Cleaning

SmoodCroozn

<div class="IPBDescription">Keyboards!</div> Well, my keyboard is almost 2 years old and has lots of dust and pieces of food in it so it's probably time for a cleanage. I'm wondering how to go about this: Do I want to shake it up, or do I want to go manually in and wipe everything clean? Are there parts of the keyboard that shoul not be touched? <!--emo&???--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/confused-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='confused-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->

Trevelyan

two years?

Please just buy a new one... have you any idea the crap that lurks under the keys? and the bacteria from your hands... eww.... plz just get a new one! My old keyboard I cleaned once after a year of use... and then i retired it as a backup keyboard and picked up a new one.

Edit: You really can't "break" a keyboard by cleaning it if you don't submerge it. Pop the keys off and take a look at what I'm talking about... its safe you can pop the keys back on when you're done.

<!--emo&::gorge::--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/pudgy.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='pudgy.gif' /><!--endemo-->

Cyndane

I hear throwing it in the dishwasher works wonders. :-)

Seph_Kimara

pop off the keys and soak them in warm soapy water for a while, let them dry, clear the gunk and dirt from the space left carefully, then reassemble it. Just don't try popping off the space bar, it's a **** to put back on right.

theclam

<!--QuoteBegin-Cyndane+Apr 7 2005, 07:30 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Cyndane @ Apr 7 2005, 07:30 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> I hear throwing it in the dishwasher works wonders.  :-) <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I've heard this too. Just run it through the dishwasher with no soap and it will be clean.

Make sure to let it dry completely before using it.

Chrono

i took my entire keyboard apart once to clean it i found alot of dirt in there but once the job was done it felt like a brand new keyboard <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->

Shoebox

hmmm i think my keyboard is past the 2 year mark. <!--emo&;)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/wink-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='wink-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->

LoDwkeef

lol, my keyboard is approaching the 4 year mark and still hasnt been cleaned <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo-->

Mullet

Mine is 5 years old and I've never cleaned it...mmmmmmmm

Trevelyan

<!--QuoteBegin-Mullet+Apr 7 2005, 09:18 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Mullet @ Apr 7 2005, 09:18 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> Mine is 5 years old and I've never cleaned it...mmmmmmmm <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
i dare you to lick it.

<!--emo&::gorge::--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/pudgy.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='pudgy.gif' /><!--endemo-->

Lofung

6 years, mine has been a home for cockroaches <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->

Edit: omg diaplay COC*

Ratonetwothreetwoone

OH YEAH?! MINE IS SEVEN YEARS OLD
it has rat feces in it!!!

winner!!! \o/

TheSavior

6 year old compaq keyboard...

I clean it every 3 months by hand, when I'm reformatting, which I also do every 3 months... popping off every key and scrubbing it all till' it's good and clean.

DOOManiac

In all honesty, I say that unless its just really funky in there, or some keys aren't working, leave it the way it is. Usually when you try to clean a keyboard all you suceed in doing is bringing the crud into a spot where its easier to see yet you still can't get it out.

Mantrid

1. Pick up board.

2. Turn board order.

3. Shake.

4. Eat debris.

Zaggy

You could take off all buttons and use a rag and toothbrush to clean it all..

Necrotic

<!--QuoteBegin-Mantrid+Apr 8 2005, 05:45 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Mantrid @ Apr 8 2005, 05:45 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> 4. Eat debris. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
This is a definate do, over the years all those dorito crumbs and splashes of mountain dew have formed a tangy and energy filled paste lurking just under the surface of your keys.

But yeah, some keyboards are easier to clean than others, just pop a couple of keys off and see how easy they are to get back on if it takes more effort than you're willing to put into your keyboard than go buy a new one <!--emo&;)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/wink-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='wink-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->

Pithlit

If you decide to clean it and not buy a new one, please dont forget to make a dustbunny out of what you got and post the picture in the competition ^^

funbags

I've had my keyboard for 5 years, I bang it upside down to clear some of the larger pieces of "stuff", and did a COMPLETE cleaning job (Soaked the parts, popped all the keys of, q-tip job, etc.) once.

It's my favorite keyboard in the entire world. <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/biggrin-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->

Liku

My keyboard has some strange grooves in the Right Shift key... anyone else have this? I'll post a pic later.

SoulSkorpion

Take all the keys off, unscrew the case, remove the circuitry and chuck all the plastic bits (the keys, the case, everything) in a sink full of soapy water. Wash all the crap off, rinse all the soapy residue off, dry everything carefully and reassemble it. Worked for me.

Having a spare keyboard helps if you're lazy and want to let the keys soak\dry by themselves but still want to use your computer in the meantime (believe me, character map is <i>not</i> up to the task).

AlienCow

You really wouldn't want to see the surface of my keyboard and mouse, let alone whatever lurks underneath the keys.

V_MAN

I have been meaning to clean mine for ages, it's nearly 4 years old and have never been cleaned some of the keys are sticking (W especially) and I shudder to think what is making them stick.

Some of the dirt I actually recognise, sitting just under the right control key for example there's a bit of gold foil that came off a bottle of Beer when I was playing NS on Haloween back in 2002 <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo-->.

Cold_NiTe

I might try the dishwasher thing.

Snidely

I use a can of compressed air to clear out the movable debris from under the keys. Works wonders for me.

Never had anything that might be considered a paste, so I've never had to go as far as disassembling my keyboard. (:

BigMadSteve

I just take the top part of the keyboard off and soak it in roasting hot water for a while. Then I use a hair dryer to dry it. I haven't had to clean this keyboard yet but that method has worked well with my previous ones,