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How To Clean up Spills, Gunk and Sticks on Computer Keyboard

Posted by Jeff Hardy in Computer Peripherals                          Words in this Post: 352

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Getting rid of the Gunk

You need screwdrivers; a blow dryer, vacuum cleaner with a brush attachment, or canned air (available at a hardware or home improvement stores); a soft brush; and electrical contact cleaner. If you can’t find the cleaner at the store, go to a store that specializes in computer sales and parts. Now follow these steps:

1. Disconnect the cable from the computer to the keyboard.
2. Turn your keyboard upside down.
3. Unscrew the screws in the base. After they’re off, you’ll notice that there are two halves, the top with the keys and the bottom.
4. Pry the halves apart.
5. Lift up the top of the keyboard.
6. Shake and blowout any debris with a blow dryer, canned air, or vacuum cleaner attachment.
7. Remove residue and corrosion with the electrical contact cleaner.
8. Reassemble your keyboard.

If the keyboard is balky or won’t work after you clean it, just get a new keyboard . Luckily, it’s one of the less expensive computer components.

Mopping up spills:

Keyboards usually don’t sit flat on the desk, so anything spilled on the surface very likely won’t destroy the keyboard. But if you spill a drink directly into the keyboard, follow Steps 1 through 4 in the “Getting rid of the gunk” portion above to take the keyboard apart. Then mop up moisture with a soft cloth or sponge. The keyboard has to dry out before you use it again. You can wait 1 day or blow dry the two halves, using canned air, a vacuum cleaner attachment, or a hair dryer. Don’t use the hottest setting; low will work better.

Sugary spills do a lot of damage. The sugar coats the keys and in turn, that works like a magnet to attract dust. So even if the mopped-up keyboard works initially, it might not be long before you have to shop for a replacement. If you want to ensure you’ve gotten every bit of the sticky stuff off, you can take the covers off each key in turn to get at moisture that may have seeped inside. Use a small screwdriver to pry off the covers.

Buy brand new keyboards and other computer accessories at: Laptop and Desktop.com

Author: Jeff Hardy

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Tags: clean computer spills, clean keyboard gunk