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Author Topic: Cleaning my Model M  (Read 1878 times)

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Offline Aseral

  • Thread Starter
  • Posts: 29
Cleaning my Model M
« on: Sat, 18 August 2012, 03:59:42 »
Hello everyone!

So it's been almost a year since I got my Model M from clickykeyboards and I'v been using it full time ever since. I think it's finally time to do a full clean up to keep it nice and shiny but I'm not sure how.
Are there specific cleaning materials I must acquire and is there a "most efficient way" to do it? I searched around a bit but couldn't find anything.

Thanks in advance!
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Offline KeyboardRookie

  • Posts: 28
  • Location: Ohio, US
Re: Cleaning my Model M
« Reply #1 on: Sat, 18 August 2012, 04:34:58 »
I heard some chemical reaction helps to remove the tanning of the plastic.
I hope the guru out there will help this guy out.
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Offline 486

  • Posts: 134
Re: Cleaning my Model M
« Reply #2 on: Sat, 18 August 2012, 05:21:22 »
Try using denture cleaning tabs for the keycaps and stems and use a handheld blower e.g. Datavac, to blow out the crud.
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Offline N8N

  • Posts: 795
Re: Cleaning my Model M
« Reply #3 on: Sat, 18 August 2012, 13:53:00 »
retrobrite is usually not necessary on a M; the keycaps and case don't seem to yellow nearly as badly as they do on other boards.  just pull 'em off and do the denture tab thing.  I've run the cases through the dishwasher after disassembly before.  Usually I don't have to go farther than that.  Which reminds me, I should dig out the M that was acting up on me a while back and see if it's really dead or if it was the PS/2 to USB converter that was messing up on me.
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Filco Majestouch-2 with Cherry Corp. doubleshot keys - Leopold Tenkeyless Tactile Force with Wyse doubleshots - Silicon Graphics 9500900 - WASD V1 - IBM Model M 52G9658 - Noppoo Choc Pro with Cherry lasered PBT keycaps - Wyse 900866-01 - Cherry G80-8200LPBUS/07 - Dell AT101W - several Cherry G81s (future doubleshot donors) (order of current preference) (dang I have too many keyboards, I really only need two)

Offline 1391401

  • Posts: 436
  • MX CLEAR
Re: Cleaning my Model M
« Reply #4 on: Sat, 18 August 2012, 14:26:01 »
When I cleaned mine I removed all the keycaps (mine had two piece keycaps so I only removed the top part), cleaned out all the crumbs and other grimey crap, and washed the body and keycaps with a dilute solution of water and simple green soap.  Seemed to work pretty well.
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Offline dwm

  • Posts: 1
  • Location: Michigan
Re: Cleaning my Model M
« Reply #5 on: Sun, 19 August 2012, 02:15:26 »
I pop the keycaps off and put them all in a plastic colander.  I then spray the heck out of them with Windex, toss for a bit, spray again, rinse and repeat as necessary.  I've been doing this for 20 years on some of my original Model M's and never had a problem.  Two of them have probably seen at least 6 large coffees and numerous Coca Cola spills (not splashes, dousings!) and they still work fine.  With the keycaps out, I clean the inside with Q-tips and Windex or rubbing alcohol.  If I have to take it apart, I just use rubbing alcohol.

To dry the keycaps quickly, I put them in the microwave on 45 second cycles.  The water evaporates but the keycaps are unaffected.  Make sure you remove the metal stabilizers from the few keys that have them, of course.

Photo of me doing this 2 years ago when I spilled almost an entire Starbuck's venti mocha on my keyboard:


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Offline Aseral

  • Thread Starter
  • Posts: 29
Re: Cleaning my Model M
« Reply #6 on: Sun, 19 August 2012, 04:43:23 »
Thanks for the replies everyone! I think I got a good idea on how to proceed now.
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Offline dorkvader

  • Posts: 6289
  • Location: Boston area
  • all about the "hack" in "geekhack"
Re: Cleaning my Model M
« Reply #7 on: Sun, 19 August 2012, 10:16:34 »
Quote from: KeyboardRookie on Sat, 18 August 2012, 04:34:58
I heard some chemical reaction helps to remove the tanning of the plastic.
I hope the guru out there will help this guy out.
You're probably referring to the "retr0brite" process. That's probably not needed here (for reasons posted above, and because the keyboard isn't really old enough to have yellowed even if it were prone to that). Nevertheless, it's useful to use on any yellowed plastics.

I've had to clean some IBM 'boards in the past. I'm too lazy to co out, find a dollar store, and buy denture tablets, so I just used soap and warm water. I put the keycaps in a pot, and stirred everytime I went past for about a day. Then, I pulled them off, and dried each one. Any dirt just came off during this process.

If it's easy for you to get denture tablets, etc. You might want to try that, though.
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