Clean the Keyboard

[hunkydory]

I have a Microsoft Wired Keyboard. Its gone dirty overtime. What would be the best way to clean it? Especially between the keys coz its difficult cleaning it there. Can I use any solution that we use to clean appliances like TV like Colin?

 

[imported_michealo]

i stuck mine in the dishwasher. no, seriously.

http://www.digg.com/tech_news/...ard_with_a_dishwasher_

 

[f4phantom2500]

you can pop all of the keys out with a screwdriver or butter knife or something like that, then clean it and replace the keys.

 

[zig3695]

i take mine to the kitchen as well. i use my energy-efficient garbage disposal i also call the trashcan and i go to my closet and grab another one thats in good shape. or go to conusa and get another for $15.

but seriously if you like your keyboard then phantom's idea is probably best. dishwasher sounds fun too but i wouldnt use heat or detergent

 

[Looney]

Another for the dishwasher method. Just don't use soap. If you don't have a dishwasher, use the tub, fill it with enough hot water to completely submerge it , and submerge it for 15 mins... then run it under the tap on full blast so it hits all the keys for a couple of mins.

Also make sure it's COMPLETELY dry before using it (i let it dry upside down for a couple of days)

 

[IlllI]

Originally posted by: michealo
i stuck mine in the dishwasher. no, seriously.

http://www.digg.com/tech_news/...ard_with_a_dishwasher_

that is one nasty keyboard !

 

[potato28]

Originally posted by: Looney
Another for the dishwasher method. Just don't use soap. If you don't have a dishwasher, use the tub, fill it with enough hot water to completely submerge it , and submerge it for 15 mins... then run it under the tap on full blast so it hits all the keys for a couple of mins.

Also make sure it's COMPLETELY dry before using it (i let it dry upside down for a couple of days)

Or if you need to do it fast, take it out and wash it under a hose for 5 minutes, and let it dry for a few days. This only works for still wet liquids, but I wouldn't do it with a really nice keyboard(G15).

 

[oztrailrider]

When it comes time for me to clean my keyboard I remove all the keys and rinse them in whiteboard cleaner, wiping each one down afterwards. It works a treat and the keyboard looks like brand new when I am done!.

 

[Zolty]

dishwasher + a day or two of drying time.

 

[BladeVenom]

No way would I use a dishwasher. When I spilled just a little bit of water on my last MS keyboard, the water dissolved the printed circuits and ruined it.

 

[Ages120]

If you want you can take apart the keyboard and throw the plastic components into the dishwasher, but you could end melting them. Best thing to do would be to just disassemble the keyboard and clean the main parts with soap and water. Can be hard to reassemble the keyboard, especially when you have to reinsert the little plastic springs that push the keys back up.

If you don't want to go that far just pop the keys out and clean them with something along the lines of a window cleaner. Something that dissolves grease and evaporates easily. If you take out all the keys at the same time you can clean under them fairly easily since there should just be small particles of dirt or food.

If you have never taken apart your keyboard just pulling the keys and cleaning is probably best. If you have taken it apart then go ahead and take it all apart.

I usually clean mine whenever I spill water on it. The plastic sheets that contain the traces are probably the hardest things to dry because of the waters surface tension. I killed my keyboard not to long ago because they had spots where they melted all three layers together to keep them aligned. I had dried it before without cutting all but one contact point, but it had already started tearing the plastic. While I was trying to cut the last one the plastic tore a small amount and split the trace. Good thing it was just some keyboard that I got free from somewhere.

 

[ForumMaster]

just take apart the keyboard, keep the electronic stuff seperate and put the rest in the dishwasher. a good idea might be too take a picture of your keyboard before if you forget where all the key are supposed to go.