bob@coolgroups.com wrote:
> What is the best way to clean a dirty keyboard?
That depends on the keyboard and how dirty it is. If you can take off the
bottom that would make it easier. Disconnect it and wash it with mild soap
solution or cleaning agent. hold it upside down to limit the liquid from
possibly running downward. Blowing it with air is helpful. You can take off
all the keys and clean them individually if you care to spend the time. You
can cover it with plastic to protect it from getting dusty too. It all
depends on what KB you have and how you value your time. I have replaced
some instead of spending the time to clean.
<bob@coolgroups.com> wrote in message
news:f11f5f5f-d3cd-411d-9d67-f1498f3b1298@s12g2000prg.googlegroups.com...
> What is the best way to clean a dirty keyboard?
If it's really nice, there's no magic way it's just a matter
of getting it all apart and back together again. Take the
screw out of the back, pull the middle out and examine it.
If that part is dirty wash with mild detergent, rinse and
wipe off excess water. As for the front and back plastic
shell, immerse in a tub of detergent water, scrub the
exterior as needed, and rapidly wiggle the top half back and
forth to dislodge dirt from under the keys and work it out
from the holes the keys slide in. Rinse, shake the top with
keys to get any large beads of water out and let it all dry
for a day before reassembly.
On some keyboards the keys aren't riding on channels in the
top half of the shell and instead have to all be
individually popped off and then put back on. Considering
the extra labor in doing this it would have to be all that
much nicer a keyboard to be worthwhile, IMO, and yet
keyboards made like this do tend to be a better build
quality.
It's safest to just hold the keyboard upside down and tap it on the
back to knock out debris, but sometimes it helps if you also brush
between the keys.
Some people recommend putting the whole keyboard in a dishwasher or
tub of warm soapy water and then rinsing with distilled water, but
don't do that because certain designs, such as those made with metal
mechanical switches or double-layer flexible circuit boards, can be
damaged that way.
Most keyboards have the keys on top, then a rubbery layer with bumps
all over it, and then a rigid or flexible circuit board below
everything. If you clean these, be sure that there's no dust, lint,
or hair on either side of the rubbery layer or the circuit board, and
line them up carefully during reasembly. If any keys are sticky, the
holes for them may need to be cleaned, and this can be done without
removing the keys by spraying the holes with electronic parts cleaner
while working the keys back and forth. It might help to then spray
dry lube in the holes. Parts cleaner can be bought from electronics
supplies, hardware stores, Fry's, and auto parts stores. Look for
something that's safe for all plastics (but test it on styrofoam),
which usually means alcohol is the main ingredient and there's no
acetone mixed in.
On Feb 17, 4:57*am, "larry moe 'n curly" <larrymoencu...@my-deja.com>
wrote:
> b...@coolgroups.com wrote:
> > What is the best way to clean a dirty keyboard?
>
> It's safest to just hold the keyboard upside down and tap it on the
> back to knock out debris, but sometimes it helps if you also brush
> between the keys.
>
> Some people recommend putting the whole keyboard in a dishwasher or
> tub of warm soapy water and then rinsing with distilled water, but
> don't do that because certain designs, such as those made with metal
> mechanical switches or double-layer flexible circuit boards, can be
> damaged that way.
>
> Most keyboards have the keys on top, then a rubbery layer with bumps
> all over it, and then a rigid or flexible circuit board below
> everything. *If you clean these, be sure that there's no dust, lint,
> or hair on either side of the rubbery layer or the circuit board, and
> line them up carefully during reasembly. *If any keys are sticky, the
> holes for them may need to be cleaned, and this can be done without
> removing the keys by spraying the holes with electronic parts cleaner
> while working the keys back and forth. *It might help to then spray
> dry lube in the holes. *Parts cleaner can be bought from electronics
> supplies, hardware stores, Fry's, and auto parts stores. *Look for
> something that's safe for all plastics (but test it on styrofoam),
> which usually means alcohol is the main ingredient and there's no
> acetone mixed in.
On Sun, 17 Feb 2008 01:57:15 -0800 (PST), "larry moe 'n
curly" <larrymoencurly@my-deja.com> wrote:
>
>
>b...@coolgroups.com wrote:
>
>> What is the best way to clean a dirty keyboard?
