Cleaning keyboards with isopropyl alcohol - Advice

[atlas3686]

Hi Guys,

So I have been looking for something good to clean my keyboards, read that isopropyl alcohol does the trick but also read some horror stories (mostly filcos) that have been destroyed by the stuff. I want to clean my Realforce and my HHKBs (board and caps). Is isopropyl safe for them? even the ABS spacebars?

This is the bottle of isopropyl alcohol I got, unfortunately the stuff is hard to find around here because apparently people use it to make some kind of drink... so this was the only bottle I could find and it doesn't have the alcohol content on it


Is there anything I should worry about? or any other cleaning products I might be able to find locally that would be safer overall?

Thanks.

[Oobly]

You can clean keyboard keycaps and cases with soap and water, no need for alcohol, especially since there is the risk of some of the plastics not handling it.

Just pull all the caps and use a toothbrush and some liquid detergent (like LDC or Cleen Green) in water. Worked really well for my Model M caps (PBT) and case (ABS).

If you really want to use the alcohol, use a tiny bit to test on the inside of a spacebar (preferably a spare one), normal cap and possibly the inside of the case if you're going that far.

[atlas3686]

I can get Cleen Green locally, so you think that would be a better option? and safe on all boards and plastics? I would like to clean the chassis itself too (especially on my white HHKB and white leopold numpad) should I just use a toothbrush and small amount of liquid (Cleen green and water)?

Apologies for the pedantic questions, but the last thing I want is to screw up my boards and any (even tiny) mark would drive me insane.

[Oobly]

Yup, a soft toothbrush and a bit of liquid soap will do. IIRC, I think I used Fairy liquid (dishwashing liquid), but I mentioned the other 2 brands 'cos I know they're easily available in SA. I guess Sunlight should work just as well.

It's easiest if you can take the whole board apart so you can soak / rinse the case in the water, but I suppose it's doable with just the keycaps off (I suspect it's a bit of a pain to take all the sliders out of a HHKB), but perhaps a bit awkward. I don't own a Topre baord, though, so perhaps someone else who has cleaned theirs can chip in... please?

For my Model M I stripped it down completely first.

[Psybin]

I keep Isopropyl around in a spray bottle and use it as a general cleaner for a lot of stuff around the house and in the garage. I’ve used it on keycaps and had no issue. It is important to note though that it comes in different levels of strength. I’ve never had an issue with 70%, but I’ve read that higher levels can harm paint and plastic. Use at your own risk.

[atlas3686]

Thanks Oobly appreciate the insight. How do you know the SA brands Got my girlfriend picking me up some cleen green now

I think I am gonna avoid using the isopropyl, don't have the strength so that worries me and it worries me that it damages certain plastics in general. So thanks for the warning Psybin.

[Psybin]

Yea if you don't know the strength its not worth using. Here in the states you can buy it at any store that sells over the counter drugs/bandages, that kind of stuff. There are three different types, 70%, 80%, and 90%. I remember posting something about cleaning sap off automotive paint with 70% and someone warned that 90% can cause paint damage. May or not be true but if it "could" damage paint I'm sure it would wreck plastic.

I use 70% on lots of stuff though, its great on glass and countertops and I use it doing automotive detailing to stripping waxes/sealants.

Having a couple sprayers around with 70% is a great pro-tip I picked up working on back shop equipment for the Air Force as it's good for cleaning electronic connectors and such as well.

[qwack]

I have used 70% alcohol from the drugstore to clean the caps of my Pure Pro ("UV-coated" ABS IIRC) with no problem. Alcohol is nowhere near as strong as acetone for instance, so it should not damage or discolor ABS, but it might affect coatings, so I second the suggestions above — try on a spare keycap, or on a side you can't see. With alcohol, using a simple piece of cloth is enough, brushing your keys with it may be too agressive.

[Evo_Spec]

Kinda unrelated but how high does the concentration need to be for cleaning solder flux off PCB's?

[Shanghaied]

Kinda unrelated but how high does the concentration need to be for cleaning solder flux off PCB's?

I had someone tell me one time that when they prototyped PCBs at work they would just run it through the dishwasher - corrosion is not much of a issue since the board is not powered and the cycle was short, and all the components are encased in resin anyway. You obviously have to make sure everything is totally dry before powering on. Probably terrible for the environment. Take it with a grain of salt and try it at your own peril. I've never dared.

