Cleaning Keyboards

pcut · 15 September 2010, 12:07

Hello,
Just thought i'd share this with you lot...

I bought an amiga 500 keyboard from ebay, it was delivered yesterday and was very dirty. I took all of the keys off and put them in a jug with washing up liquid and boiling water and left it for half an hour, giving it an occasional stir. Once i'd taken them all out - they were all really nice and clean.

The problem was - i'd put the space bar in the jug too and with it being so long it had become slightly curved because of the heat! When I put it back on the keyboard again it didnt pop back up when pushed down because some bits were rubbing against things they shouldnt have been. I managed to curve it back slightly by heating it up again but its still not perfect, also the caps lock key now gets stuck too, it has a different kind of plastic behind the key than the rest of them.

So.... if anyone else buys a really dirty a500 keyboard - this is a good cleaning method that takes minimal effort, just leave out the space bar and the caps lock key and clean seperately!

ajk · 15 September 2010, 12:55

Boiling water is unnecessary

Warm water should do just as well, and a cool cycle in the dishwasher works great too.

DH · 15 September 2010, 14:32

Disastrous with boiling water, if you do that with a modern keyboard you'll end up with shrunk and warped keys.

Looks like you'll need to get another space bar.

fitzsteve · 15 September 2010, 14:40

I remember cleaning a PC keyboard in the shower then letting it dry for a few days in the Airing Cupboard

JonSick · 15 September 2010, 18:10

I too resorted to cleaning a keyboard with a sprayer and some Fairy. A week or so in the airing cupboard and it came up roses!

I also decided to wash my old Amiga mouse in the dishwasher: I placed it in a pair of women's tights to keep the cable dangling around and a week of drying later, perfect!

chrispy · 16 September 2010, 02:06

Did you buy it off a guy called Airy36?

pcut · 16 September 2010, 19:33

@chrispy Yeah that's the guy I bought it from, got an a500 case from him too which also needed a good clean. It did say in the descriptions they would need cleaning though.

chrispy · 16 September 2010, 20:16

Yeah, i've read about him and his filthy Amiga products. Opinions seem very split on him to being very disinterested after he's got your money to being spot on and as helpful as can be. I always say judge for yourself but in my opinion there's no excuse for selling dirty products. It only takes a few minutes to clean something up.

It seems to be his signature move selling dirty Amiga bits. Like Hulk Hogans leg drop, Jake The Snake Roberts DDT, Macho Mans Flying Elbow from the top turnbuckle and Airy36's dirty Amiga's

ajk · 16 September 2010, 20:27

I dunno, it takes quite a bit of time to clean up a keyboard properly

With the prices he's usually asking I can understand.

DarrenHD · 20 September 2010, 05:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by ajk

I dunno, it takes quite a bit of time to clean up a keyboard properly

With the prices he's usually asking I can understand.

I thought you preferred the dishwasher?

ajk · 20 September 2010, 20:44

Even so you still have to dismantle the whole thing to get the membrane and back metal panel etc. away

8bitbubsy · 20 September 2010, 21:17

Do as I did:
Dismantle all the keys (take out the metal parts, clean them seperately) and fill your sink with non-burning-warm water - Then add plenty drops of soap (mix it well with the water) then add all the keys. Then use your hands to make a little tornado in there. The keys will fly around like mad and get very cleaned. It helps a lot!

After 5 minutes let them dry on a towel. For faster drying use the towel and "rub" the keys.

15 September 2010, 12:07	#1
pcut Registered User Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Liverpool Posts: 26	Cleaning Keyboards Hello, Just thought i'd share this with you lot... I bought an amiga 500 keyboard from ebay, it was delivered yesterday and was very dirty. I took all of the keys off and put them in a jug with washing up liquid and boiling water and left it for half an hour, giving it an occasional stir. Once i'd taken them all out - they were all really nice and clean. The problem was - i'd put the space bar in the jug too and with it being so long it had become slightly curved because of the heat! When I put it back on the keyboard again it didnt pop back up when pushed down because some bits were rubbing against things they shouldnt have been. I managed to curve it back slightly by heating it up again but its still not perfect, also the caps lock key now gets stuck too, it has a different kind of plastic behind the key than the rest of them. So.... if anyone else buys a really dirty a500 keyboard - this is a good cleaning method that takes minimal effort, just leave out the space bar and the caps lock key and clean seperately!

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15 September 2010, 12:55	#2
ajk Registered User Join Date: May 2010 Location: Helsinki, Finland Posts: 1,341	Boiling water is unnecessary Warm water should do just as well, and a cool cycle in the dishwasher works great too.

15 September 2010, 14:32	#3
DH Global Moderator Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Might as well be WORK :( Age: 56 Posts: 4,110	Disastrous with boiling water, if you do that with a modern keyboard you'll end up with shrunk and warped keys. Looks like you'll need to get another space bar.

15 September 2010, 14:40	#4
fitzsteve Professional slacker! Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Kent, UK Age: 44 Posts: 6,683	I remember cleaning a PC keyboard in the shower then letting it dry for a few days in the Airing Cupboard

15 September 2010, 18:10	#5
JonSick Registered User Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: London UK Posts: 255	I too resorted to cleaning a keyboard with a sprayer and some Fairy. A week or so in the airing cupboard and it came up roses! I also decided to wash my old Amiga mouse in the dishwasher: I placed it in a pair of women's tights to keep the cable dangling around and a week of drying later, perfect!

16 September 2010, 02:06	#6
chrispy Registered User Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Wales (Gods Country) Posts: 155	Did you buy it off a guy called Airy36?

16 September 2010, 19:33	#7
pcut Registered User Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Liverpool Posts: 26	@chrispy Yeah that's the guy I bought it from, got an a500 case from him too which also needed a good clean. It did say in the descriptions they would need cleaning though.

16 September 2010, 20:16	#8
chrispy Registered User Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Wales (Gods Country) Posts: 155	Yeah, i've read about him and his filthy Amiga products. Opinions seem very split on him to being very disinterested after he's got your money to being spot on and as helpful as can be. I always say judge for yourself but in my opinion there's no excuse for selling dirty products. It only takes a few minutes to clean something up. It seems to be his signature move selling dirty Amiga bits. Like Hulk Hogans leg drop, Jake The Snake Roberts DDT, Macho Mans Flying Elbow from the top turnbuckle and Airy36's dirty Amiga's

16 September 2010, 20:27	#9
ajk Registered User Join Date: May 2010 Location: Helsinki, Finland Posts: 1,341	I dunno, it takes quite a bit of time to clean up a keyboard properly With the prices he's usually asking I can understand.

20 September 2010, 20:44	#11
ajk Registered User Join Date: May 2010 Location: Helsinki, Finland Posts: 1,341	Even so you still have to dismantle the whole thing to get the membrane and back metal panel etc. away

20 September 2010, 21:17	#12
8bitbubsy Registered User Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Norway Posts: 1,711	Do as I did: Dismantle all the keys (take out the metal parts, clean them seperately) and fill your sink with non-burning-warm water - Then add plenty drops of soap (mix it well with the water) then add all the keys. Then use your hands to make a little tornado in there. The keys will fly around like mad and get very cleaned. It helps a lot! After 5 minutes let them dry on a towel. For faster drying use the towel and "rub" the keys.

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