Cleaning a keyboard

[GomiGirl]

My home computer keyboard is nasty. Coffee, ice-cream, orange juice, yakult etc have all been spilt at one time or another. Lots of the keys are now sticking.

Suggestions for cleaning anyone? An internet search revealed a few options - one of which suggested putting it in a dishwasher. But sadly we don't have one.

Or should I just dump it and get a new one?

Are there cleaning services out there?

[American Oyaji]

Just get a new one. They are pretty cheap. Less hassle.
Then get a fitted cover for the new one.

[Charles]

Buy a spray can of circuit board cleaner, also known as "pot cleaner" (potentiometer cleaner, for those of you old enough to remember analog radios and TVs with potentiometers). It's just a spray can with one of those little tiny straws coming off the nozzle, so you can direct the spray into small spaces.
I just used a can of the stuff to clean out the keyboard from my old vintage 1976 Sol-20 computer, it worked like a charm. Cost me about $1.

[ttjereth]

My home computer keyboard is nasty. Coffee, ice-cream, orange juice, yakult etc have all been spilt at one time or another. Lots of the keys are now sticking.

Suggestions for cleaning anyone? An internet search revealed a few options - one of which suggested putting it in a dishwasher. But sadly we don't have one.

Or should I just dump it and get a new one?

Are there cleaning services out there?

If it's really bad, and it's not an expensive keyboard, then a new one is the easiest and quickest method.

Otherwise, take it apart, pull all of the keys off and remove all the circuitboards wiring and if possible metal bits, then you can just wash all the plastic in the sink with regular old soap, water and a soft sponge.

Most keyboards are fairly easy to disassemble (reattaching all the keys is not much fun however) but you have a Mac if I recall, and although I've never looked close enough at a mac keyboard to tell, I know some other Apple products are deliberately made less than easy disassemble (butter knife works really well on the older IPods if anyone's interested).

If any old keyboard will do, you can pick up a brand new board at softmap in Shinjuku for less than a 1000 yen.

[agentxray]

Have you considered the dishwasher?

http://www.boingboing.net/2005/05/30/clean-your-keyboard-.html

[ttjereth]

Have you considered the dishwasher?

http://www.boingboing.net/2005/05/30/clean-your-keyboard-.html

From her first post in the thread:

An internet search revealed a few options - one of which suggested putting it in a dishwasher. But sadly we don't have one.

[Captain Japan]

BUSINESS LIFE: The appalling health hazard of typing on an FT keyboard
Financial Times

If, a couple of days ago, someone had asked me whether I would prefer to eat a salad served from (a) the salad counter in the Financial Times staff canteen, (b) my computer keyboard or (c) a toilet seat in the gents' loos on the first floor, I would, of course, have replied (a). But now my answer would be (c). And the man to blame is one Richard Samarasinghe, national sales director for Techclean, a company that cleans information technology equipment.

He visited me at work last Thursday after I remarked over the telephone that I could not see the point of his company - surely dusty PCs work just as well as clean PCs? He replied that he could demonstrate just why they were essential and arrived soon afterwards bearing a case full of test tubes and swabs. "This thing measures something called adenosine triphosphate," he began, pointing at a computer. "ATP is the universal energy molecule found in all animal, plant, bacterial, yeast and mould cells. The higher the reading, which is measured in relative light units, the more contaminated the area. Let's take some samples to see just how dirty your IT equipment is."...more...

[xenomorph42]

If it's really bad, and it's not an expensive keyboard, then a new one is the easiest and quickest method.

Otherwise, take it apart, pull all of the keys off and remove all the circuitboards wiring and if possible metal bits, then you can just wash all the plastic in the sink with regular old soap, water and a soft sponge.

Most keyboards are fairly easy to disassemble (reattaching all the keys is not much fun however) but you have a Mac if I recall, and although I've never looked close enough at a mac keyboard to tell, I know some other Apple products are deliberately made less than easy disassemble (butter knife works really well on the older IPods if anyone's interested).

If any old keyboard will do, you can pick up a brand new board at softmap in Shinjuku for less than a 1000 yen.

Also, for future reference; try not to eat or keep all foods and drinks away from the keyboard, that way you won't need to deal with this kind of situation ever again. Oh, by the way...get a duster/air duster sprayer and try to get into the habit of spraying or dusting the keyboard a couple of times daily. Remember: "A happy functioning keyboard is a happy keyboard."

[Greji]

My home computer keyboard is nasty. Coffee, ice-cream, orange juice, yakult etc have all been spilt at one time or another. Lots of the keys are now sticking.

Suggestions for cleaning anyone? An internet search revealed a few options - one of which suggested putting it in a dishwasher.

Just add two cups of flour, stir briskly and serve at room temperature!

