what is the best way to clean a sticky KB

I spilled a bottle of corona and new the keys are sticky on theinside.

can I take it out and clean it in water and then dry or can i clean it w/ alcohol

keyboards are cheep, just get a new keyboard

if its a wireless keyboard then i would reccomend the same, but this time be more carefull around the keyboard

I generally use a solvent type cleaner. Spray it well into the board and leave it upside down on a sheet of newspaper overnight. ;)

Pull it apart, and while your cleaning it, you'll be able to see how these magical things work and operate.!

just remember where each key went and make sure you don't get any of the circuits wets, and then put it back together and it should work again.

http://www.benq.com/products/Keyboard/?product=795

i really like this KB

so why would the water not work if i'll unplugg it ... what can it do ... rust things???

Hey Hey,

I'm really surprised no one mentioned my prefered cleaning method yet, so I'll throw it up here...

Step 1: Unplug the keyboard.
Step 2: Fill a bowl with rubbing alcohol
Step 3: Remove every key and place them in the bowl
Step 4: Pour the remaining rubbing alcohol over the circuit board or whatever internals are available when you remove the keys (this is sometimes the circuit board, sometimes plastic, sometimes 'nothing')
Step 5: Stir the keys for a while
Step 6: Lay gauze across the keyboard to absorb the remaining liquid (if any)
Step 7: Remove each key one by one and use Q-Tips to wipe any remaining crud
Step 8: Reassemble keyboard
Step 9: Allow to dry over night
Step 10: Plug in keyboard.

Peace,
HT

here's the important Q. if i'll remove the "key" ... since i don't see underneath it how do i even know how to remove it or if it can be removed

No one has mentioned those spray cans of condensed air.... they seem to work pretty well but its more for just blowing out food and crap I dont know if it would work with a sticky stain.

Compressed air won't work, this is sticky goo we are trying to remove. Alcohol/solvent will work.

Please be careful with solvents and only use them in a well ventilated space :eek:

DO NOT use water. Water and electronic components generally don't mix.

I generally use HT's method, except I use soap and water instead of rubbing alcohol. If you want to REALLY get'em clean, put the keys in a salad tosser filled with whatever cleaning solution you use and spin 'em until they get dizzy. Soap and water always works for me. Be careful, though, some keyboards are a lot harder to reassemble than others.

But, as Hex said, unless it's a wireless, you can usually pick one up for $10 or less... it's generally not worth the trouble to clean wired keyboards.

Water on a keyboard is perfectly safe, as it is for any electronic component (save for batteries and capacitors). The catch is that said component must be off when it gets wet, and fully dried before it is powered up again. It will never know the difference. Besides which, alcohol conducts electricity beter than water (afaik). If alcohol is safe, so is water. The only electronics that cannot get wet are those containing high-powered capacitors, such as monitors, amplifiers, and some radio recievers. The water can bridge them and discharge them. Water can also discharge lower charge capacitors and fry things like motherboards, but I have indeed cleaned motherboards with soap and water before. I just don't soak the whole thing, so the leads are never crossed. Generally, avoid anything with capacitors or batteries when using anything that conducts, including alcohol afaik. But you needn't worry about that on a keyboard.

I am totaly dead serious here. Put it in the dishwasher by itself with a tab of jet dry. Place it on the top rack. Turn the heat off on the dishwasher. I have done this several times. Just make sure its on cold water and then let it air dry for a few hours.

Quote:

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Originally posted here by ZomBieMann77
I am totaly dead serious here. Put it in the dishwasher by itself with a tab of jet dry. Place it on the top rack. Turn the heat off on the dishwasher. I have done this several times. Just make sure its on cold water and then let it air dry for a few hours.

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This is my preferred method of choice as well... one thing Zombie left out was when it is done running through the cycle remove the keyboard from the dishwasher and put it keys down on a towel over night. Then check it in the morning to make sure all the water has dried and you will be good to go.

and as to removing the keys physically
you just have to 'gently' pry one out
they are just a clip fit to replace

it's just a pain when the dishwasher option is there

personally I replace things
but that's just me :p

I generally prefer to take them apart, because I'm a mechanic.
You might need a #1 and a #0 phillips screwdriver along with the
more common #2. Since there are a number of different designs
of keyboard, no one cleaning method is right for all, but you can
always get at the components when it is apart. In some cases, you
don't need to remove individual keys, but once you have separated
the upper part with the keys still attached, it can be soaked all you
want, because it has no electronics.

The membrane type is hard to dry unless you pick up each membrane and
wipe individually. There are a few, mostly old designs, that shouldn't get wet.
They have individual mechanical switches, and parts that could rust.
Some keyboards can't be saved. The initial spill may cause circuits to burn out.

Running a lot of warm water through it using the sprayer from a kitchen sink might do it too.

Just let it dry real good.

just an update I did the dishwasher method ... just to see if it's BS or if it really works

it worked and the KB is clicking like new but none of the CAPS/NUM/F led's work now

is it fixable??