, 2006 3:13AM PST

Thanks toga42! This is the kind of 'on the fly' type of remedy I can appreciate! Quick, easy and foolproof! LOL!
I am grateful for your input.
AJ

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On the fly

by taboma Mar 17, 2006 12:14PM PST

Fly paper is a good one also. Just clean your hands and the keyboard in the shower together.

-Kevin

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The Shower is a great way to clean electronic crud

by taboma Mar 7, 2006 4:07PM PST

Sybron Corp. and Barnstead Still & Sterilizer from Roxbury, MA has been washing electronics for years during manufacturing with their equipment. The company uses pure water to flush away all the crud during manufacturing processes on all sorts of electronic equipment. Kind of like a hot shower.
I did their advertising a while back. Circuit boards and all are cleaned with pure water.

This procedure works on the keyboard only after you have disassembled it from your laptop. True.

-Kevin

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I Just Did This Stuff and...

by Eskiegirl302 Mar 23, 2006 11:34PM PST

I cleaned my whole system. For the monitor, which is your classic kind, I just cleaned it like you would do for a tv. For the computer, I have a very soft brush which is adjustable so it can become stiffer if needed, and some q-tips for tight places and the fans, the handheld vaccum for getting the loose debri. I cleaned the case with cleaner while it was apart and away from the electronics.

Now for the keyboard. I completly dis-assembled it. I know these are not expensive so I thought well if it don't work when I get done I will get a new one. So I took it apart. Inside the first thing I saw was a plastic-like board with hundreds of white lines which react when you press the keys, sending a signal to a small electronic box, which goes to the cord that plugs into the computer. There are two of these plastic boards fitted together. I carefully laid these out of the way. Then I saw a bunch of little rubber type grommets which cover each key. Mental note 'remember which they are facing' as this is important. I dumped all them into a pile. Popped out all the keys and laid in order the way I took them off so could replace them exactly (forgetting I still had the box as reference) this made the casing very easy to clean. Back to the q-tips for tight spots. I cleaned it up good as new. This took a long time but I had set the time out of my schedule just for cleaning my pc. Just had to take some mental notes for reverse re-assembly. All back together.

I took Saran wrap to cover the keyboard, and got some dryer fabric softner sheets (two of these) to cover the backside of the pc. I had to think about this before the idea came to mind. I taped two sheets together in the middle, then taped the sheets to just the top of the back of the pc. This collects the dust better and keeps my fans cleaner. It also lets the air flow good. Still up and running good as new! Now I won't have to clean so often and I have a keyboard cover I can change, see through and does a really good job of water proofing and keeping debri out. No short cuts here.

Esk

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Dell laptop cleaning

by gekeller Mar 8, 2006 3:19AM PST

I recently did some cleaning on my daughter's aging Dell Inspiron 3800. She has multiple cats at her apartment and often works on the floor. Her keyboard was a mess. I started out with canned air and a brush, but I was leaving a lot of crud behind. I finally started to lift off each key with my fingernail, one at a time (the letters are worn off of her keys from heavy usage). With a key off I used tweezers to GENTLY pull out the hair and fuzz. You must be careful to not damage the tiny stiff wires that make up the connections. I then gently pushed the key back into place, sometimes wiggling it slightly until it caught.

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Of course, you could...

by Kid A Mar 8, 2006 4:54AM PST

...lose the cat!

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Reply to Kid A: HISSSS!

by ajvaught Mar 17, 2006 3:40AM PST

Obviously you are not a cat lover! Mores the pity for you Kid A. May fur balls plague your dreams tonight! Meow!
AJ

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Sick?

by taboma Mar 17, 2006 12:11PM PST

?your dog on it! No not the cat. The keyboard silly.

-Kevin

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after cleaning, what if keys stick?

by dedlnr Mar 18, 2006 3:56AM PST

We've cleaned one of our other keyboards thoroughly, but the shift key won't work so we can't have capitals, question marks etc. Any suggestions?

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(NT) (NT) Actually sticking ?? or just brojen ??

by VAPCMD Mar 18, 2006 1:00PM PST

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Probably Broken

by taboma Mar 19, 2006 8:22AM PST

He probably put the clothes washer cycle on spin.
I hope he didn't put the cat in also.
Can you imagine a cat coming out from that ride?
No fir balls. Just an angry cat!

-Kevin

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(NT) (NT) Yup . .make that a VERY ANGRY CAT !!!...

by VAPCMD Mar 19, 2006 8:30AM PST

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Meow?

by taboma Mar 19, 2006 9:41AM PST

GRRRRRR!
I hope no cat lover is angry. What a ride!
I wish my machine had a window to view this.
When the door opens and the cat comes out?DUCK!!!

-Kevin

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keyboard problem

by dedlnr Mar 20, 2006 4:43AM PST

Sorry, you are correct: the shift key doesn't work, it's not sticking.

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Keyboard solution

by taboma Mar 20, 2006 11:59AM PST

Flush it the way Rick suggested. Just keep your finger on the handle many times. It is not broken. It is just full of crap.
Clean it? You know how to do it.
Just go to this site: Cathairballsandweirnesstoflushfromthekeyboard.
I am not in charge of this site. Rick is.
Good luck.
Has anyone tried my dog-cleaning method? I have a new dog in my neighborhood that will try out my keyboard cleaning method. He is ready to go. Thank goodness there are no longer any cats alive in our neighborhood taken for a wild ride with a crazy dog next door and with any keyboard.
Works all the time! No cats! No fir balls! Just whacko dogs in my neighborhood. I plan on taking a photo of this.
My neighbor is willing to show her whacked-out dog also.
Stay tuned?Should prove fun to view.

-Kevin

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ajvaught. New idea from Rick passed along from me to you.

by taboma Mar 21, 2006 12:04PM PST

SHAVE THE CAT!!

Rick is brutal don't you think?
However, I have thought of one more way to clean out your keyboard.
Fill up a container other than your toilet large enough to submerge your keyboard under water. Add some of that effervescent product that cleans bridges and false teeth. That should do it for you. All those bubbles coming up to the surface of the water.

Oh, my god, just thought of those tiny scrubbing bubbles with Dow Bathroom Cleaner! ??You have to sing it?
?Tiny bubbles? on my keyboard?
How about that one? Sure beats shaving the cat!
Shame on Rick for suggesting that!
Rick has stock with Gillette.
I have stock with Dow Corp.

Hopes this helps. Any more ideas out there to help ajvaught?

-Kevin

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Rick, It all your fault?

by taboma Mar 22, 2006 1:09PM PST

suggesting this stuff on a stiff keyboard in the first place.
I am going to drop a dime.
Probably go?clunk!

-Kevin