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914World.com _ 914World Garage _ OT: Coca-Cola on laptop keyboard

Posted by: Lawrence Nov 14 2004, 10:21 AM

This is not the first "idiot" thing I've done this weekend.

I dumped a coke on my keyboard this morning. I used many of Miles' favorite --Radio edit--s.

So.. I strip the thing down, pull the keyboard module, put it back together, and plug in an external keyboard I had stashed in the closet. The notebook works.

I wiped the keyboard itself down. Is there anything I can use to clean it, and the printed circuitry on the reverse side of the keyboard?

-Rusty

Posted by: Part Pricer Nov 14 2004, 10:25 AM

Cover any exposed edge connectors or other connectors.

Put it in the dishwasher with the keys facing down. Run it on the shortest cycle with NO SOAP.

Let dry. Reinstall.

Posted by: Lawrence Nov 14 2004, 10:29 AM

The dishwasher? Seriously?

I was thinking about some kind of spray electrical contact cleaner or something. The dishwasher won't destroy this piece? It appears to be mostly printed circutry in laminate plastic.

Posted by: SLITS Nov 14 2004, 10:33 AM

Douse it with UNcola - 7Up

Ok, so it's a smartass answer.

I like Paul's answer, but I would blow the keys clear with a can of air and then let it dry - the water in Manhattan is hard as flint the state is made of (Yeh, I grew up in Council Grove and seined minnows in the Republican River)

Well water anyway - ya gotta get the sugar out or the keys are gonna ssssssssssssssstttttttttttttttttiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiccccccckkkkkkkkk.

Posted by: seanery Nov 14 2004, 10:48 AM

clean water is key. Paul's method sounds interesting...might try it.

Posted by: Brando Nov 14 2004, 11:16 AM

There's the q-tip and alcohol method. Or just buy 2-3 bottles of alcohol and douse the thing thoroughly.

Posted by: mharrison Nov 14 2004, 11:39 AM

I've used the dishwasher method several times myself. Go for it. It works fine. Just don't let the dishwasher run the dry cycle and be sure to let it airdry a long time. When you think it is dry, shake it and wait another day.

-Matt

Posted by: GWN7 Nov 14 2004, 01:34 PM

Buy another keyboard...I did one in with cola....washed it and let it dry for a week. It never worked again.......

Posted by: smrz914 Nov 14 2004, 01:34 PM

If you really want to get into it take it appart. Get electrical cleaner and clean everything off. If you don't want to get electrical cleaner then use plain water. Clean all the pieces. Dry thoughly and put back together and you should be good to go. Don't use anything abrasive on the PCB (printed ciruit board) other stuff should be fine to use a brush. You can gently use your fingers on the PCB if needed. have fun.

Posted by: redshift Nov 14 2004, 01:40 PM

LM -radio edit- O!

You should use deionized water, it will drag all the nasty out of places you can't imagine.

You can completely submerge it in a shallow, hopefully plastic container, and then let it dry for days... maybe with a little help from a WARM hair dryer.

'Warm' is the op word... some dryers have a little hands-off kind of propping stand, those are handy for such mishaps, catastrophes, doo-doo uhohs, ect...

I was once in a band that lost a whole truck of gear into the Everglades, and only one amplifier never worked again.

M

Posted by: anthony Nov 14 2004, 01:59 PM

This is a laptop? With cheap pc desktop keyboards I've found that they fry instantly. Old keyboards used to be sealed so much better. I'd try the deionized water mentioned above and lots of drying time.

I'd also start searching ebay for a replacement keyboard. It's amazing how cheap laptop parts can be found there. I think you're lucky that the motherboard wasn't fried.

Posted by: Red-Beard Nov 14 2004, 05:24 PM

The "Pepsi" syndrome.

Who else remembers that ?

Posted by: bperry Nov 14 2004, 05:41 PM

Pepsi syndrome. Yep that's what I thought too.
That was a funny skit. We are showing our age.....
That was like 25 years ago on SNL.

For cleaning stuff, I like to use Isopropyl Alcohol. Its cheap,
it cleans things really well plus it combines with water and drys
very quickly and I haven't had it cause problems with rubber or
plastic like other types of cleaners.

--- bill