Re: Dirty IIc keyboard

["Mark Cummings" <NOTfigjams@primus.com.au>]

what Michael says with the keycaps, but I would NOT recommend soaking the
switches in water, although distilled may be OK, I have never tried it. I
have however used tap water preiously and totally ruined the keyboard.

Instead what I have done successfully several times before is:
1. remove all keycaps. An IC removal tool is handy for this.
2. remove the keyboard assy from the rest of the machine.
3. use a damp cloth with mild detergent in warm water to wipe around the
keyboard assy to remove the bulk of the mess.
4. work out which switches are sticking, and for those switches only...
    a. try to drench them in isopropyl alcohol with a soft brush (I suppose
rubbing alcohol is similar).
    b. use an air compressor with light air pressure (<20psi) to dry out the
switches. until all the alcohol has evaporated.
    c. if the switch is still sticky repeat the process. A tissue may help
dry up most of the alcohol initially.
5. re-assemble the keyboard, starting with all the ones that have a wire, as
they are the hardest to reassemble and it's easier if you have more room.

Mark


>If the sticky stuff got inside the key switches, then your idea is not
>far off.  Unless there is oil in the goo (check to see if the external part
>cleans completely with water, for example), you should omit the
>detergent.  Just use distilled water, soaking the keyboard (only, not
>the computer!) for about an hour, then draining it and rinsing lightly,
>then repeat--for four or five iterations.  Then let it dry for a couple of
>weeks in a dry, warm place (don't heat it, or bad things may happen).
>
>If the residue is sugar-based, this should clean it pretty well, and
>the long drying time should ensure that it is completely dry before
>trying it in the computer again.
>
>
>-michael