>
>It's safest to just hold the keyboard upside down and tap it on the
>back to knock out debris, but sometimes it helps if you also brush
>between the keys.
>
>Some people recommend putting the whole keyboard in a dishwasher or
>tub of warm soapy water and then rinsing with distilled water, but
>don't do that because certain designs, such as those made with metal
>mechanical switches or double-layer flexible circuit boards, can be
>damaged that way.
>
Detergent water will not damage anything in a keyboard, I've
washed quite a few especially those with mechanical switches
(the cheap modern type are hardly worth the bother).
>Most keyboards have the keys on top, then a rubbery layer with bumps
>all over it, and then a rigid or flexible circuit board below
>everything. If you clean these, be sure that there's no dust, lint,
>or hair on either side of the rubbery layer or the circuit board, and
>line them up carefully during reasembly. If any keys are sticky, the
>holes for them may need to be cleaned, and this can be done without
>removing the keys by spraying the holes with electronic parts cleaner
>while working the keys back and forth. It might help to then spray
>dry lube in the holes. Parts cleaner can be bought from electronics
>supplies, hardware stores, Fry's, and auto parts stores. Look for
>something that's safe for all plastics (but test it on styrofoam),
>which usually means alcohol is the main ingredient and there's no
>acetone mixed in.
>
Detergent water will suffice, is much cheaper and more
environmentally friendly.
> On Sun, 17 Feb 2008 01:57:15 -0800 (PST), "larry moe 'n
> curly" <larrymoencurly@my-deja.com> wrote:
>
> >Some people recommend putting the whole keyboard in a dishwasher or
> >tub of warm soapy water and then rinsing with distilled water, but
> >don't do that because certain designs, such as those made with metal
> >mechanical switches or double-layer flexible circuit boards, can be
> >damaged that way.
>
> Detergent water will not damage anything in a keyboard, I've
> washed quite a few especially those with mechanical switches
> (the cheap modern type are hardly worth the bother).
I've had keyboards with metal switches containing parts made of plain
steel, including the coil springs for one. Are you saying it's OK to
wash such keyboards? It seems that the water would stay trapped long
enough to cause corrosion, but I have to admit that I haven't tested
this.
On Wed, 20 Feb 2008 06:43:44 -0800 (PST), "larry moe 'n
curly" <larrymoencurly@my-deja.com> wrote:
>
>
>kony wrote:
>
>> On Sun, 17 Feb 2008 01:57:15 -0800 (PST), "larry moe 'n
>> curly" <larrymoencurly@my-deja.com> wrote:
>>
>> >Some people recommend putting the whole keyboard in a dishwasher or
>> >tub of warm soapy water and then rinsing with distilled water, but
>> >don't do that because certain designs, such as those made with metal
>> >mechanical switches or double-layer flexible circuit boards, can be
>> >damaged that way.
>>
>> Detergent water will not damage anything in a keyboard, I've
>> washed quite a few especially those with mechanical switches
>> (the cheap modern type are hardly worth the bother).
>
>I've had keyboards with metal switches containing parts made of plain
>steel, including the coil springs for one. Are you saying it's OK to
>wash such keyboards? It seems that the water would stay trapped long
>enough to cause corrosion, but I have to admit that I haven't tested
>this.
Disassemble keyboard first, shake out excess water when
finished. Dry thoroughly before putting shell back
together. Corrosion is minimal, maybe a tiny bit but how
many times will you wash it over it's lifetime?
On Wed, 20 Feb 2008 12:25:36 -0600, Joel <Joel@NoSpam.com>
wrote:
>> Disassemble keyboard first, shake out excess water when
>> finished. Dry thoroughly before putting shell back
>> together. Corrosion is minimal, maybe a tiny bit but how
>> many times will you wash it over it's lifetime?
>
> Hmmm I have never care for this type of work, but after reading all these
>I may just toss an old keyboard into disk washer to see if it will show some
>sparkling. Me? I don't worry about water as I know it will be dried in few
>days (or I can use air pressure or vacuum to suck most of the water out), or
>few volts (not 120v or 240v to worry).
