Tek-Tips is the largest IT community on the Internet today!
Members share and learn making Tek-Tips Forums the best source of peer-reviewed technical information on the Internet!
-
Congratulations strongm on being selected by the Tek-Tips community for having the most helpful posts in the forums last week. Way to Go!
Cleaning Microsoft Internet Keyboard
- Thread starter Glenn9999
- Start date
It is usually enough to turn a keyboard over and give it a good smack on the back with one hand while holding the keyboard in the other. Then vacuum up the dirt. Often an amazing amount!
Or a good vacuum with a soft brush head.
Or the keys should pop off if you lever them off using a suitable tool - the plastic end of a nailfile is good - or a screwdriver. - Just watch the keys don't pop off and vanish!
Or a good vacuum with a soft brush head.
Or the keys should pop off if you lever them off using a suitable tool - the plastic end of a nailfile is good - or a screwdriver. - Just watch the keys don't pop off and vanish!
Auger282
MIS
- Sep 27, 2003
- 978
funkytunaa
Technical User
Not really sure if you can get them any more but you use to be able to get key removers, they are like tweezers but plastic and you pop them around the key and pull the key out.
Either that or a compressed air can.
Or alternatively, i'm not sure what colour bins are where you are but they all seem to do the same thing. Use that and buy a new one!!!
Either that or a compressed air can.
Or alternatively, i'm not sure what colour bins are where you are but they all seem to do the same thing. Use that and buy a new one!!!
I've been tossing mine in the washing machine with fine woolens. A tumble in the dryer, and you're good to go.
Failing that
a) Did you know that Marshall's, Big Lots and Ross sell keyboards now and then. REALLY CHEAP??
b) go keyboard.
c) Tiger direct, NewEgg..cheap, reliable. Sometimes things are actually free.
d) Rubbing alcohol..turn it upside down and dampen (not dripping) a cloth and rub goo off. Works for just about everything. You only need to turn the keyboard over. Monitor screen (Not lcd) can stay upright.
Failing that
a) Did you know that Marshall's, Big Lots and Ross sell keyboards now and then. REALLY CHEAP??
b) go keyboard.
c) Tiger direct, NewEgg..cheap, reliable. Sometimes things are actually free.
d) Rubbing alcohol..turn it upside down and dampen (not dripping) a cloth and rub goo off. Works for just about everything. You only need to turn the keyboard over. Monitor screen (Not lcd) can stay upright.
Unless the design of a keyboard has changed since I last took one apart, there is a membrane w/contacts beneath the keys that sits atop a circuit board. Water or coffee dumped into the keys will not necessarily get to the circuit board.
If your problem is keys not working, none of these repairs will work, you need a new keyboard. I have tried to clean the contacts on the circuit board beneath only to find it worked briefly then got worse.
If it's just dirt and funk ABOVE the membrane follow the cleaning and smacking methods above, or just replace the keyboard...with a BLACK one that will not show the grunge.
Tony
If your problem is keys not working, none of these repairs will work, you need a new keyboard. I have tried to clean the contacts on the circuit board beneath only to find it worked briefly then got worse.
If it's just dirt and funk ABOVE the membrane follow the cleaning and smacking methods above, or just replace the keyboard...with a BLACK one that will not show the grunge.
Tony
First of all be sure that you really want to keep this keyboard, given the low prices.
After removing the screws, the two half shells are usually snapped together. You would normally be able to pry them off with a rounded knive of a flat screw driver.
If this is only to clean dirt on the keyboard, then the shell side with the keys can be washed in water with soap and a brush, as usually here is no circuitry in this part. Rinse thouroughly and use clean compressed air to expel the water. Let dry open for a coupe of days.
If you are a curious person, you may also want to clean the rubber matte that provides the contacts and the spring action for the keys. It can be done but be very careful. Besides liquids, keys that don't work are caused by dust or hairs between the rubber pads and the printed circuit board. I have cleaned my trusty keytronics successfully, but I am very well equipped for repairing electronics.
After removing the screws, the two half shells are usually snapped together. You would normally be able to pry them off with a rounded knive of a flat screw driver.
If this is only to clean dirt on the keyboard, then the shell side with the keys can be washed in water with soap and a brush, as usually here is no circuitry in this part. Rinse thouroughly and use clean compressed air to expel the water. Let dry open for a coupe of days.
If you are a curious person, you may also want to clean the rubber matte that provides the contacts and the spring action for the keys. It can be done but be very careful. Besides liquids, keys that don't work are caused by dust or hairs between the rubber pads and the printed circuit board. I have cleaned my trusty keytronics successfully, but I am very well equipped for repairing electronics.
Dust and hairs, fine. But no solvents like I used to clean my Alesis drum machine's contacts...seems I wore off some protective layer and while it worked for a while it got worse fast to the point of doom. Last time (uh...1991) I ever cleaned the membrane or circuit board contacts.
Tony
- Status
Similar threads