Keyboard, sticky

Mr. Gone · 10-13-2006, 01:02 PM

My keyboard has been a bit sticky since a friend spilled a certain citrus flavored fluid onto it a while back. It didn't affect the hardware underneath, but it makes typing a bit of a chore sometimes what with keys sticking and such.

I took all the keys off last night and cleaned the surface with damp q-tips and somehow got all of the keys back on, but it did little to help the sticky problem.

I'm looking for pointers on how to best clean my keyboard since toshiba lists the replacement part at 55 dollars. I am willing to take the keys off again, less willing to remove the keyboard itself.

Any help is appreciated! =)

-Mr. Gone

**PanamaGal** · 10-13-2006, 03:35 PM

Try alcohol.

**JamesO** · 10-13-2006, 03:44 PM

You are best off replacing the keyboard. If the Toshiba replacement is to expensive, try eBay for a used unit.

You could possibly soak the keyboard in distilled water once it has been removed, however, I would not chance this without a replacement on the table next to me.

JamesO

**hwm54112** · 10-13-2006, 04:26 PM

My thought is that your going to have a tough time cleaning it thoroughly without removal. If you try cleaning it with anything, I'd use an aoerosol elctrical contact cleaner that leaves no residue

**laboye** · 10-13-2006, 10:52 PM

Indeed. the aerosol would work as well as alcohol. Something alike to Simple Green can be used, but dilute it in water as it is a bit strong. Use a light, soft rag and rub it off. Be careful with the contacts.

Mr. Gone · 10-16-2006, 12:29 PM

Thanks guys, I'll give the aerosol a try. (Just using it frequently this week seems to have helped the situation a lot)

10-13-2006, 01:02 PM	#1 (permalink)
Mr. Gone Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 8 OS: Windows XP SP2	Keyboard, sticky My keyboard has been a bit sticky since a friend spilled a certain citrus flavored fluid onto it a while back. It didn't affect the hardware underneath, but it makes typing a bit of a chore sometimes what with keys sticking and such. I took all the keys off last night and cleaned the surface with damp q-tips and somehow got all of the keys back on, but it did little to help the sticky problem. I'm looking for pointers on how to best clean my keyboard since toshiba lists the replacement part at 55 dollars. I am willing to take the keys off again, less willing to remove the keyboard itself. Any help is appreciated! =) -Mr. Gone

10-13-2006, 03:35 PM	#2 (permalink)
PanamaGal Mentor Hardware Team Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Panama Posts: 1,240 OS: WinXP Pro SP2; Windows Server 2003; Windows Vista Ultimate; Vista Business	Try alcohol. __________________ It is hard to fail, but it is worse never to have tried to succeed.

10-13-2006, 10:52 PM	#5 (permalink)
laboye TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Hollywood, FL Posts: 1,246 OS: Windows xp Pro/Vista Beta 2/Ubuntu 6.06 LTS My System	Indeed. the aerosol would work as well as alcohol. Something alike to Simple Green can be used, but dilute it in water as it is a bit strong. Use a light, soft rag and rub it off. Be careful with the contacts. __________________ Repair Windows XP Guide --- Resolutions Crazy Computer that I'm saving up for::Antec P180 Case;PC Pwr&Cooling 1kW Quad SLI PSU;Asus P5N32-SLI SE Deluxe;Intel Core2 XE X6800;Corsair TWIN2XP2048 2GB PC2-6400 DDR2 RAM;2xAsus GeForce 7950 GX2;BFG PhysX Accel.;IBM DVD-RAM/Plextor DVD±RW;Seagate 750GB HD 7200RPM;WDX 150GB 10000RPM;Vigor Monsoon TEC Cooler

10-16-2006, 12:29 PM	#6 (permalink)
Mr. Gone Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 8 OS: Windows XP SP2	Thanks guys, I'll give the aerosol a try. (Just using it frequently this week seems to have helped the situation a lot) __________________ "I believe in the philosophy of a ruling class. Especially since I rule." -Randal Graves

10-13-2006, 03:44 PM	#3 (permalink)
JamesO Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Fairfax, VA USA Posts: 2,289 OS: 98SE, W2k Pro, XP Pro	You are best off replacing the keyboard. If the Toshiba replacement is to expensive, try eBay for a used unit. You could possibly soak the keyboard in distilled water once it has been removed, however, I would not chance this without a replacement on the table next to me. JamesO

10-13-2006, 04:26 PM	#4 (permalink)
hwm54112 TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 2,233 OS: WINXP	My thought is that your going to have a tough time cleaning it thoroughly without removal. If you try cleaning it with anything, I'd use an aoerosol elctrical contact cleaner that leaves no residue