Originally posted by: bharok
How did you wash it ?? the curcuit board is physically connected to the keys ?
I took it apart! Actually, I've dismantled and washed both of my Dell AT101W keyboards.
To wash:
Unplug keyboard from your PC (An obvious step, I hope. )
.
Get some parts containers so you won't lose screws. Any sort of dish will work.
.
Unthread the cord if you have snaked it in one of the left, right, or center guides.
.
Remove the bottom screws. There are 6 of them IIRC, none hidden under any labels.
.
Push the 4 plastic tabs and remove the top cover. This is the hard part. There are 4 plastic tabs on the bottom of the keyboard - 2 tabs near the top edge and 2 tabs near the bottom edge. They act as "hooks" to hold the top cover on. I used a small screwdriver or two, an old scalpel and a small pick to do each tab. You have to push each tab towards the center of the keyboard to unhook it. Using the small tools (above) I pushed in one tab, then gently slipped a small screw driver between the top and bottom covers to keep them from hooking back together. With the small screwdriver still in place, I did the other tab on the same edge. Once you have freed one edge, the other edge will be easier to do. Just follow the same steps. Be carefull with the tabs - if you push too hard or use pliers, you will probably break them.
.
Once you have freed all 4 tabs, the top cover will lift off (or fall off). IIRC, the bottom cover will partially fall off too, with the cable threaded through the cover and attached to the main board.
.
Inside, there is a foil covered cardboard ground plane, held in by 1 or 2 screws. One of the screws acts as a retaining clip for the cord. Note the alignment of the cardboard groundplane. I'm pretty sure only one side has a foil lining and it faces outwards, but check it and remember. Remove the cardboard ground plane, but don't wash it!
.
There may be 1 or 2 other screws inside. IIRC, there is a cable plug which allows you to disconnect the cable from the mainboard. Just take your time and examine the assembly before using pliers or hammers! (Sorry, I did this a couple of months ago, but don't remember the full details.)
.
Disassembled, you have a top cover, a bottom cover with the cable threaded through it, the cardboard piece, and the main board with the keys and some electronic circuitry. Except for the cardboard, I washed all of them in the kitchen sink. A scrub brush or old toothbrush and bathroom cleaner (like Scrubbing Bubbles) works well as a cleaner. I may have used 409 cleaner. Test this before using as 409, Fantastic and similar cleaners have a habit of removing the key's paint.
.
When washing, you can get the electronics wet, though the less, the better. There is not much to it - a 64 (32?) pin DIP and a few passive components. Before washing, I used compressed air and a pick to clean under the individual keys (I did not remove the keycaps.) Be careful not to bend the LED's or you will have difficulty reassembling the unit.
.
Once washed, I used a hair dryer on low temp and more compressed air to blow out most of the water. Pulled out more hair (I'm balding.) from under the keys.
.
Let the washed parts dry throughly. I waited 2 days before attempting reassembly. After that, I cleaned out even more hair (ack).
.
Optionally, when dry you could test the board by plugging it into a PC before reassembling it . Be careful not to short the electronics or mangle the unmounted board. Since the cable is still threaded through the bottom cover, this is a little more difficult than it sounds.
.
To reassemble, make sure the plastic tabs are not bent. If so, straighten them. Place the top cover upside down on a table and use something as shims to support the the top cover edges so the keys will fit through. Visually align the LED's with the top cover slots they go into. Gently place the main board into the top cover and make sure the LED's are inserted correctly. If not, the bottom cover will not fit correctly, and you may break the LED's.
.
Replace the screws, cable connector, cardboard ground plane - watch the alignment for interior and exterior screw holes. Again, I'm pretty sure the foil points away from the main board. If you install it backwards, you may short out the electronics.
.
Making sure the cable is correctly in line, place the bottom cover over the plastic tabs and gently press down. It should snap in place. If not, check your mainboard assembly and the LED's.
.
When the bottom cover snaps in place, replace the 6 bottom screws (hopefully you saved them in a container and still have all 6!)
.
Good luck and enjoy your clean keyboard!