The best way to clean the keyboard?

[theplanb]

I've got this generic MS internet keyboard with lots of unidentified gunk and sticky objects on it.
I don't know how I should go about cleaning this though..I mean.. I really don't want to take out each and every keys and clean them seperatly.. Is there a better way or should I just get a new one..

 

[subman]

I have a M$ MM Natural Keyboard and I clean the keytops and parts around it with Amway's Zoom cleaner, diluted as recommended. Makes the Keyboard look good as new.

 

[Trashman]

I took all my keys out and washed, looked new when done.....pain in da a$$ though.

 

[Jeff7]

Taking the whole thing apart might be the best idea. I did that to my keyboard - took everything apart, I mean everything, and washed it in soap and water, and scrubbed with a toothbrush anything that needed it. Took awhile, but the keyboard acted like new then, and it's almost...geez, maybe 5-6 years old now?

 

[blazerazor]

Please be wary of wireless keyboards. I killed a Logitech keyboard with a coke. Took it apart cleaned it thoroghly with dishsoap and water, let it dry.. and it never worked right again. Lucky for me I had less than a week and believe it or not they gave me a new one. But i didnt tell them I spilled a coke on it.

Am I Evil? ^x^'-_-'^x^ ... .. . I am Man, Yes I Am!

 

[GreatDaleness]

Put it in the dishwasher without soap.

 

[addisonp]

I remember when I was working for a pc repair facility, that when we got messy keyboards we did the following:

1) removed the keys when needed
2) air blasted all the crap out
3) used alcohol on qtips to clean the keys out
4) remove the board if need be and clean out the rest of the case
5) put the keys and board back and that's all that was needed

 

[Ionizer86]

If you take keys out, just don't take the space bar out. It has this metal thing and plastic structure (hard to explain) that holds it in place. If you take the space bar out, the structure will probably break (I screwed over a keyboard by taking the space bar off).

 

[Bonesdad]

If the keyboard is generic and that dirty, is it worth the effort to clean it? Get a new keyboard and resist the urge to eat over it...

 

[jim1976]

Originally posted by: Bonesdad
If the keyboard is generic and that dirty, is it worth the effort to clean it? Get a new keyboard and resist the urge to eat over it...

:beer:

 

[nanyangview]

i have the logitech wireless keyboard which i used for 2 years. No matter how i vacuum it or blow it, the dust inside will not get out. So i was fed up, i took out the battery, sticked it in my dishwasher and voila, now it is brand new again

 

[GreatDaleness]

Originally posted by: nanyangview
i have the logitech wireless keyboard which i used for 2 years. No matter how i vacuum it or blow it, the dust inside will not get out. So i was fed up, i took out the battery, sticked it in my dishwasher and voila, now it is brand new again

exactly

 

[n7]

Originally posted by: GreatDaleness

Originally posted by: nanyangview
i have the logitech wireless keyboard which i used for 2 years. No matter how i vacuum it or blow it, the dust inside will not get out. So i was fed up, i took out the battery, sticked it in my dishwasher and voila, now it is brand new again

exactly

Nice! And that seriously works eh? :Q

 

[GreatDaleness]

Originally posted by: n7

Originally posted by: GreatDaleness

Originally posted by: nanyangview
i have the logitech wireless keyboard which i used for 2 years. No matter how i vacuum it or blow it, the dust inside will not get out. So i was fed up, i took out the battery, sticked it in my dishwasher and voila, now it is brand new again

exactly

Nice! And that seriously works eh? :Q

Don't use the heat drying cycle, let the keyboard dry before using, and make sure the cord (if it has one) doesn't dangle into the path of the rotating arm. Other than that, yes, it works. Good as new.

 

[onelin]

I've disassembled my MS Natural 1.0 2 or 3 times. It's painful, but I like it. The newer MS keyboards just aren't the same...although I need one with a USB hub, so I'm not sure I have much of a choice.

 

[mrgoblin]

Just remember if you do pop out the keys, write down the order of the keys (seriously, if you own a logitech keyboard you know all the crap on it) Its a stupid mistake that can be dealt with easily if ure smart and take a picture

 

[Jeff7181]

Or you could use my method... get the free keyboards at Office Max after rebates, keep them on hand. When a key starts to stick, or it gets so dirty it's disgusting looking... pitch it and pull one out of storage

 

[Dreadogg]

Originally posted by: GreatDaleness

Originally posted by: n7

Originally posted by: GreatDaleness

Originally posted by: nanyangview
i have the logitech wireless keyboard which i used for 2 years. No matter how i vacuum it or blow it, the dust inside will not get out. So i was fed up, i took out the battery, sticked it in my dishwasher and voila, now it is brand new again

exactly

Nice! And that seriously works eh? :Q

Don't use the heat drying cycle, let the keyboard dry before using, and make sure the cord (if it has one) doesn't dangle into the path of the rotating arm. Other than that, yes, it works. Good as new.

Yea I melted my keys once.

 

[0roo0roo]

Originally posted by: n7

Originally posted by: GreatDaleness

Originally posted by: nanyangview
i have the logitech wireless keyboard which i used for 2 years. No matter how i vacuum it or blow it, the dust inside will not get out. So i was fed up, i took out the battery, sticked it in my dishwasher and voila, now it is brand new again

exactly

Nice! And that seriously works eh? :Q

bad bad idea. only works if your lucky and the washer didn't spray water too deep into the keyboard. inside these keyboards are thin sheets of sandwiched plastic with printed circuits. water stays inbetween em and the leads corrode..and ur keys no longer work.

take apart the damned keyboard. there are hidden screws under the stickers. best way to clean keyboards. they are rather simple inside, u see if u try.

 

[Confused]

Take the back off, take out the membranes and cable, stick the rest in the dishwasher


Confused

 

[sugarkang]

i find that ISOPROPYL and a sponge will take anything and everything off the surface.
i mean if you've got bits of hair and potato chips UNDERNEATH the keys, well then this won't work.

but just a good alcohol cleaning on the surface should be enough for most.
very clean, and very cheap. best/easiest solution for cleaning plastics in my opinion.

 

[crisscross]

Isopropyl tends to eat away the plastic.. no way I am going to use that on my MX keyboard.

 

[Thor86]

I completely submersed my MS natural keyboard in the tub and scrubbed away. Cleaner than new.

- just make sure the keyboard is COMPLETELY dry before using.

 

[Crashman]

I use a sink sprayer, a scrub brush, and dishwashing detergent. I spray them down, scrub with detergent, and rinse thorougly. If you tip the keyboard all the junk will run out from under the keys to one edge. Then I stand the keyboard on its end for 3 days to dry out.

 

[mindmaniac]

I always get the $15 and buy a brand new keyboard, or a really good old one. I justa got a Model M IBM that looks like it was never used. Plus buying a new one is the cleanest you can get.