The Keyboard Crumbs...RESULT

So i have a beautiful iMac G5, a lovely mouse and a keyboard which is covered in crumbs. For those of you that followed my last post on how to get out dirt, i said id do a test of differnet cleaning methods.

I got a Apple Keyboard (from the attic) and did some cleaning tests.

1. The Jockey. Get a piece of thick paper or thin card and simply slide it between the white plastic and the clear plastic. Shove all the dirt along. BUT it gathers up and becomes hard and impossible to move.

2. The Needle. Take a needle...yes a needle...and lift out the dirt. Kinda like a see-saw. BUT press to hard and the white plastic begins to scratch

3. The Key Removal. Pretty self explanatory. Take of the keys, and use a baby lotion/ pampers/ any kind of wet wipe to remove dust. Then dry around with a piece of thick tissue. Better doing it in sections, so keys dont get mixed. BEST METHOD.

4. The Keyboard Vac. One of them cheap vacs from PC World to get out dust. AWFUL. The keyboards have some sort of lubricant under the keys to reduce friction. The bristles from the brush just get stuck to it, and create more mess.

5. The Dishwasher. YUP. Read my other topic about 'all the crumbs'. A funny topic in which a man put his in the dishwasher. So i left it until last, and gave it a go. IT WORKS. Ive been using it fine for several hours now, without problems. Id reccommend no detergant as the chemicals will react with the copper components. But water cleans away ALL dirt that was left from the other tests. It worked once, but i would not reccommend this multipal times. Defenatly not for an expensive wireless keyboard like Apples.

So there you have it. My 5 tests carried out, and the best was in the dishwasher. Hey...''Think Different'' and all that. lol. My best recommendation is the removal of keys.

I hope this was helpful to all you gutys with an iMac and a grubby keyboard. Post back with what method helped you. **Vote Possitve so i can become a mod this year** hehehe

*nathan

Posted on May 8, 2005 1:41 PM

Reply
56 replies

May 27, 2005 9:42 AM in response to Berthos Too

Berthos...maybe i will.
I may also get some of those things that go in my plug socket, to avoid shocks. I may then get some nice foam pads on my doors...we dont want collisions now do we.
Then even a giant bubble, to make sure me and ipod are nice and safe.

Hey...s**t happens dude. lol.

Does anybody have any other shiny Apples that have gone rotten due to accidents...so i dont look the fool.

*nathan

Jun 30, 2005 9:37 AM in response to ---nathan---

I use to work the Hewlett Packard help desk (please don't think lesser of me). And when clients would ask the best way to clean the keyboard, we would say compressed air, and then the Dishwasher. They would say: You're kidding right?

And we would immediately say: nope. 🙂

Just don't do it more then a few times. But that was definitely a valid cleaning solution.

Jun 30, 2005 2:09 PM in response to ---nathan---

Hi Berthos, I tried to get the layout as you said (just incase when I remove the keys with the plastic thing , I forget where they go) but when I went to system pref etc I didn't get a new menu appear in my memu bar.

Also wanted to say thank you to Jim (earlier question) As new user to this site having a bit of trouble finding my way around.
So far have been impressed with speed of answer

Jun 30, 2005 3:53 PM in response to iJay

He's right Nando.

I was the one behind the magnetic imac, the hollow imac, and the yellow imac.

You know like you have them mothers who dont work as they look after their kids? Well im one of those dudes that dont work becuase he looks after his kids...i call them iMac, iPod, and meet the new guys....dashboard and spotlight. Im also expecting a new born at christmas. I may call him PowerBook 15" or PowerBook 17"...

*nathan

Jun 30, 2005 7:45 PM in response to ---nathan---

Hello :.nathan.:,

783 posts since January? Over 100 a month? The question about a Job becomes serious.

But back to the topic;
In my previous pc life(so called), I experimented with keyboard cleaning as well. Sort of like an unintended hobby while being distracted and/or bored at work. My results are not as scientific as yours, but I'd like to add my report on the following methmethodst Do Not Work:
1. Pepsi or Coke liquids.
2. Water, both tap and bottled French kind.
3. Coffee, both decaf and regular.
4. Tea (see above, including herb)
and virtually every other liquid.

Your dishwashing methmethod never attempted, but now that you've introduced it, I've got a spare keyboard that I will put in the machine tonight. I assume that you don't use the heated dry-part of the cycle?
Hope my contribution to the topic will add to the volume of research on the topic.
Cheers,
Bill Gallagher
(from the Colonies)

Jul 1, 2005 9:19 AM in response to Nando RJ

Well you see Nando, its not only crumbs. Hair, dust and basic grime get in there.

As for the issue of my job. An average of 3 posts a day, aint to many.
Imagine if i has a job of posting.

Also, the key remover is not totally needed to remove keys. On the Wireless Apple Keyboard they simply pop off by pulling them
NOTE: remove keys from side first, eg take off the return key, then forward slash, then apostrophe. And for heavens sake click on my link (or the others) above to get a picture of the keyboard.

*nathan

Jul 18, 2005 4:09 PM in response to ---nathan---

I live out in the country in a 200 year old house.I had a night where hundreds of these little black bugs invaded my room.I slept on the couch it was so bad.Yep,you got it.They're carcasses are in my nice white Apple wireless keyboard.Not all of them but enough to bug me.No pun intended.I'm looking for an allen wrench small enough to remove the clear back.Then there'll be enough room to clean under the keys without removing them.At least I think so.

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The Keyboard Crumbs...RESULT

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