[Psybin]

Kinda unrelated but how high does the concentration need to be for cleaning solder flux off PCB's?

For any soldering/electrical stuff we would use 70%. Granted this was pretty rugged equipment, I'd double check for smaller and more delicate circuit boards.

[chyros]

I've used reagent grade (>99%) IPA straight from the lab to clean keyboards quite a few times, never had an issue. Most plastics including ABS and PBT don't dissolve in alcohols, but some coatings or plasticisers might. If you want to be safe, especially with caps, soapy water does the trick very well too, and won't corrode at all. IPA is probably more efficient though. For the inside of switches and electrical contacts, organic solvents are superior to water for obvious reasons...

Kinda unrelated but how high does the concentration need to be for cleaning solder flux off PCB's?

What material is this? Probably doesn't matter what concentration though, it will either dissolve or it won't. If you're cleaning electrical contacts, I would avoid using water though.

[CPTBadAss]

I use 91% to clean flux. It's next to the 70% in the drug stores near me.

[chyros]

Oh, by the way, please note that IPA and ethanol (drinking alcohol) are NOT the same thing. Ethanol is a harsher cleaning agent with higher reactivity than IPA.

[fohat.digs]

Oh, by the way, please note that IPA and ethanol (drinking alcohol) are NOT the same thing. Ethanol is a harsher cleaning agent with higher reactivity than IPA.

You are wasting money and making a mess if you clean your keyboard with India Pale Ale.

[chyros]

Oh, by the way, please note that IPA and ethanol (drinking alcohol) are NOT the same thing. Ethanol is a harsher cleaning agent with higher reactivity than IPA.

You are wasting money and making a mess if you clean your keyboard with India Pale Ale.

Ale is warm, falt, undrinkably disgusting, used dishwater. It is not worth the honour of cleaning rubbish off my dirty keyboards -_- .

FML here in the UK .

[Chromako]

Isopropyl alcohol, (CH₃)₂CHOH, Isopropanol, 2-propanol, or for you chemists out there, IPA, shouldn't damage ABS, PBT, POM, Acrylic, Polyresin, or Polycarbonate, especially if used just for cleaning. Even 99%. There's no need to use the high purity ones for most cleaning purposes, though, as it'll just evaporate faster and make life more difficult for you.


However, it might do Bad Stuff (TM) to decals, pad printing, and that sort of thing. It really depends on what the manufacturer used, and as Ethyl and Isopropyl Alcohol are such common disinfectants, it'd be pretty unprofessional for the manufacturer to make keyboards that can be damaged by a wipedown with that stuff. Dye-sublimation, doubleshot, laser burned, or UV-cured acrylic printing shouldn't be affected.


Sometimes people get  Isopropyl Alcohol mixed up with Acetone, as both are sold in drugstores in similar looking bottles and smell funny. Acetone will do terrible things to many plastics.


Side note: Why would there be a concern that people would use Isopropyl alcohol in a drink? Are people that dumb? (apparently, yes). It's hella toxic if ingested and a very different substance (biologically speaking) from, say, the Ethyl Alcohol in Vodka.

[chyros]

There's no need to use the high purity ones for most cleaning purposes, though, as it'll just evaporate faster and make life more difficult for you.

I just use >99% because I can just take it from the lab, really . The fast evaporation can be a big advantage though, especially when cleaning the inside of switches. Solutions leave small amounts of water when evaporating so I'd definitely use it when cleaning insides of switches.

But I wouldn't recommend anyone else to go through the trouble of procuring this just for cleaning switches, really not necessary .

Side note: Why would there be a concern that people would use Isopropyl alcohol in a drink? Are people that dumb? (apparently, yes). It's hella toxic if ingested and a very different substance (biologically speaking) from, say, the Ethyl Alcohol in Vodka.

Yes, people are really dumb - some people drink flipping aftershave to get drunk, mate . It's certainly not hella toxic, though (though you certainly shouldn't drink it).

[hasu]

IPA is not safe for HHKB case at least. I don't know about keycaps.

I've used 99.9% IPA mainly to clean PCB after soldering. Also I sometime use it for other matrials and get bad results, HHKB case is one of them. I wiped inside of HHKB case(ABS) with Kimwipe wet with IPA and I found it changed texture slightly. Even worse, Kimwipe got black color in case of black HHKB.

IPA smells really bad, it makes me sick. If I have enough money I'll use ethanol definitely! (and good bier )

[atlas3686]

IPA is not safe for HHKB case at least. I don't know about keycaps.

