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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: Yoji on Sat, 02 July 2011, 17:11:23

Title: How should I go about cleaning my beloved Filco?
Post by: Yoji on Sat, 02 July 2011, 17:11:23

So  since purchasing my Majestouch she is a bit worse for were in the dust / grime department and I can't stand it anymore. I remember reading that Filco's have a coating on the keys? So should I just pop up each key and use water and a microfiber cloth to clean them up? I am not afraid about doing this with the smaller keys but the larger ones especially the space bar have me a bit worried.

Title: How should I go about cleaning my beloved Filco?
Post by: litster on Sat, 02 July 2011, 18:01:47

I haven't done this on my filco keycaps, but I have used dental/denture tablets from drug stores to clean used keycaps.  They do a good job removing all the bio gunk from dirty keycaps.  I also use slightly wet towel to wipe clean the keyboard body.

Title: How should I go about cleaning my beloved Filco?
Post by: hyperlinked on Sun, 03 July 2011, 16:16:31

OP, if you're talking about the keycaps, I don't think there's anything special you need to do to clean those. The keycaps on Filcos aren't of the highest quality anyway so that's not the part of the keyboard I'd have any concern over damaging. My keycaps look like they've been polished because they're so shiny from sweat and oils as Filco keycaps tend to get.

If you're trying to get keyboard chow out from underneath the keys, there was a comment by Ripster somewhere in here that it's possible for crumbs to get lodged into the stem of the Cherry switches if you used compressed air to clean it out while the keyboard was right side up. I don't believe that stopped anyone from just blasting away the specks using compressed air though. I do that all the time and so far nothing bad's happened to my Filco... except that it's since been replaced by my Realforce. :)

Title: How should I go about cleaning my beloved Filco?
Post by: keyb_gr on Mon, 04 July 2011, 09:24:50

A damp cloth with some water and a drop of dish detergent should be just fine. I wouldn't even bother with removing the keycaps usually, doing that like once every two years or so seems to be entirely sufficient.

Title: How should I go about cleaning my beloved Filco?
Post by: JAMM0N on Mon, 04 July 2011, 14:30:08

pull each keycap. put it in a jar of alchohol and wipe it down and to clean the bottom air cans and cloth.

Title: How should I go about cleaning my beloved Filco?
Post by: morethanless on Mon, 04 July 2011, 14:32:12

Don't use alcohol (is this dangerous like acetone?) because acetone attacks the finish.

Title: How should I go about cleaning my beloved Filco?
Post by: Tony on Tue, 05 July 2011, 00:57:05

To be sure, use cool water and washing liquid only. Leave it for 15 mins for dirt to come out, then 3-5 hours for the keycaps to dry completely.

When you are not using the keyboard, put the plastic cover on it.

Title: How should I go about cleaning my beloved Filco?
Post by: The Solutor on Tue, 05 July 2011, 04:28:07

Quote from: morethanless;373223

Don't use alcohol (is this dangerous like acetone?) because acetone attacks the finish.

 
Alcool is not dangerous for many plastics, btw an ammonia based detergent like glassex (aka windex) is safer.

Title: How should I go about cleaning my beloved Filco?
Post by: Astounding on Wed, 06 July 2011, 00:43:16

Quote from: ripster;374332

I'm a fan of Simple Green for Filcos.

Filco after a 5min 99% Isopropyl Alchohol dip.  Quick swipes OK.

Show Image

(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4107/5017195405_d3f7de68f7_z.jpg)

Am I the only one who doesn't see a picture here?

Title: How should I go about cleaning my beloved Filco?
Post by: JAMM0N on Wed, 06 July 2011, 00:48:45

yes it does ripster. acetone will literally wipe anything down. possibly even gorilla glue. superglue no problem. i wouldn't use it though.