[Iraira]

I just pick the damn thing up, flip it over and bang it on the table a few times. Some weird things fall out of it, most of which I auction off on Ebay. Dunno how Jimmy Hoffa'e left ear made it's way next to the "Num Lock" key, and I think we can cancel that Missing Persons report on Amelia Airhart, she was chillin' between the F5 and F6 keys.

[alicia454]

As an embedded electronics engineer, who works with circuit boards everyday, the best thing I would recommend to clean keyboards would be Isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol. You should be able to find inexpensive bottles with with at least 90% isopropanol. You want to get a pure as possible (close to 100%), but avoid any mixture below 90%.

Isopropanol (rubbing alcohol) works great, since it cleans better than water (less surface tension), and evaporates quickly without any residue.

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

You can literally fill up a plastic tub with inexpensive isopropanol and soak your keyboard and other electronics in it. (Remember to remove any batteries!)

True story: One time, I accidentally spilled miso soup all over my laptop. I immediately removed the power and battery, purchased 5 big bottles of isopropanol, and soaked and cleaned the disassembled laptop in a plastic tub for a few hours. After letting the laptop pieces dry, I reassembled it and the laptop worked as good as new!

[kurohinge1]

. . . Suggestions for cleaning anyone?

. . . Are there cleaning services out there?

"cleaning"?

Sorry, that's not a term I'm familiar with.

Is it an English or Japanese word?

[/Y chromosome]

[Charles]

As an embedded electronics engineer, who works with circuit boards everyday, the best thing I would recommend to clean keyboards would be Isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol. You should be able to find inexpensive bottles with with at least 90% isopropanol. You want to get a pure as possible (close to 100%), but avoid any mixture below 90%.

I wouldn't use anything but 100% isopropyl, there are some types of components that should never get water on them.

The PCB Cleaner spray works better, it has a higher rate of evaporation so it dries almost instantly, and since it comes in pressurized cans, it can be used to drive out any fluids like your soup.

Seriously, PCB cleaner is designed for this job, it's got special solvents to cut through gunk (even solder flux) but it won't harm components. Surely you know about this stuff. Sometimes it's sold as "tuner cleaner," it's a bit hard to find (even online) but it should be available pretty much anywhere electronics parts are sold.

[kurohinge1]

. . . the best thing I would recommend to clean keyboards would be Isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol . . . http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isopropyl_alcohol

You can literally fill up a plastic tub with inexpensive isopropanol and soak your keyboard and other electronics in it. (Remember to remove any batteries!) . . .

But don't smoke near the bucket (or light your farts - which is more likely than smoking, with FG members).

Safety

Isopropyl alcohol vapor is heavier than air and is highly flammable with a very wide combustible range. It should be kept away from heat and open flame. When mixed with air or other oxidizers it can explode through deflagration.

And that's "deflagration", GG, not "flagellation", so your Saturday nights should not be adversely affected.

[Charles]

But don't smoke near the bucket (or light your farts - which is more likely than smoking, with FG members).

Actually, ether would be an even better solvent. It is the volatility that makes it a good solvent than isopropyl, the higher the volatility the better. Alas, high volatility also tends to make the solvent flammable (if not explosive). Unfortunately, some plastics can dissolve in ether, acetone, and other high-volatility solvents.

[Iraira]

Actually, ether would be an even better solvent. It is the volatility that makes it a good solvent than isopropyl, the higher the volatility the better. Alas, high volatility also tends to make the solvent flammable (if not explosive). Unfortunately, some plastics can dissolve in ether, acetone, and other high-volatility solvents.

Nice to know that many of you have the skills to make homemade weapons. Al Qaida dropouts?

[alicia454]

I wouldn't use anything but 100% isopropyl, there are some types of components that should never get water on them.
The PCB Cleaner spray works better, it has a higher rate of evaporation so it dries almost instantly, and since it comes in pressurized cans, it can be used to drive out any fluids like your soup.
Seriously, PCB cleaner is designed for this job, it's got special solvents to cut through gunk (even solder flux) but it won't harm components. Surely you know about this stuff. Sometimes it's sold as "tuner cleaner," it's a bit hard to find (even online) but it should be available pretty much anywhere electronics parts are sold.

100% isopropyl and PCB cleaner are much more expensive then >=90% rubbing alcohol. A lot of PCB cleaner cans will be needed to properly clean a filthy keyboard, not to mention all of those chemicals you will end up breathing in the process.

Typically, rubbing alcohol mixtures are are diluted with pure water, and since pure water has a low electrical conductivity, the isopropyl+water mixture is typically safe to use on electronics since the water evaporates away with the alcohol.

For really bad grime, like miso soup or a really filthy keyboard, no spray cleaning will really do a proper cleaning. You need to soak it well to properly dissolve the grease, grime, and gunk, which you can easily do with alcohol.

For extra sensitive components, you can always apply a PCB cleaner as a secondary treatment after the isopropanol bath.

