Clean a keyboard?

Dr. KillGood · Post by **Dr. KillGood** » Tue Jun 17, 2008 4:10 pm

Well I saw a video where a dude cleans his keyboard by poping the keys out with a screwdriver. My question is, are keyboards made so that you can do this or is it a side effect of cheap manufacturing?

So should I do it?

Post by **bicostp** » Tue Jun 17, 2008 4:19 pm

Side effect of cheap manufacturing. The keys don't even have springs anymore, just the rubber membrane, and there are two snap tabs (like the ones that hold TV remotes together) on a post that goes into a slot on the keyboard case. Once you get a couple keys off it should be pretty obvious. Nice and cheap for production!

Pop the keys off with a screwdriver (take a picture of your keyboard first if you have one of those weird ones), and put the keys in a sink full of warm soapy water. (I used dish detergent. Don't use water that's too hot or the plastic might soften.) Scrub them with an old toothbrush, and use the same brush to dislodge the crap inside the keyboard.

Tilt the keyboard on end and bang the bottom edge on your desk a few times to get at least some of the junk out. And when you pop the keys off, make sure you cup your other hand over the key you're prying at so it doesn't fly across the room. Don't be too rough with the screwdriver; the first key takes a little effort but the rest come off easy. Longer keys like the space bar and enter key will probably have some kind of metal bar underneath. It's best to leave them alone.

And for [deity]'s sake, don't even think about doing this to a laptop!! Those keys are really hard to put back together, and break easily.

I cleaned several keyboards this way, including the one this post was typed on. As long as you're careful there shouldn't be a problem. You'll be amazed at the kinds of crap that fall in there.

Note: If you screw your keyboard up it's your fault and your problem.

Dr. KillGood · Post by **Dr. KillGood** » Tue Jun 17, 2008 4:23 pm

Ok so if this damages me keyboard I can blame you? Sounds good to me. =D

Post by **Triton** » Tue Jun 17, 2008 10:28 pm

ive heard of just putting the whole keyboard in the dishwasher and run it through the cycle and then take it apart and let it dry out for a day or so and pop it back together, your milage may vary lol

vskid · Post by **vskid** » Tue Jun 17, 2008 10:47 pm

Triton wrote:ive heard of just putting the whole keyboard in the dishwasher and run it through the cycle and then take it apart and let it dry out for a day or so and pop it back together, your milage may vary lol

That sounds like it is along the same lines as this.

grossaffe · Post by **grossaffe** » Tue Jun 17, 2008 11:22 pm

Triton wrote:ive heard of just putting the whole keyboard in the dishwasher and run it through the cycle and then take it apart and let it dry out for a day or so and pop it back together, your milage may vary lol

reminds me of the customer of ours that opened up their computer and vacuumed it while it was running.

Dr. KillGood · Post by **Dr. KillGood** » Tue Jun 17, 2008 11:39 pm

grossaffe wrote:
Triton wrote:ive heard of just putting the whole keyboard in the dishwasher and run it through the cycle and then take it apart and let it dry out for a day or so and pop it back together, your milage may vary lol
reminds me of the customer of ours that opened up their computer and vacuumed it while it was running.

Oh lawld.

bacteria · Post by **bacteria** » Wed Jun 18, 2008 4:18 am

Yes, I have seen in PC magazines that you can put the keyboard in a dishwasher, cool cycle; then dry it out and leave it in an airing cupboard for a week and then it should be ok! (do so at your own risk).

APHawkes · Post by **APHawkes** » Wed Jun 18, 2008 5:23 am

I thought that the safest way to get the gunk out was compressed air. It always works for me. Sticking it in the dishwasher might get the thing downright sterile!

bacteria · Post by **bacteria** » Wed Jun 18, 2008 8:06 am

Compressed air is fine for removing loose gunk and dust, but not when it has set onto the keys!

nitro2k01 · Post by **nitro2k01** » Wed Jun 18, 2008 9:19 am

I usually clean my keyboards very thoroughly by hand. I pop out every key, clean every key with a towel and some window cleaning spray. (Yup!)
Then I put the key under pouring water for a while and let them dry.
For the actual keyboard I first vacuum it, and then clean it by hand with the same towel. I'm using a kitchen knife that I put the towel around to get better access.

If I were to put my keyboard in a dishwasher, I'd probably separate the plastics from the electronics and do a hot cycle.

mothatrucka · Post by **mothatrucka** » Wed Jun 18, 2008 9:21 am

nitro2k01 wrote: If I were to put my keyboard in a dishwasher, I'd probably separate the plastics from the electronics and do a hot cycle.

Should the screws go in the silverware rack then? I've just been leaving them in the holes.

Dr. KillGood · Post by **Dr. KillGood** » Wed Jun 18, 2008 3:01 pm

If you never want to see them again, then yes.

Aguiluz · Post by **Aguiluz** » Wed Jun 18, 2008 3:30 pm

I just run vacuum and blower and vacuum and blower many times to loosen the build up crap.

moonmoon · Post by **moonmoon** » Fri Jun 20, 2008 8:49 am

Dr. KillGood wrote:If you never want to see them again, then yes.

Well said.