Keyboard cleaning
 

How does one clean a keyboard? Please, no jokes. It is a serious question. I may not recognize a joke answer as a joke.

I have a keyboard that spontaneously generates characters. I suspect contaminants in the keyboard. I turn it upside down and shake it and a fair amount of dirt and stuff fall out, but the problem remains. The keys and surface are also pretty grungy after years of use. I do not suspect anything large like a staple or a paper clip.
How do I clean the surface and the keys and the electrical connection area below the keys?

Thanks in advance for any assistance.

ShortHaul

2 options:

1) open it up and use an alcohol wipe to wipe the contact surfaces clean

2) Get a new one.

I personally prefer option 1, I feel fine opening up stuff like this, but with a new corded keyboard for as low as $20 it might just be easier to buy a new one.

In college, we put one in the dishwasher and it worked once we took it out.

ROFLMAO :D :D :D

Actually, I was just about to by a new keyboard. I might try this for a laugh.

The dishwasher really works
 

I have done it more than once.... :)

Of course, just in case it does not for you, be prepared to replace it *grins*

Come on, dont be lazy. Take a picture of the keyboard or get a key layout online. Take off ALL the keys and clean it out throughly. Replace keys when finished.

My solution is to just keep all my old keyboard, then swap them out when they stop functioning. I have about 6 of them behind the couch in my room.

Alcohol wipe worked
 

Thanks ScottC. Worked.

I opened it up and took apart the 3 (!) layers of flexible printed contact sheets and wiped each one with an alcohol soaked swab. Had to take out the circuit board as well. Also actually washed in alcohol the plastic surface and keys. They look much better now. In retrospect I suspect the problem was where the circuit board contacted the flexible printed sheets. I also rubbed that area of the circuit board with a rubber eraser.

First time I re assembled the keyboard the "O", "L" and "." key (three keys in a vertical line) did not work. (A new problem.) I tried doing a half way job and just re-wiped the area where those 3 keys contacted the printed sheets. That fixed those 3 keys but then 3 other vertical columns did not work. So I took it all apart and re assembled them, being particularly careful to lay the 3 sheets on top of each other exactly lined up and then the circuit board carefully and firmly screwed down on top. Everything worked !! Used the keyboard for a day and no spontaneously generated characters.

I had heard about the washing in a dishwasher solution before and always figured it was a joke. Didn't realize anybody had actually done it.

The alcohol swab idea worked perfectly. Just had to be more meticulous about the re assembly. Thank you.

ShortHaul

Actually have always done mine in the dishwasher - for years - one I am using now has been in the dishwasher at least a dozen times - and still works fine !!

Spend 15 bucks and get a new one

I've been using the sink spray hose and dish soap. Do you have to take the keys off to use the dishwasher?

I just put mine in the dishwasher complete - put a plastic bag over the plug and tape it but that is it

Even the plug is just rubber and metal, so you don't really have to do this.

(Just make sure it's dry before you plug it back in.) :p

I have washed mine in the dishwasher also. Taking out the circuit board speeds up the drying time.