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geekhack Community => Keyboard Keycaps => Topic started by: Mrupton on Wed, 12 November 2014, 08:55:25

Title: White pbt key caps - Getting dirty quickly?
Post by: Mrupton on Wed, 12 November 2014, 08:55:25
Any tips for keeping white pbt caps nice and clean? :)
Title: Re: White pbt key caps - Getting dirty quickly?
Post by: ConscienceDrop on Wed, 12 November 2014, 08:58:59
wash your hands and dont eat food then use your keyboard before washing your hands.

Title: Re: White pbt key caps - Getting dirty quickly?
Post by: divito on Wed, 12 November 2014, 09:00:31
For prevention:

- Use a dust cover.
- Wash hands / keep baby wipes on hand for your hands before use.

If they get dirty/are dirty, putting them in soapy water and/or denture cleaner. Anything stubborn can be aided with a small brush/toothbrush.
Title: Re: White pbt key caps - Getting dirty quickly?
Post by: inanis on Wed, 12 November 2014, 09:09:18
I type on white PBT caps on my daily driver, and have for over 2 months now, they are Ducky Engraved PBT caps. They look as good as when I pulled them out of the box brand new. I've seen this concern a lot - that white caps will get dirty easily, but I'm not sure how that would really happen. I mean, even if they did get something on them, just wipe it off. They hold up pretty well from my experience.
Title: Re: White pbt key caps - Getting dirty quickly?
Post by: Puddsy on Thu, 13 November 2014, 11:16:24
My darker keycaps get dirtier than my lighter ones.
Title: Re: White pbt key caps - Getting dirty quickly?
Post by: HamsterDog on Thu, 13 November 2014, 12:53:10
I use white PBT caps on both my home KB and my work KB, and both boards never really look dirty. I'm also pretty obsessive about not typing before washing hands after I've eaten or otherwise get my hands grimy. The rare times I have felt the need to clean the caps, I just use rubbing alcohol and a paper towel and rub them down.

I also have a board with black PBTs that I no longer use, but the keys looked so dirty, all the time, even mere months after cleaning. I liken it to black and white cars...I've owned both of those, too, and it's so much harder to notice dirt on a white car.
Title: Re: White pbt key caps - Getting dirty quickly?
Post by: rowdy on Thu, 13 November 2014, 14:49:06
My whiter than white KeyCool PBTs didn't get dirty at all, at least not that I'd noticed.

I live in a very dusty area, and keep all keyboards covered when not in use.
Title: Re: White pbt key caps - Getting dirty quickly?
Post by: GenKaan on Fri, 14 November 2014, 04:22:37
Part of my work keyboard uses blank white PBT caps and they dont get dirty even after months and months of use, clean it twice a year and they keep looknig fresh.

My tips would to clean your damn hands, dont eat stuff in front of the computer and have a cloth to wipe down after use.
Title: Re: White pbt key caps - Getting dirty quickly?
Post by: dashing_girlboy on Sun, 16 November 2014, 01:35:49
If you have sweaty palms (fingers), it might be hard to avoid making the caps dirty. Perhaps a hot water bath with denture cleaning tabs every few months (3-6 months?) will keep them white and clean.
Title: Re: White pbt key caps - Getting dirty quickly?
Post by: Puddsy on Sun, 16 November 2014, 12:37:51
If you have sweaty palms (fingers), it might be hard to avoid making the caps dirty. Perhaps a hot water bath with denture cleaning tabs every few months (3-6 months?) will keep them white and clean.

I have sweaty hands and this isn't really a problem for me.

Then again, I use a different keyboard every 3 months or so now.
Title: Re: White pbt key caps - Getting dirty quickly?
Post by: z_weenie on Sun, 16 November 2014, 17:28:32
I have somewhat sweaty hands/fingers, I usually wash my hands before I start typing and have had no problems with the white color so far.
Title: Re: White pbt key caps - Getting dirty quickly?
Post by: Tiramisuu on Sun, 16 November 2014, 18:28:35
Hygiene.  :thumb: