Bleeching keys (IBM model M)

[mcc]

HI,

I want to clean the keycaps of my IBM model M more deeper,
since it seems, that not only humans but also the time has left
some stain on it.

I will use bleeching stuff called "Vanish" (not knowing whether
this is commonly known) which contains Sodium percarbonate
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodium_percarbonate), which in
turns bleeches with oxygene.

I read, that the top black "printing" (actually it is not just printed)
of the keycaps will be rather unimpressed of such doing...but
some keycaps of my board also have a green printing  (ALT left/right)
and a grey additonal printing (numblock) on top and a green printing
on the front (Print Screen Key) which says "SysReq".

Are these labelings also save, when bleeching the keys with Sodium
percarbonate?

Thank you very much for any help in advance!
Have a nice sunday!
Best regards,
mcc

[fohat.digs]

My experience with bleach and plastics has not always been good. Before going to bleach, some people like denture cleaning tablets.

I have been using a moderately strong solution of powdered laundry detergent, plus about 1/4 of that volume of washing soda, plus 1/4 or less of "Biz" or "Oxi-Clean" (secret formula of enzymes, sodium percarbonate, sodium carbonate, sodium silicate, plus other secret ingredients - I am not a chemist) which for a set of keys is about 2 teaspoons of detergent and about 1/2 teaspoon each of the other 2, in a gallon or less of hot water.  

A one hour soak has never failed to make them immaculate for me. I guess you are in England, so I do not know what comparable products are called over there.

[mcc]

Hi Harry,

thanks for your reply !

"Oxi-Clean" is chemically comparable to "Vanish" as far as I know.
It bleaches stuff with oxygen (hence the name). The rest of the
chemicals you use makes the solution highly alkaline (protect
your eyes! One dash of your solution into your eyes...and your
will see...oh wait...no longer  see, what that means...) and
lowers the surface tension of the  solution.

Denture cleaning tablets do also bleach with oxygen -- see the bubbles
they will produce when put into water.

If all these solutions (in the double sense of these words do not harm
keys at all...the question reamins, wheter these grey and green printing
on my keycaps technically fall into the same category of labeling production
as the normal black labeling and are therefore as save as the black
labeled keys....?!?

Best regards,
mcc

[mcc]

Hi Ripster,

sorry, but because I have no spare boards for just trying it...if it fails,
I will be out of luck.

By the wav (referring to the link you gave):

Water + strong UV-light gives oxygene radicals and hydrogen peroxide,
which in turns are very strong bleaching agents...

You may whitening keyboards by simply putting water on their surface (and prevent
drying out by adding glycerine) and rest is done by the UV-light. Protect the eyes because
the retina of the eyes may be effected by the high intensity and energy of that kind of
light -- you woul tunr away your head from that light it would be visible but of the same
energy. AND the water at the eyes surface may react to hydrogen peroxide and oxygen
radicals for the same reasons while bleaching the eyes surface as done with the surface of
keyboards...simple eye protection by CLEAR kind of glass/transparent plastic may NOT
enough! I cannot repeat this often enough. One has only two eye balls and loosing one
is loosing one too much...
You have been warned! ;-|

By the way: People used to bleach cloth in the past by putting wet cloth on the  lawn
and let the heavy sunligh (better the UV part of it) of the noon do the rest.

Radicals may attack the plastic as well....

It seems chemistry and physics are also an important part of the keyboard science as well, aren't they?

Best regards,
mcc

[mcc]

...you will me send a equivalent replacement key cap if it fails for free, ripster?

By the way: The search for the Higgs Boson has been deferred by another experiment
which may be a revolution to contemporary physics:
http://www.heise.de/newsticker/meldung/CERN-erlaeutert-das-Neutrino-Experiment-1349436.html
http://cdsweb.cern.ch/record/1384486
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_type=videos&search_query=neutrino+faster+than+light&search_sort=video_date_uploaded&suggested_categories=28%2C25%2C24&uni=3

There is more science than just keyboard science. But keycaps dont use not travel faster than light..... ))

By the way: This neutrino experiment is NOT as just all the other "faster than light" thingies which popps up from time to time
from the esoteric areas of the internet. It has been repeated 15000 times with the same result. And the CERN has waited over
a year before carefully make public what they have found.

[insilica]

In my subforum we are always trying to free the radicals.

Plus, the dude knows a thing or two about UV.
(Attachment Link) 27272[/ATTACH]

Why don't you just try one key?   Scientists don't go around smashing every atom looking for the Higgs Boson.  They just use a few.

hmmm.... I cheekily ponder to myself .... is that a grow light? perhaps for some green cherry  :flypig:

staying on topic - if you use bleach make sure you dilute it i.e. to 1 part bleach add 20 parts water

Edit: Use bleach in a very well ventilated area, nasty stuff

[popol]

I remember a worldwide american popstar that knew a bunch about bleeching but the results was not really convincing and a bit risky.