B
bob
What is the best way to clean a dirty keyboard?
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J
Jimmy B
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.
T
tpow
K
kony
What is the best way to clean a dirty keyboard?
If it's not a really nice keyboard, replace it.
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.
L
larry moe 'n curly
[email protected] said: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.
J
jinxy
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.
Use your Shop vac. works great! -J
K
kony
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.
S
Splork
What is the best way to clean a dirty keyboard?
I manage to get it somehow supported upside down with clearance
to access the keys. A hand sized brush with dishwashing liquid
scrubbing it usually gets it to near new state.
Give it a thorough cleaning and do not turn it right side up
after you have looked over your progress and deemed it clean.
Rinse it with the same brush and clear water. Shake what water
you can out of it (downward.) Rub with a towel and then paper
towel it between the keys a bit let it sit for a couple of
hours as is and then leave it overnight upside down at a slight
angle to dry.
You can turn it over after 24 hours.
A pain, but some KBs have folded membranes that can trap water
for a long time. I am using a KB that took a month to become
usable after a poorer cleaning job than I describe above.
Some solvents can finish it if there is ink or marks on it.
Disassembly is always the best.
L
larry moe 'n curly
jinxy said:Use your Shop vac. works great! -J
It'll suck off the snap-on keys of my IBM Model M and possibly tear
one of those rubbery membranes.
L
larry moe 'n curly
kony said: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.
K
kony
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?
J
Joel
kony said: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>
K
kony
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).
K
km
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.
km
J
Joel
kony said: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.
Of course it's just for fun or not worth my time to take the keyboard
apart, so I I am gonna do it then disk washer would be the dirty quick way.
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.
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.
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 know the KEYs can be pulled out, and there shouldn't be any dirty stuff
in the circuit but just under the keys. And even when the keyboard cost
$30-40 a pop I didn't bother to pull the keys out to clean them, and now I
can get a very clean keyboard (I don't know what they use to clean but they
look very clean) at local Thrift Store for around $1-1.50 a pop.
J
Joel
km said: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.
km
I think with either air compressor, Shop Vac etc. I don't think it will
take long to either blow or suck the water dried. Heck, the shop vac may
have enough power to suck the key off the keyboard <bg>
K
kony
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.
J
Joel
kony said: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.
I do have few years in Electronics, few years working on big engines
(crank, large fork-lift, loader etc.. but it was few decades ago) so I am
still pretty handy with some handy work. I don't think I will have problem
unscrew 4-6 screws in the bottom of keyboard, but pulling out and putting
back few dozens of KEYs may take me few minutes and this is the part I don't
like to do <bg>. Yes, I have pulled out few Keys in the past just to see
what under the keys ... and I think the keys may need to be pulled out to
clean the HAIR under the keys <bg>
I mean the keyboard I have been using for years not the keyboards I tossed
in the corner of the room for years.