I've used 99.9% IPA mainly to clean PCB after soldering. Also I sometime use it for other matrials and get bad results, HHKB case is one of them. I wiped inside of HHKB case(ABS) with Kimwipe wet with IPA and I found it changed texture slightly. Even worse, Kimwipe got black color in case of black HHKB.

IPA smells really bad, it makes me sick. If I have enough money I'll use ethanol definitely! (and good bier )

Thanks hasu, it's definitely not going near my HHKB now

[supersoul]

i use purple power. same stuff i use for cleaning my resin model kits.

[Oobly]

Thanks Oobly appreciate the insight. How do you know the SA brands Got my girlfriend picking me up some cleen green now

I think I am gonna avoid using the isopropyl, don't have the strength so that worries me and it worries me that it damages certain plastics in general. So thanks for the warning Psybin.

Grew up in Cape Town Miss the scenery, the weather and the people. Don't miss the crime or the bureaucracy, though.

Please post result pics if you're okay with that.

[Chromako]

IPA is not safe for HHKB case at least. I don't know about keycaps.

I've used 99.9% IPA mainly to clean PCB after soldering. Also I sometime use it for other matrials and get bad results, HHKB case is one of them. I wiped inside of HHKB case(ABS) with Kimwipe wet with IPA and I found it changed texture slightly. Even worse, Kimwipe got black color in case of black HHKB.

IPA smells really bad, it makes me sick. If I have enough money I'll use ethanol definitely! (and good bier )

Thanks hasu, it's definitely not going near my HHKB now

That's... bizarre. Isopropanol on its own shouldn't have any effect on ABS...


Hmmm... some of the stuff sold might be adulterated with impurities that are detrimental to some ABS formulations- I've heard rumors of Acetone being present in small amounts in disinfectant grade IPA, but I thought that it was just that- a rumor. I guess... check in an inconspicuous area first?  I'm definitely not going to argue with advice from Hasu.

[chyros]

IPA is not safe for HHKB case at least. I don't know about keycaps.

I've used 99.9% IPA mainly to clean PCB after soldering. Also I sometime use it for other matrials and get bad results, HHKB case is one of them. I wiped inside of HHKB case(ABS) with Kimwipe wet with IPA and I found it changed texture slightly. Even worse, Kimwipe got black color in case of black HHKB.

IPA smells really bad, it makes me sick. If I have enough money I'll use ethanol definitely! (and good bier )

Thanks hasu, it's definitely not going near my HHKB now

That's... bizarre. Isopropanol on its own shouldn't have any effect on ABS...


Hmmm... some of the stuff sold might be adulterated with impurities that are detrimental to some ABS formulations- I've heard rumors of Acetone being present in small amounts in disinfectant grade IPA, but I thought that it was just that- a rumor. I guess... check in an inconspicuous area first?  I'm definitely not going to argue with advice from Hasu.

Acetone is an oxidation product of IPA, so that's not impossible. IPA can form peroxides upon storage, so if you have a very old bottle you might get a smidgeon of acetone in it. Still shouldn't be noticeable, but it's not impossible. Again, if you want to be safe, just use soapy water .

[Evo_Spec]

How about ethanol or methanol?

[chyros]

How about ethanol or methanol?

Ethanol and methanol are much the same, except slightly more aggressive. Both dry out faster than IPA, especially methanol. Methanol is also toxic to a degree at which it's actually dangerous, so don't use it.

[Evo_Spec]

How about ethanol or methanol?

Ethanol and methanol are much the same, except slightly more aggressive. Both dry out faster than IPA, especially methanol. Methanol is also toxic to a degree at which it's actually dangerous, so don't use it.

Good to know thanks, i might use Ethanol because my local drug store only has IPA 50% which has been out of stock for a while.

[Chromako]

IPA is not safe for HHKB case at least. I don't know about keycaps.

I've used 99.9% IPA mainly to clean PCB after soldering. Also I sometime use it for other matrials and get bad results, HHKB case is one of them. I wiped inside of HHKB case(ABS) with Kimwipe wet with IPA and I found it changed texture slightly. Even worse, Kimwipe got black color in case of black HHKB.

IPA smells really bad, it makes me sick. If I have enough money I'll use ethanol definitely! (and good bier )

Thanks hasu, it's definitely not going near my HHKB now

That's... bizarre. Isopropanol on its own shouldn't have any effect on ABS...


