Urban/Office Survival RE - Keyboard!

Iboschi

Iboschi

Joined
Sep 17, 2009
Messages
2,692
Spilled some coffee on my wireless Microsoft keyboard a short while ago. Dried it out and am now able to type this. Some keys already sticky. I broke one down after this a couple years ago. Very carefully. Wouldn't work after re-assembly. Is my only option a new keyboard again?! Keys STICKING ALREADY! HELP! ADD WATER? RINSE? CRAP!
 
Have heard of people washing them out in a shower, then letting it dry out, but I have never tried it myself.

There's nothing too complicated in there, but make sure it's plenty dry before using it again.
 
If you're on an M$ box isn't there keyboard under "accessories/accessibility/on-screen keyboard" you can jab at with ya mouse.
 
I spilled coffee on mine once and went out and bought 3 to keep in the closet for when it happens again. funny thing is, 3 years later it hasn't happened yet.
 
I just got a new one because after 4 years of LAN Parties and abuse I lost three big keys, the backspace, the E key and the P key. It costed me 5 bucks at office max because I didn't want to wait for Newegg to ship me a new one, works like a charm. I'd try windex before water, for sure. try popping an unimportant key off carefully to see which the easiest way to remove them without breaking them is... then spray down all the keys back and front and the board itself. wipe it off with paper towel. I've spilled many a beer on my keyboard... no biggie.
 
I would have just picked up a new one but this keyboard (yes, I fixed it and I'll show you how :D ) cost $70 and I would rather buy a new knife with the money I could save on replacing it!

So first, I took a picture of the keyboard and key arrangement. Then I pried all the keys off of it and put them in a Windex (ammonia) and water bath to soak. I then took Q-tips dipped in Windex and meticulously wiped the coffee+milk+sugar mixture out of the spaces between keys. Then, I carefully, using very little Windex, wiped out the INSIDE of the recessed key areas. I then dried it all with fresh Q-tips and set it aside.

Next, I thoroughly rinsed the keys off and baked them on a towel covered baking pan in the oven at 200 degrees for 1.5 hours till dry. I added the wireless keyboard for the last 1/2 hour to ensure total dryness. I then popped the keys back in according to the digital pictures I took and I'm back ON LINE!!! I'll know in a day or so of typing how it all worked out but first approximation leads to a favorable outcome!
 
My brother had a friend who ran a keyboard cleaning service. He'd charge people $20 per to clean them "back to factory fresh condition." He'd take them home, run them through the rinse cycle on his dishwasher and let them dry out for a day or two. Worked great, huge margins...
 
Considering that I don't eat at my desk, it's amazing how much crap gets in the keyboard (I blame the cat).

When I was in college and was eating at my desk I decided to get myself on a monthly keyboard cleaning schedule. Usually on a weekend when I didn't need the computer, I'd pop all the keys off, put them in some hot water with soap and clean each key until it was squeaky clean. Then clean the board itself and let everything dry overnight.

These days I clean my keyboard once every six months or so.

The bottle opener on a Victorinox SAK works very well for popping off keys.
 
i heard dishwasher too.
its not like its gonna short out when theres no electricity running through it
 
My mother once used WD-40 and a hair dryer to clean a keyboard.

Lets just say she had to buy another one after that.
 
The thing that probably getting sticky is the little rubber pad underneath the keys, just carefully take it apart and clean that piece. If it doesn't have one, try hitting it with a wrench.
 
I've been using the same keyboard for 10+ years because I can't find another one exactly like it (it's a ergo style with a touchpad on the right). It's been taken apart and cleaned more times than I can count.
 
Take it in the shower with you and rinse the heck out of it. Just water, no soap. If you have very hard water a final rinse with distilled water might be a good idea, but it's probably not necessary. It can take a couple of days to dry even with a fan blowing on it, so you really need a spare to use while one is drying. Just like underwear....

If you find your keyboard needs a shower very often you might want to look into keyboard condoms, but then there's the issue of who puts it on, and some people think the feel is different.... No, I'm not kidding.
http://www.google.com/#hl=en&source=hp&q=keyboard+condom
 
Bob W said:
Of course you can buy a brand new, super-durable, high quality keyboard for $15. :D

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823131060
Click to expand...

Microsoft Wireless Optical Desktop 1000.

M17-1838-witb.jpg


You can buy it online for under $30 including shipping.

Microsoft's drivers are flakey, but it works without them on Mac and Windows.

No replacement keycaps for Mac.

The mouse doesn't have an "off" switch, you'll go through a pair of AAAs every three months unless you take out the batteries.

The wireless receiver is kind of big.

Other than that, it's a great keyboard/mouse and the best cheap one I've tried.
 
Piso Mojado said:
Microsoft Wireless Optical Desktop 1000.

M17-1838-witb.jpg


You can buy it online for under $30 including shipping.

Microsoft's drivers are flakey, but it works without them on Mac and Windows.

No replacement keycaps for Mac.

The mouse doesn't have an "off" switch, you'll go through a pair of AAAs every three months unless you take out the batteries.

The wireless receiver is kind of big.

Other than that, it's a great keyboard/mouse and the best cheap one I've tried.
Click to expand...

I've got the more deluxe version with some upgrades and finer materials. However, I did manage to fix it in 4 hours turn around, details in post #7 ya'll. From now on I'll just shower with it probably. Sounds easier and will build some intimacy with the keyboard rather than the usual straight "gettin' down" it usually experiences.
 
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