Posted by MistarellaFL on 2/12/10 6:38am
Msg #322538

Clean Up a Keyboard Spill

1. Shut off or unplug the computer. If the keyboard is a separate device, disconnect it from the computer immediately.

2. Turn the unit upside down so that it can drain. Do this before running off to find paper towels or some other absorbent cleanup aid.

3. Pat dry every accessible surface with paper towels, paper napkins ... heck, use your shirt if you have to. If only plain water was spilled, just leave the keyboard to dry. If you spilled something hot and sticky, however, you'll have more work to do.

(More after the jump)

4. If it's a laptop, remove the battery.

5. Do not rinse your laptop. Just let it dry out. As for computer keyboards that have been disconnected from a desktop computer, prepare to be shocked: not only can they be hand washed, some say you can even put computer keyboards through the dishwasher. Just be certain your device is 100% dry before reconnecting it.

6. Laptops need to be cleaned the slow way. Same goes for computer keyboards if you don't want to risk the water-rinsing method. Gently pop off the keys one-by-one using a flat-head screwdriver for gentle leverage. Using cotton swabs or a toothbrush, clean the exposed surface with isopropyl alcohol.

7. If anything sticky made it inside the laptop, an internal cleanup will be required. If you're not a techie, play it safe and call an expert for help. In the meantime, keep your laptop upside down or tilted in a warm, sunny location or near a heat source.

Tip: Never use a hair dryer to speed up the drying process; static damage could result. Also, in the case of a bad spill, the incoming blast of hot air could actually drive the mess further into the machine.

http://www.diylife.com/2010/02/11/the-daily-fix-clean-up-a-keyboard-spill/?icid=main|htmlws-main-n|dl9|link5|http%3A%2F%2Fwww.diylife.com%2F2010%2F02%2F11%2Fthe-daily-fix-clean-up-a-keyboard-spill%2F

Reply by BrendaTx on 2/12/10 6:46am
Msg #322539

So sorry, Misty. My guess is you've had

this experience. Thanks for sharing this.

Reply by Lee/AR on 2/12/10 9:28am
Msg #322550

Get a keyboard skin - $10

http://www.buypcsupplies.com/keyboardskins.html?source=google62509&g

And there are many other places that sell them.

Reply by Susan Fischer on 2/13/10 3:21am
Msg #322650

Exactly. There's no excuse anymore. Protect

investments.

Reply by Charles_Ca on 2/12/10 12:41pm
Msg #322586

Re: Clean Up a Keyboard Spill You can also...

use alcohol. don't use commercial rubbing alcohol since it is mostly water but you can use something like everclear or vodka (which is also about 50% alcohol). Alcohol is hydrophilic and will absorb the water and carry it away if you flush it with alcohol. That is the way that electronics companies remove flux and also clean electronics. They actually use isopropyl which is hard to get in strengths higher than you can get at the drug store but everclear would work as well.

Reply by Glenn Strickler on 2/13/10 1:10am
Msg #322645

I hope it's not a laptop. Otherwise, keyboards are cheap.

You can get a decent one for twenty bucks. Now might be the time to upgrade to a nice ergonomic one.

One of the first things I did after I set up my last new computer was to spill a cup of coffee in it. Gone. I just plugged in my old keyboard and was back in business. I still have two other spare keyboards. As long as it's a PS2 it will work. Some of the specialty keys are different, but the basic keys work the same.