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Author Topic: Keyboard cleaning tools  (Read 2538 times)

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Offline charliexjustice

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Keyboard cleaning tools
« on: Sun, 19 April 2015, 01:42:57 »
Hi, my keyboard just fell on the floor and some of they keys fell out, it looks really dirty under here. I own a Leopold tenkeyless with mx cherry browns, y'all helped me pick it out about 4-5 years ago (wow time flies) and its been great for both gaming and writing! I'm wondering if there is some specific toolset yall recommend for cleaning these things as they seem tricky and I don't want to mess up my glorious board in some way. Or maybe there are youtube videos you guys recommend? I looked around and found an abundance of info, but I trust the wisdom of geekhack to steer me in the right direction.

Thanks!
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Offline rowdy

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Re: Keyboard cleaning tools
« Reply #1 on: Sun, 19 April 2015, 22:31:23 »
Techkeys used to have a nice keyboard brush - works well.

Some have used compressed air.

A stiff paint brush might be of some use.
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"Because keyboards are accessories to PC makers, they focus on minimizing the manufacturing costs. But that’s incorrect. It’s in HHKB’s slogan, but when America’s cowboys were in the middle of a trip and their horse died, they would leave the horse there. But even if they were in the middle of a desert, they would take their saddle with them. The horse was a consumable good, but the saddle was an interface that their bodies had gotten used to. In the same vein, PCs are consumable goods, while keyboards are important interfaces." - Eiiti Wada

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Offline Macsmasher

  • Posts: 462
  • Location: Portland, OR
Re: Keyboard cleaning tools
« Reply #2 on: Mon, 20 April 2015, 03:34:02 »
I have this datavac...

http://www.amazon.com/Metro-Vacuum-MDV-1BA-DataVac-Computer/dp/B00006IAOR/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1429518680&sr=8-3&keywords=datavac

I primarily bought it to clean out my computers and printers, but it works great for keyboards too. And a keyboard roof will help to keep the crap out as well.
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Offline Shroomster

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  • Location: Finland
Re: Keyboard cleaning tools
« Reply #3 on: Tue, 21 April 2015, 04:40:24 »
I personally use alcohol and Q-tips. Works well :P
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Offline azhdar

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Re: Keyboard cleaning tools
« Reply #4 on: Tue, 21 April 2015, 04:43:03 »
I use datavac aswell, not the one linked in this thread though.
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Azerty Propagandiste

Offline Skechup

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  • Location: London, United Kingdom
Re: Keyboard cleaning tools
« Reply #5 on: Tue, 21 April 2015, 11:57:19 »
I bought some surgical spirit from Boots and just wiped my keyboard with that. It took the grime off the keyboard with a little effort but not that much and REALLY cleaned it. It was also pretty cheap, around a fiver I think but it could be an issue because the surgical spirit contains a little water.

I tested it on my Dell L100.
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Offline charliexjustice

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Re: Keyboard cleaning tools
« Reply #6 on: Wed, 22 April 2015, 23:34:27 »
Thank you all very much for your replies! I have been crazy busy, but will look into all of these options! I guess I'm just looking mostly for tools to get the key caps off? Should I take all the caps off, or clean them one by one, or what?
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Offline azhdar

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Re: Keyboard cleaning tools
« Reply #7 on: Thu, 23 April 2015, 01:33:20 »
Quote from: charliexjustice on Wed, 22 April 2015, 23:34:27
Thank you all very much for your replies! I have been crazy busy, but will look into all of these options! I guess I'm just looking mostly for tools to get the key caps off? Should I take all the caps off, or clean them one by one, or what?
To remove keycaps you can find keycaps puller for like 2$ but check the box the keyboard came with there should be one in there.
To clean keycaps, I usually use warm water with dish soap and 2-3 dentures tabs in a bucket, let them rinse. And then inspect them individually to finish cleaning with a sponge.
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Azerty Propagandiste

Offline Skechup

  • Posts: 32
  • Location: London, United Kingdom
Re: Keyboard cleaning tools
« Reply #8 on: Fri, 24 April 2015, 10:56:49 »
I take a picture first just in case and then take ALL of the key caps out. I let the key caps sit in surgical spirit for a minute and then transfer the key caps into warm water. While I let the key caps sit, I dab surgical spirit into a cloth and begin wiping the keyboard until there is no visible dirt/grime. When I feel ready, I take the key caps out of the water and wipe off the excess dirt/grime. I then put the key caps back onto the keyboard using my picture as a reference when I need it.

You can always use a flatbed screwdriver to take the key caps off if you want a easy way to take them off.
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