Best way to clean a filthy keyboard

Jamesyboyjim

Jamesyboyjim

Jamesyboyjim

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Hi all, I've been given a pretty decent Razor mechanical keyboard as mine recently broke and this was going spare, really generous except the keyboard is filthy, the old owner spends pretty much all his time on the computer so I expect all his meals were eaten at his desk, the keys all have a layer of something around them, no idea what!

Just dirt and grease build up I guess, I'd like to attempt to give it a good clean but just trying to figure out if there was some kind of 'secret' easy way of doing this, how do you guys clean your keyboards or is simply purchasing a packet of Dettol wipes / bottle of spray and scrubbing around every key the unfortunate answer. I'm by no means a clean freak but this really needs doing! :D
 
Pop all the keycaps off and stick them in a net bag and throw them in the washing machine/dishwasher?
 
tom_e said:
Pop all the keycaps off and stick them in a net bag and throw them in the washing machine/dishwasher?
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I had no idea the keys popped off (never owned a mech. keyboard before) perhaps I'll take the keys off and get the marigolds out! :D

I hope its just food on them... :eek:
 
i use isopropyl alcohol and a micro fibre cloth on my keyboard and mouse
but in this case i would suggest taking all the keys off and clean each key with disinfectant
i would not recommend tom's idea of putting them in the washing machine or dishwasher.. that would most likely damage the keys with all the banging about they would do

and if the top of the keys are that bad, its only going to be worse underneath them
 
Vargas said:
Aren't keyboard and mice supposed to be dirty lol
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haha yes but there are limits!

tonight I scratched the surface as it were and removed the alphabet, top numbers and F keys, so much hair underneath and pretty much an entire large Domino's pizza base which had gone soggy and sticky, gave it a quick go with the hoover which got most of it and gave the keyboard a wipe with some dettol, turns out it's a shiny keyboard, it was matt black before, wish I took some pictures, I'll have a proper go at it this weekend.

All this to save myself one hundred quid, its gotta be worth it to spare me from using the Logitech k120 keyboard I got from Tesco to tide me over!

Thanks for the suggestions so far! been really helpful!!!
 
Remove keycaps.
Use compressed air & a brush to remove large chuncks of dust, and then use things like CyberClean to remove the tiny ones.
Lastly use IPA to wipe down the keycaps and the plate, and there you have a brand new keyboard :)
 
Denture tablets are good for cleaning keys once they are off, put them in a bowl with some and add lukewarm water, rinse and repeat until all the funk is gone.
 
There's a lot of information here on the mech keeb subreddit, which is where i got the denture idea from. That should cover all your questions.

I got mine in tesco, think they were about a quid or something. The minty smell doesn't last for long so don't be put off by that :P
 
akaFonzie said:
There's a lot of information here on the mech keeb subreddit, which is where i got the denture idea from. That should cover all your questions.

I got mine in tesco, think they were about a quid or something. The minty smell doesn't last for long so don't be put off by that :p
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haha thanks, I'll have a read!

Denture tablets purchased, indeed they were a quid, I was a bit concerned by the 'mint fresh' flavour so I hope you're right about the smell not lasting long :p
 
good result, looks new again!

i dont know how anyone can let their keyboard get that dirty... nevermind using it in that state
 
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