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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: Eugene94 on Wed, 12 July 2017, 22:40:12

Title: Safest concentration of Isopropyl alcohol to use for keyboard cleaning
Post by: Eugene94 on Wed, 12 July 2017, 22:40:12
I did some research on keyboard cleaning and came to the conclusion that Isopropyl alcohol to best for doing this. But there are many different concentrations of this stuff. What is the safest percentage of Isopropyl alcohol to use? (I currently have a 50% and 70%)
Title: Re: Safest concentration of Isopropyl alcohol to use for keyboard cleaning
Post by: tp4tissue on Wed, 12 July 2017, 22:49:29
slightly dampen paper towel with 50% is the safest.

just buy the 99% and add water.

99% itself sometimes can mess with the finish, or whatever other chemicals they've used on the board.
Title: Re: Safest concentration of Isopropyl alcohol to use for keyboard cleaning
Post by: Eugene94 on Thu, 13 July 2017, 00:23:43
slightly dampen paper towel with 50% is the safest.

just buy the 99% and add water.

99% itself sometimes can mess with the finish, or whatever other chemicals they've used on the board.

What about the 70%?
Title: Re: Safest concentration of Isopropyl alcohol to use for keyboard cleaning
Post by: tp4tissue on Thu, 13 July 2017, 00:34:29
slightly dampen paper towel with 50% is the safest.

just buy the 99% and add water.

99% itself sometimes can mess with the finish, or whatever other chemicals they've used on the board.

What about the 70%?

same thing just add water.. until you hit 50
Title: Re: Safest concentration of Isopropyl alcohol to use for keyboard cleaning
Post by: klennkellon on Thu, 13 July 2017, 01:04:02
Vinegar
Title: Re: Safest concentration of Isopropyl alcohol to use for keyboard cleaning
Post by: chyros on Thu, 13 July 2017, 01:27:38
I use technical grade IPA from the lab (99.7%) and I've never had any problems.
Title: Re: Safest concentration of Isopropyl alcohol to use for keyboard cleaning
Post by: Joey Quinn on Thu, 13 July 2017, 01:29:03
I use technical grade IPA from the lab (99.7%) and I've never had any problems.

Same here, I use 99% and I've never had any problems
Title: Re: Safest concentration of Isopropyl alcohol to use for keyboard cleaning
Post by: tp4tissue on Thu, 13 July 2017, 07:51:19
I use technical grade IPA from the lab (99.7%) and I've never had any problems.

it depends on the finish.


for example, coolermaster had that rubber coating before,  if you use 99% on that too often, it will strip it.
Title: Re: Safest concentration of Isopropyl alcohol to use for keyboard cleaning
Post by: ygor on Thu, 13 July 2017, 08:12:55
Stripping a finish with 99% is a lesson you (hopefully) only need to learn once.
Title: Re: Safest concentration of Isopropyl alcohol to use for keyboard cleaning
Post by: chyros on Thu, 13 July 2017, 10:38:46
I use technical grade IPA from the lab (99.7%) and I've never had any problems.

it depends on the finish.


for example, coolermaster had that rubber coating before,  if you use 99% on that too often, it will strip it.
Heh, that might explain it. Don't have a lot of keyboards with rubber finish :p .
Title: Re: Safest concentration of Isopropyl alcohol to use for keyboard cleaning
Post by: Merranza on Thu, 13 July 2017, 22:19:44
slightly dampen paper towel with 50% is the safest.

just buy the 99% and add water.

99% itself sometimes can mess with the finish, or whatever other chemicals they've used on the board.

What about the 70%?

Go with the 99%. The 70% and %50 are actually lighter in alcohol because they add other components to the formula so it is less abrasive for the skin (read the ingredients on the bottle).

Now I don't have any proof that the extra component would be harmful to the keyboard but I wouldn't take any chance.

I've always cleaned all my electronics with diluted 99% (including monitor and tv panels) and never had any problem.
Title: Re: Safest concentration of Isopropyl alcohol to use for keyboard cleaning
Post by: ideus on Thu, 13 July 2017, 22:22:46
I have used 70% AL wipes and they work wonders on my OG Cherry sets.
Title: Re: Safest concentration of Isopropyl alcohol to use for keyboard cleaning
Post by: chyros on Fri, 14 July 2017, 01:05:55
slightly dampen paper towel with 50% is the safest.

just buy the 99% and add water.

99% itself sometimes can mess with the finish, or whatever other chemicals they've used on the board.

What about the 70%?

Go with the 99%. The 70% and %50 are actually lighter in alcohol because they add other components to the formula so it is less abrasive for the skin (read the ingredients on the bottle).

Now I don't have any proof that the extra component would be harmful to the keyboard but I wouldn't take any chance.

I've always cleaned all my electronics with diluted 99% (including monitor and tv panels) and never had any problem.
That sounds bad, actually. Would you want to smear all that crap on your electronics? Oo
Title: Re: Safest concentration of Isopropyl alcohol to use for keyboard cleaning
Post by: jcoffin1981 on Fri, 14 July 2017, 19:38:34
90 to 99 percent is good to treat the pcb.  Using on keyboard caps and case it is better to use soap and water, 70 percent isopropyl, or my favorite- windex without ammonia.  This is very mild and works.  If you spilled chilly on it however it's best to use soap and warm water.
Title: Re: Safest concentration of Isopropyl alcohol to use for keyboard cleaning
Post by: Elahya on Mon, 25 January 2021, 15:29:35
IPA should work. If I remember well at our office we have always our keyboards cleaner every week. I work as a programmer in a mid-size firm. So the fir hired a professional cleaning company specialized in IT offices (http://"https://www.totalclean.co.uk") . First time hearing about stuff like that. But the most amazing part was when I came in the next day. My keyboard was like new without crumbs, hairs, and coffee. I smelled it just to understand how they did that. I've sensed some citrus aroma. Couldn't figure it out but for sure I have to ask the cleaning guy.