How do I clean the inside of a keyboard that I spilled a drink into?

Question

My keyboard works fine but some of the keys hesitate to press. This makes typing really difficult.

I have not figured out how to take it apart since there are no screws at all on the front or back.

I had it in the details, not sure why it was edited out. This is the keyboard in question: cnet.com/products/microsoft-sculpt-ergonomic-desktop — Bowen, Commented May 30, 2015 at 16:05
@Bowen you can rollback the edit - click on the time of the last edit and choose from options there — mmmmmm, Commented May 30, 2015 at 21:14
I would leave the product specifics out because, as a common problem, it might be on topic for this site... but if you are looking for the location of the screws or something specific to repairing that device, it would likely be outside the scope of this site. — Robert Cartaino, Commented Jun 1, 2015 at 18:41
superuser.com/questions/742295/… Related on Superuser (don't use vodka) — Sidney, Commented Apr 4, 2017 at 14:38

DrMoishe Pippik · Accepted Answer · 2015-05-31 03:07:43Z

6

Quick and easy: try to pop off offending key caps and carefully clean through the hole with a damp cotton swab. Though I'm not familiar with the Microsoft Sculpt Ergonomic Keyboard, most key caps (other than Space, Enter and Shift) can be removed by pulling on a hook made from a paper clip or with strong sewing thread pushed underneath.
If many keys are badly stuck and if the drink is completely water-soluble (e.g. soda) as opposed to a mixture (such as hot chocolate), the keyboard can be washed in high purity or distilled water (not tap water, rainwater or deionized water), even immersed in it. Of course, the keyboard will not be usable for a while.

If the keyboard has a battery, as all wireless keyboards do, the battery must be removed first and not reinserted until the unit is completely dry, inside and out. It should not be plugged into a port until dry, either.

To speed up drying, the keyboard can be rinsed in 99% ethanol or isopropanol, but that adds to the cost of repair.

answered May 31, 2015 at 3:07

DrMoishe Pippik

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To make it "true dry", you may keep your keyboard wrapped in a plastic bag with reasonable amount of silica-gel for some time. Plz do this after it is "almost dry" by using traditional drying methods ...
– kmonsoor
Commented May 31, 2015 at 6:53
Is there a chance to break off the key completely? I haven't done this yet because I'm afraid of snapping the plastic.
– Bowen
Commented May 31, 2015 at 16:43
1. Silica gel is not magic -- it cannot remove water from the keyboard once the gel is saturated, and it would take a large amount of silica gel to absorb all the water. Better just keep the keyboard in a warm, dry place with air circulation. 2. Yes, you can break keys or key caps when removing them, but in my experience, either they'll pop off easily or (for the wider keys), not at all. Use care and don't force them with more than a kg (10 N, for the pedantic) force.
– DrMoishe Pippik
Commented Jun 2, 2015 at 0:39
1

Since this is Lifehacks SE, use rice instead of silica gel.
– lmnopcdefg
Commented Apr 1, 2017 at 19:40
Be careful with both rice and silica gel: they make fine powder when shaken or rubbed, which can jam mechanical parts.
– DrMoishe Pippik
Commented Apr 2, 2017 at 5:23

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