Cleaning the keyboard of dust and debris

[TallTravel]

Each of my computers has accumulated hair, dust, debris, bits of food, etc, etc, but mainly hairs from my head as I type. I once took a desktop keyboard apart to clean the underside of it, but that was a mess to put each key back in the keyboard. The debris drops between the keys and settles under the keys.

Short of using a compressor and forced air to clean it, which does not extract the debris, any ideas on how to clean the underside of the keyboard? It varies with each design, of course, but I don't like the darn thing so dirty.

This is not the world's biggest problem, of course, but it is beginning to irritate me...lol.

Suggestions?

[Foosa]

Take the keys off.

[AnotherMuggle]

In the past, when fairly desperate to revive an old keyboard, I took off all the keys and soaked them in soapy water and cleaned the keyboard with a damp cloth.

Waited for all the water to dry from inside the backs of the keys and pieced it all together again...job done

[TallTravel]

Originally Posted by Foosa Take the keys off.

As I said in the first post, I have done that, and it is a mess to take out each and every one of those keys, clean them, clean the base of the keyboard, and then put them all back in. If that is the only way, then so be it, but I wrote the post to find a better solution.

[AnotherMuggle]

Originally Posted by Sunset As I said in the first post, I have done that, and it is a mess to take out each and every one of those keys, clean them, clean the base of the keyboard, and then put them all back in. If that is the only way, then so be it, but I wrote the post to find a better solution.

You could dip it into a tub of water...but I doubt it would do the keyboard a lot of good!

It's always a good idea not to eat over the keyboard and keep things like paperclips and staples away from it, that way it will need less maintenance anyhow

[TallTravel]

Originally Posted by tomkear2006 You could dip it into a tub of water...but I doubt it would do the keyboard a lot of good! It's always a good idea not to eat over the keyboard and keep things like paperclips and staples away from it, that way it will need less maintenance anyhow

Yeah, I have decided I need to look for a clear plastic cover for the keyboard, because I am inevitably eating a candy bar at some point in the day, chips and cheese, etc, so I ought not, but I do. Other people have bad habits like smoking, and my bad habits are a bit more healthy...lol!

That being said, if I took as much time to remove the keys individually, clean each of them, and put them back as I have in writing these posts, my keyboard would be clean again. Then I could get a cover for it and not have the problem again, eh?

My bad...

[12twelve12]

Battery operated mini-vacs are available at most computer stores. This might help but honestly I am not sure how well they work.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16800998006

[XenaWP]

Ok, this is going to sound crazy, but I swear it's true: the folks who wrote "Repairing and Upgrading Your PC" (http://www.amazon.com/Repairing-Upgr...e=UTF8&s=books) recommend putting the keyboard in the dishwasher. You have to let it dry thoroughly before using, so unless you have a backup keyboard (or can borrow one) don't try it.

[Foosa]

Sorry i missed that you had already done that.

I have heard of putting a keyboard in the dishwasher, but never had an extra to try it out on first.

[AnotherMuggle]

A quick google search returns a lot of result claiming that the dishwasher method works and that the keyboard works properly afterwards.

I have to say, I'm very supprised to hear it lol

[TallTravel]

Originally Posted by XenaWP Ok, this is going to sound crazy, but I swear it's true: the folks who wrote "Repairing and Upgrading Your PC" (http://www.amazon.com/Repairing-Upgr...e=UTF8&s=books) recommend putting the keyboard in the dishwasher. You have to let it dry thoroughly before using, so unless you have a backup keyboard (or can borrow one) don't try it.

You are right, it sounds crazy. Would you try it on your keyboard first, then let me know how it works after???? lol!

This is a laptop keyboard, not a desktop. I am thinking it is time to stop typing for a while and remove all the keys, because that seems to be the only way to get it truly clean, and it won't take THAT long, eh?

[XenaWP]

Originally Posted by Sunset You are right, it sounds crazy. Would you try it on your keyboard first, then let me know how it works after???? lol! This is a laptop keyboard, not a desktop. I am thinking it is time to stop typing for a while and remove all the keys, because that seems to be the only way to get it truly clean, and it won't take THAT long, eh?

Oh crap. Didn't see the part about it being a laptop

Not recommended then.

And sure, if my regular keyboard got that cruddy, I'd pop it in the DW. But I never eat around my home PC. The work one, I just make sure to turn it upside down and shake vigorously, followed by a few shots of canned air, every week. Once/wk with a Chlorox wipe on the keys too.

[AnotherMuggle]

For my laptop, I just stuck the household hoover against it and it sucks all the rubbish straight out.

Be prepared to fish around inside the hoover if any keys come off in the process.

[glc]

Hold the laptop upside down and use compressed air and a brush - along with a vacuum - it will come clean.