Keyboard cleaning
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Ontario, Canada, AC-basic; usually YYZ-YUL
Posts: 112
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
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
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2000
Posts: 37,486
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.
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.
#8
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: New York, NY
Programs: Onepass, Skymiles, Worldperks, Hilton HHonors Silver, Mariot Rewards
Posts: 708
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.
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Ontario, Canada, AC-basic; usually YYZ-YUL
Posts: 112
Alcohol wipe worked
Originally Posted by ScottC
2 options:
1) open it up and use an alcohol wipe to wipe the contact surfaces clean
1) open it up and use an alcohol wipe to wipe the contact surfaces clean
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
#12
In memoriam
Join Date: Aug 2002
Programs: AA EXP "Life is good! Really good.""
Posts: 4,923
Originally Posted by holmedown
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 !!
#14
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: LAX
Programs: AA EXP 2MM
Posts: 2,080
Originally Posted by holmedown
I just put mine in the dishwasher complete - put a plastic bag over the plug and tape it but that is it
(Just make sure it's dry before you plug it back in.)