>
> Hmmm I found several keyboards laying around but they look pretty new
>except dirt... now I may need to make it dirty or find a dirty one <bg>
IMO, it's not worth the bother on the typical $7 keyboard
but rather some expensive cordless or rare (and/or costly
new today) mechanical types. Even so if you have a large
washtub and a cordless drill/screwdriver/etc, it only takes
a few minutes to do it, probably taking longer to hunt down
a new keyboard online or at a store.
A disk washer is generally not a good idea because the dish
detergent has bleach in it, and typically a silica abrasive
which won't do much harm to the outside but possible getting
some grit stuck in the key slide holes.
Taken apart first and doing only the plastic shell then
rinsing thoroughly later would probably do fine but does it
even need as aggressive a cleaning as a dishwasher would
provide? I've never found one that needed more than to soak
in warm detergent solution and be jiggled around to make the
keys travel up and down a few times.
I suppose it depends a lot on what's needing cleaned out, I
once got a load of hardware from a gravel quarry and didn't
bother trying to clean it at all, just tossed most of it out
(more than just keyboards).
On Wed, 20 Feb 2008 12:25:36 -0600, Joel <Joel@NoSpam.com> wrote:
>kony <spam@spam.com> wrote:
>
>> On Wed, 20 Feb 2008 06:43:44 -0800 (PST), "larry moe 'n
>> curly" <larrymoencurly@my-deja.com> wrote:
>>
>> >
>> >
>> >kony wrote:
>> >
>> >> On Sun, 17 Feb 2008 01:57:15 -0800 (PST), "larry moe 'n
>> >> curly" <larrymoencurly@my-deja.com> wrote:
>> >>
>> >> >Some people recommend putting the whole keyboard in a dishwasher or
>> >> >tub of warm soapy water and then rinsing with distilled water, but
>> >> >don't do that because certain designs, such as those made with metal
>> >> >mechanical switches or double-layer flexible circuit boards, can be
>> >> >damaged that way.
>> >>
>> >> Detergent water will not damage anything in a keyboard, I've
>> >> washed quite a few especially those with mechanical switches
>> >> (the cheap modern type are hardly worth the bother).
>> >
>> >I've had keyboards with metal switches containing parts made of plain
>> >steel, including the coil springs for one. Are you saying it's OK to
>> >wash such keyboards? It seems that the water would stay trapped long
>> >enough to cause corrosion, but I have to admit that I haven't tested
>> >this.
>>
>> Disassemble keyboard first, shake out excess water when
>> finished. Dry thoroughly before putting shell back
>> together. Corrosion is minimal, maybe a tiny bit but how
>> many times will you wash it over it's lifetime?
>
> Hmmm I have never care for this type of work, but after reading all these
>I may just toss an old keyboard into disk washer to see if it will show some
>sparkling. Me? I don't worry about water as I know it will be dried in few
>days (or I can use air pressure or vacuum to suck most of the water out), or
>few volts (not 120v or 240v to worry).
>
> Hmmm I found several keyboards laying around but they look pretty new
>except dirt... now I may need to make it dirty or find a dirty one <bg>
Having scrubbed and soaked over 100 keyboards I can confirm that all
have worked satisfactorily after such cleaning treatment. The time
taken to dry out will depend on the internal lay out. Some have the
circuitry made on a folded plastic sheet and it takes some time for
that to dry out unless it is taken out and wiped over.
On Wed, 20 Feb 2008 16:43:00 -0600, Joel <Joel@NoSpam.com>
wrote:
>
> I don't think the soap will cause much or any problem, or I can go without
>soap. Or just hot water to soften the dirt then hot stream to dry the
>keyboard, and I don't think the heat is hot enough to melt the plastic.
>
If you have a keyboard with the circuits sprayed onto
plastic sheeting and use tap water, another problem in not
taking it apart to get more water out initially is that when
the water dries it may leave mineral deposits between the
*switch* contacts. IMO, if the keyboard is worth cleaning
at all it's easy worth the few minutes to take the screws
out and put 'em back in, plus it'll dry a lot faster open
than closed.
dirty keyboard 
Linear Mode