[Charles]

100% isopropyl and PCB cleaner are much more expensive then >=90% rubbing alcohol. A lot of PCB cleaner cans will be needed to properly clean a filthy keyboard, not to mention all of those chemicals you will end up breathing in the process.

Typically, rubbing alcohol mixtures are are diluted with pure water, and since pure water has a low electrical conductivity, the isopropyl+water mixture is typically safe to use on electronics since the water evaporates away with the alcohol.

For really bad grime, like miso soup or a really filthy keyboard, no spray cleaning will really do a proper cleaning. You need to soak it well to properly dissolve the grease, grime, and gunk, which you can easily do with alcohol.

For extra sensitive components, you can always apply a PCB cleaner as a secondary treatment after the isopropanol bath.

Well I beg to differ. It took me about half a can of pot cleaner to degunk my keyboard, it was horribly nicotine stained, full of ashes, and sat in a garage collecting dust for 25 years. If you want to see the details, THIS is a SERIOUS keyboard cleaning.
Some components should never be in contact with water, not even a 10% solution in isopropyl. This is more true of older electronic components, like power supplies with cloth-wrapped coils in the transformers. But better safe than sorry.
I assure you that PCB Cleaner spray, coming out of a nozzle at about 100MPH, is sufficient to drive off even the smallest amounts of spilled water or miso or whatever, and it doesn't take much cleaner to do it. I've been doing this for like 40 years and it's never failed me yet. It's cheaper than isopropyl, and it's specifically designed for this job.

[GomiGirl]

The main problem is yakult believe it or not. I accidently and absentmindedly shook up an open yakult bottle while looking at the screen and it ended up all over the keyboard. It is ust a few of the keys that are sticky from underneath. So am thinking the isopropyl bath might be the trick. It is a fairly new keyboard. Not expensive but still I hate waste when I can fix something.

[Charles]

Nice to know that many of you have the skills to make homemade weapons. Al Qaida dropouts?

Funny you should mention that. I recently tried to re-order some chemicals I've been using for 30 years to make photographic prints in an antique photochemistry process. So I called my supplier, and was informed that to purchase these chemicals, I would have to register with the DEA and the ATF, and inform them of the precise formulas I use, and where the chemicals would be stored. Sheesh. And this is something they used to sell as a hobbyist kit in photo stores back in the 1970s. But not anymore. I was wondering why nobody is using this process anymore, I might be the last one.

Since I used to be a Chem Major in college, I know lots of stuff that I shouldn't admit to. When they outlaw chemistry, only outlaws will be chemists.

[FG Lurker]

Or should I just dump it and get a new one?

What is your time worth to you? It will take a couple hours to disassemble, properly clean, and then reassemble a desktop keyboard. If your time (and frustration at doing a mindless task) is not worth the cost of the keyboard then clean it. If the keyboard is worth less than your time then toss it and buy a new one.

[GomiGirl]

What is your time worth to you? It will take a couple hours to disassemble, properly clean, and then reassemble a desktop keyboard. If your time (and frustration at doing a mindless task) is not worth the cost of the keyboard then clean it. If the keyboard is worth less than your time then toss it and buy a new one.

I know I know. But dumping stuff is just so wasteful. But then now that Japan has an untapped wealth in Urban Mines, it may be a useful resource.

[sillygirl]

My home computer keyboard is nasty. Coffee, ice-cream, orange juice, yakult etc have all been spilt at one time or another. Lots of the keys are now sticking.

Suggestions for cleaning anyone? An internet search revealed a few options - one of which suggested putting it in a dishwasher. But sadly we don't have one.

Or should I just dump it and get a new one?

Are there cleaning services out there?

Slob!!

Er, cotton buds and something? Cover your keyboard in saran wrap after it's clean...

[Greji]

Slob!!

Er, cotton buds and something? Cover your keyboard in saran wrap after it's clean...

Also, keeps the lizard droppings off it!

[dimwit]

Greji, I'm surpirsed that you haven't introduced her to you keyboard lick cleaning service.

[Greji]

Greji, I'm surpirsed that you haven't introduced her to you keyboard lick cleaning service.

I normally rent my goats out for that service, but SG's got that pink mud puppy on her back and it might like goats, so I don't wanna take any chances!

[sillygirl]

I normally rent my goats out for that service, but SG's got that pink mud puppy on her back and it might like goats, so I don't wanna take any chances!

Grrrrrr.....grrrrr

No Brucie! Calm down! Greji doesn't need biting...

[Greji]

Grrrrrr.....grrrrr

No Brucie! Calm down! Greji doesn't need biting...

Hey, that wasn't a bite, he tried to lick me. Are you really positive that puppy ain't gay?

[American Oyaji]

Grrrrrr.....grrrrr

No Brucie! Calm down! Greji doesn't need biting...

ROFL!!!