Best Way To Clean A Keyboard?

Joined
Aug 4, 2002
Messages
363
My keyboard was getting pretty dirty, so I decided to clean it. Since it was kinda greasy, I sprayed it with some Formula 409. I also removed one key that was sticking, and I was horrified to see the filth lying under the keys! I got this keyboard free from a friend (honest), and I swear there must have been half a loaf of bread down there in the form of crumbs! I took my regular vacuum cleaner and vacuumed the sucker as best I could!

Let me tell you, the 409 idea wasn't good. The liquid screwed up the keyboard so that I couldn't really use it till it dried out. I think it also just disolved a lot of the crap which just resolidified later, because now other keys are sticking!

So, any suggestions on the best way to clean a keyboard? I know from now on I'm going to cover my keyboard when not in use. The combination of grease and oil from my hands and dust is positively disgusting. It not only looks awful, it is screwing up the function of my keyboard.

Help!

Bruise
 
Whoops:p

All is not lost, as you've already taken one key off, I'll assume that you put it back just fine! If that is the case, just take the lot off (remember where they came from;) ) & go to it with some "q-tips" & a rag. Then, when you've succesfully re-assembled, get some proper keyboard foam cleaner & use that!


Hope that helps:)
 
You should routinely vacuum the keyboard. Use some canned air to blow stuff up out of the keys while using the vacuum intake where the debris appears. It's a good combination that works well on the interiour components of the computer too.

Phil
 
Remember if using canned air, keep the nozzle well back from any components & do not shake the can, as this can put some really cold stuff on your processor, memory etc & completely screw it up;)
 
Hey, here is a very interesting suggestion someone told me about on another forum. Whatdaya think?

"With or without rinse aid?

After reading a letter asking how to clean the keyboard (and your reply suggesting to pop the caps off and use a vacuum) I got around to thinking. I have seen (in newsgroups, surprise surprise) people writing that it is fine to pop your keyboard in the dishwasher for a clean as long as you let it dry properly afterwards.

Well? Whaddyareckon? It sounds harebrained enough to be true, but I'll let you try it first.

Russell

Answer:
Cleaning plastic parts in the dishwasher would definitely work - all of the keytops in a plastic mesh orange bag, or something, and the halves of the main casing just sitting with them in the top basket. Just a little detergent, no super-pre-heat, no dry-out cycle at the end (it'll warp the plastic), no worries. You can wash keytops in the washing machine, in similar fashion; apparently tying them up in an old sock works well.

Washing a whole keyboard, however, I'm less sure about. It depends on the design of the 'board, but most keyboards contain plenty of crevices where water could linger for a long time. You'd want to leave the 'board to dry in the sun for rather a while, I think. Yes, plenty of people on newsgroups report that washing a whole 'board that way worked for them, but you can find people on newsgroups who believe all sorts of things.

If you've got a keyboard that's so filthy that it either has to be cleaned or thrown away, and you've no desire to have at it with cotton swabs and monitor wipes and so on, then by all means fling the whole thing in the dishwasher. What the heck. I wouldn't try it on a keyboard that was worth something, though."

Bruise
 
I make use of canned air and my vacuum cleaner with the dusting nozzle [the one with the brush]. Works good everytime.
 
Giving it a shower works, but it can take a couple of days to dry out. If you have hard water it's probably a good idea to give it a final rinse with distilled water.

Friend of mine had a problem with her kids spilling soda on the keyboard -- after the third shower and going nuts with internet withdrawal symptoms waiting for it to dry she decided something had to be done and went to a local computer store and asked if they had a waterproof keyboard. They tried to sell her a keyboard condom, but she didn't like the idea -- she was afraid of losing sensitivity, and besides the guy wanted her to put it on.... (I'm not kidding; they really do make keyboard condoms.) She ended up buying a keyboard with a cover to fold down when she's not using it. My solution is to keep a spare so I always have a dry keyboard.

If it's just one key or two keys sticking I pry them off and clean under them, but the mechanisms under the space bar and enter key are difficult to put back together on some keyboards.
 
I believe the flat and floppy rubber keyboards are waterproof. They're basically just electrical contacts encased in a rubber shell.
 
Formula 409:eek: Bruise what were you thinking ay yi yi keep that vile stuff away from ALL electrical's that and WD-40, go quick as bunny to your local Home Depot the electical section and by a few can's of CRC QD Contact Cleaner and Silicone Spray - Muliti purpose Lubricant. In another life was a tech at NYPD HQ you should see what the 911 operator's use to Pour in my customed designed Equipment :mad: :eek: :barf:
 
take that key board up end it and spray the QD contact cleaner with the attached straw, flush out that 409! that stuff melt's the @@#4 out of most plastic's and rubber. use an old or soft toothbrush or take a 1" paint brush and cut the bristle short and stiff and use it to clean the keyboard . Then spray with the Silicone use the straw and paint brush. let dry for awhile. The silicone is very fast drying.as an aside put something down around the area your working in you don't want to slide on your butt:D:rolleyes:
 
If it's that gunky, it may take you more time and effort to clean it than it would take money to just simply replace it with a new one. They are really cheap these days. With reasonable care (don't pour soda on it, don't use it as a dinner plate) and just an occasional vacuuming, a keyboard should easily last and stay clean long enough for the computer it's attached to to become obsolete.
 
Go to comp usa, spend 20 dollars and buy a microsoft "internet" keyboard. nice tactile keyboard that will server you well and is dirt cheap.

Keep the old grungy one around for a back up system if you ever make one, or pass it on to someone in need:D

or spend a bit more and get a spill proof keyboard. the keys are covered in a rubber coating which lets you just give her a good scrubbing with a damp rag occasionally.
 
pop everykey off, then clean the keys invidually. Then clean the crap out behind it.

Some keys cant be removed.
 
Originally posted by Bruise Lee
My keyboard was getting pretty dirty, so I decided to clean it. Since it was kinda greasy, I sprayed it with some Formula 409. I also removed one key that was sticking, and I was horrified to see the filth lying under the keys! I got this keyboard free from a friend (honest), and I swear there must have been half a loaf of bread down there in the form of crumbs! I took my regular vacuum cleaner and vacuumed the sucker as best I could!

Let me tell you, the 409 idea wasn't good. The liquid screwed up the keyboard so that I couldn't really use it till it dried out. I think it also just disolved a lot of the crap which just resolidified later, because now other keys are sticking!

So, any suggestions on the best way to clean a keyboard? I know from now on I'm going to cover my keyboard when not in use. The combination of grease and oil from my hands and dust is positively disgusting. It not only looks awful, it is screwing up the function of my keyboard.

Help!

Bruise


Take it outside and hose it down! :D ;)
 
Originally posted by crosman177
pop everykey off, then clean the keys invidually. Then clean the crap out behind it.

Some keys cant be removed.

Just be sure to put the keys back in the right order or typing will be REAL fun ;)
 
I found that one of my Alt keys was sticking the other day.
I also took it out and cleaned all the mess from under it. I also took out the space bar which was a very bad move because it doesn't quite work now. I fiddled with it for a bit but no joy.

So I just got myself a new keyboard for about £10. Sometimes it costs more time and effort to fix something then to replace it. Sad I know.

Al
 
Unfortunately, if you use a unique keyboard like mine, replacing it can become an expensive option:

keyboard.gif


I just ordered this 3M Keyboard Cleaner kit from Buy.com:
http://products3.3m.com/catalog/us/...tation_3_0/command_AbcPageHandler/output_html

Hopefully it works as advertised. Apparently it can also be found at Staples.
 
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