Hmmm... some of the stuff sold might be adulterated with impurities that are detrimental to some ABS formulations- I've heard rumors of Acetone being present in small amounts in disinfectant grade IPA, but I thought that it was just that- a rumor. I guess... check in an inconspicuous area first?  I'm definitely not going to argue with advice from Hasu.

Acetone is an oxidation product of IPA, so that's not impossible. IPA can form peroxides upon storage, so if you have a very old bottle you might get a smidgeon of acetone in it. Still shouldn't be noticeable, but it's not impossible. Again, if you want to be safe, just use soapy water .

AHA! That sounds like a likely explanation for what's happening to some people. Who knows how long some bottles have been sitting in warehouses before we buy them, to then store in bathroom cabinets and be forgotten about?


Also- I learned something new today 

[berserkfan]

Isopropyl alcohol, (CH₃)₂CHOH, Isopropanol, 2-propanol, or for you chemists out there, IPA, shouldn't damage ABS, PBT, POM, Acrylic, Polyresin, or Polycarbonate, especially if used just for cleaning. Even 99%. There's no need to use the high purity ones for most cleaning purposes, though, as it'll just evaporate faster and make life more difficult for you.


However, it might do Bad Stuff (TM) to decals, pad printing, and that sort of thing. It really depends on what the manufacturer used, and as Ethyl and Isopropyl Alcohol are such common disinfectants, it'd be pretty unprofessional for the manufacturer to make keyboards that can be damaged by a wipedown with that stuff. Dye-sublimation, doubleshot, laser burned, or UV-cured acrylic printing shouldn't be affected.


Sometimes people get  Isopropyl Alcohol mixed up with Acetone, as both are sold in drugstores in similar looking bottles and smell funny. Acetone will do terrible things to many plastics.


Side note: Why would there be a concern that people would use Isopropyl alcohol in a drink? Are people that dumb? (apparently, yes). It's hella toxic if ingested and a very different substance (biologically speaking) from, say, the Ethyl Alcohol in Vodka.

I think you may be mixing up ethyl with isopropyl alcohol. Ethyl will kill your Filco keycaps.

[chyros]

Isopropyl alcohol, (CH₃)₂CHOH, Isopropanol, 2-propanol, or for you chemists out there, IPA, shouldn't damage ABS, PBT, POM, Acrylic, Polyresin, or Polycarbonate, especially if used just for cleaning. Even 99%. There's no need to use the high purity ones for most cleaning purposes, though, as it'll just evaporate faster and make life more difficult for you.


However, it might do Bad Stuff (TM) to decals, pad printing, and that sort of thing. It really depends on what the manufacturer used, and as Ethyl and Isopropyl Alcohol are such common disinfectants, it'd be pretty unprofessional for the manufacturer to make keyboards that can be damaged by a wipedown with that stuff. Dye-sublimation, doubleshot, laser burned, or UV-cured acrylic printing shouldn't be affected.


Sometimes people get  Isopropyl Alcohol mixed up with Acetone, as both are sold in drugstores in similar looking bottles and smell funny. Acetone will do terrible things to many plastics.


Side note: Why would there be a concern that people would use Isopropyl alcohol in a drink? Are people that dumb? (apparently, yes). It's hella toxic if ingested and a very different substance (biologically speaking) from, say, the Ethyl Alcohol in Vodka.

I think you may be mixing up ethyl with isopropyl alcohol. Ethyl will kill your Filco keycaps.

What are those caps made out of?

[o0002]

I'm sure someone's going to probably find a major problem with this, but I managed to clean some really stubborn stains that wouldn't come off of the board when it was soaked in soapy water (and vinegar) by using deodorant (obviously containing alcohol) and cotton wool. Worked a peach and didn't have to buy anything. I know this is really unscientific but if it's safe enough to use on your skin then surely it's OK to spray on plastic (unless there's a specific reaction involved-which doesn't seem to be the case so far).

[atlas3686]

So had a little cleaning session with my white boards, cleen green and water + tooth brush.

My numpad wasn't too bad: here is before

More

 

and after

More

Forgot to take a before of the HHKB but it was pretty grimy, here it is after it's clean

More

[chyros]

Looks good! Question though; is that dirt on the keyboard, or actual yellowing? I'd be a bit surprised if you had yellowing that was that localised Oo .

[atlas3686]

It was just dirt, I use them both at work, so they get a lot of use.