Spilled water on keyboard, now keys are mistyping

[tjaisv]

Will the problem resolve itself once the water dries up inside? It's one of those MS Natural Elite keyboards, if that matters.

 

[bluestrobe]

Water in the keyboard can short out your PS/2/usb port so I would start by just unplugging it and using another keyboard for now. Water can't dry if theres little air circulation so it could take 4-5 weeks to dry. I would start by removing the keyboard, taking it apart to let it dry and then try it on another computer when I can't hear or see any water in the keyboard. Personally I would just buy another keyboard but people do love thier keyboards.

 

[nova2]

years back, my bro spilled coffee all over his keyboard.

he let it dry for several days I think, afterwards it was fine.

so... you may have the same experience, heh

 

[patentman]

Depending on the amount of water, you keyboard is likely to be fine. If you dumped a ton in there you could short something out internally with the board (especially if you have one of the newer keyboards that have lights etc...). I've had this happen a couple times wqith my logitech keyboard and Its always come back just fine. Just get some canned air and use it to dry the thing out. Alternatively you can put the keyboard so that the keys face down and use a fan to dry it out.

 

[bluestrobe]

If it were one of the standard everyday keyboards I would agree. However MS keyboards tend to use a membrane structure and have the keys pressing two pieces of plastic with metal straps making the connection. Hard to explain unless you take one apart. If the water got in between the membrane it?s almost impossible to dry without taking the actual keyboard apart. Turning the keyboard upside down would be unadvisable as the water would just drip into the bottom of the keys when it went to dry off and thus creating little "pools" in the bottom of the keys. Give all these options a try though; new keyboards aren't much if they don't work.

 

[BadThad]

Dry it out, I'd give it a couple of weeks.

Actually, I've cleaned MANY keyboards by placing them under RUNNING water, like a shower, to get the grime off, crumbs out and/or keys unstuck. In the 50 or so I've done that with, I've only had a couple that failed afterwards. The key is giving them enough time to dry.

 

[corkyg]

Keyboards are too cheap to fuss over. Replace it and let the old one dry out and maybe you'll have a spare. 🙂

 

[TheSophist]

Take it apart and used canned air to dry it out. Let it sit for a day or two before putting it back together. Don't use a blow dryer, you may melt your keys. It is a very simple task. Most keyboards only require a screwdriver. The only tricky part is putting it back together with everything lined up, but even this is not difficult. If you don't align it properly, just try it again. Should take a first timer a half an hour if he is careful. Experienced people can do it in five minutes or less.


TheSophist

 

[Rottie]

if you guys always spill it all the times you guys might want to try rubber keyboard. I use it and it is very quiet.

Flexible keyboard

 

[narutofan36]

take out the keys and use a q-tip to get ride of the excess water... or shake your keyboard downward to get the water out

 

[BadThad]

Originally posted by: Rottie
if you guys always spill it all the times you guys might want to try rubber keyboard. I use it and it is very quiet.

Flexible keyboard

Hey, that's COOL.....I've never seen one of those.