Tell Me How to Get Coffee Out of My Keyboard

**Burns** · 06-28-2007 03:16 PM

yeah, so I spilled a half cup coffee on my keyboard the other day (

) and I poured most of it out when it happened, and then took canned air to it to try to dry it out, and wiped it down and everything... but now my spacebar is a little sticky and slow.

Is there a safe way to take a keyboard apart to clean under the keys or am I just screwed?

**Snooze** · 06-28-2007 03:19 PM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxHEqyhWlGY

oh edit: there are plenty more keyboard cleaning videos on youtube if that doesnt help

**NeAvO** · 06-28-2007 03:22 PM

I saw "Tell me how to get coffe..." and I knew the rest :p

Try asking James, I'm sure he'll know. Otherwise do that?

**Burns** · 06-28-2007 03:27 PM

Thanks for the link.

hmm, that seems like kind an old keyboard in that video though... I don't know if the keys on mine are supposed to come off?

I was hoping I could just take the back of it off and clean under the keys that way or something. I'll look through the other YouTube vids. Thanks again

**Burns** · 06-28-2007 03:28 PM

Originally Posted by NeAvO

I saw "Tell me how to get coffe..." and I knew the rest :p

Try asking James, I'm sure he'll know. Otherwise do that?

haah

yeah, remember what I told you he would say when I told him? He was that and worse. I don't want to ask his help

**NeAvO** · 06-28-2007 03:29 PM

Originally Posted by Burns

haah

yeah, remember what I told you he would say when I told him? He was that and worse. I don't want to ask his help

You silly clutz :p

**Burns** · 06-28-2007 03:29 PM

**Man of Shred** · 06-28-2007 03:52 PM

that happened to me once. i just bought a new keyboard.

**wasup** · 06-29-2007 03:11 AM

Hmm burnz I think that pretty much all keyboards can have their keys taken off. Try taking off a useless key first (such as like, the windows key or "home" or something) to test, if you are still worried about it.

**Burns** · 06-29-2007 03:50 AM

Originally Posted by ataraxis

Hmm burnz I think that pretty much all keyboards can have their keys taken off. Try taking off a useless key first (such as like, the windows key or "home" or something) to test, if you are still worried about it.

Good idea, next time I'm feeling brave, I'll try that. I could probably just live with the space bar being kinda slow, but you know me, the perfectionist. Ah well, I just the sticky space bar gives it character, right?

**wasup** · 06-29-2007 04:09 AM

show me a pic of the keyboard and i can tell you if its (probably) detachable. And furthermore, it would make sense for the buttons to be able to come off, right? Not for convenience, but honestly, would the manufactuars really want to make a keyboard with already intact buttons. They make the keyboard base and button separately, and then attach them. But yeah, especially if the button feels wiggly, it is meant to come off....

**Burns** · 06-29-2007 04:44 AM

keyboard

So what do you reckon?

**.:Rob:.** · 06-29-2007 07:36 PM

I once split a bowl of cheerios on my keyboard and I basically pulled the keys off and soaked them in hot water. They were sort of OK when I put them back on. The J, the M and the B are a little weird though. I have to press down as hard as I can on those keys. If the keyboard sustained as much damage as mine did after the keyboard incident you may just need a new keyboard.

**Amethyst Star** · 06-30-2007 01:00 AM

You can likely take the keys off of that keyboard. Also, you can soak it in warm water (not sure if you should add soap... you probably don't have to) and wipe it off. Just make sure it's really dry before you plug it back in. Keyboards are quite resilient.

Sometimes you can put a keyboard in the dishwasher, but I'm a little hesitant about that.... I know about a lady who tried that and then complained to tech support that her computer wasn't working. It turned out that she had put her whole laptop into the dishwasher. Smart people!

**Howie** · 06-30-2007 02:18 AM

Some keyboards are actually washing machine safe. No shitting. They are the more pricey ones.
That would certainly work. But I would be apprehensive myself.

I do know I would buy ten new keyboards before I would give up coffee.

oops. Missed that Ame

Sometimes you can put a keyboard in the dishwasher, but I'm a little hesitant about that.... I know about a lady who tried that and then complained to tech support that her computer wasn't working. It turned out that she had put her whole laptop into the dishwasher. Smart people!

__________________

**Burns** · 06-30-2007 03:27 AM

Originally Posted by Amethyst Star

I know about a lady who tried that and then complained to tech support that her computer wasn't working. It turned out that she had put her whole laptop into the dishwasher. Smart people!

Haha!

I've heard that water isn't necessarily bad for electronics, but you have to make sure it is COMPLETELY dry before sending the electricity through it. It's the water and electricity that doesn't mix, not the electronics and water.

Anyhoo, I think I'll just try gently popping off the key and see how it goes.
Thanks for the help and I totally agree about buying a new keyboard before giving up

**Howie** · 06-30-2007 03:49 AM

AWESOME

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**skysaw** · 06-30-2007 03:59 AM

Oops... I'm in the wrong thread. I thought this was "Tell me How to Get a Keyboard Out of My Coffee."

**Burns** · 06-30-2007 04:01 AM

Originally Posted by skysaw

Oops... I'm in the wrong thread. I thought this was "Tell me How to Get a Keyboard Out of My Coffee."

heh that would be one huge cup

**Moonbeam** · 06-30-2007 04:10 AM

I do that all the time at work and the keys eventually start working right again.

**skysaw** · 06-30-2007 04:28 AM

Originally Posted by Burns

heh that would be one huge cup

It's coffee. What other size would it be?

**wasup** · 06-30-2007 07:40 PM

I'd try taking a key off, Burns. And yeah, just try a key you never use. I mean, I don't think the home key even does anything.

**Burns** · 07-01-2007 02:57 AM

Thankfully the space bar is back to normal for the time being. But yeah, the home key would be a good choice, because now that I think back, I can't think of a single reason I've ever pressed that key.