Sticky Macbook Pro Trackpad

Removing the battery will expose the back of the trackpad, but it won't enable you to get at the sticky residue where it matters. If your friend wants the use of his trackpad, he'll have to have the top case replaced.

I had the same problem - spilled OJ on my MBP during a flight. Sticky keyboard, sticky track pad.

I saw a great YouTube video on how to replace the keyboard, by a very nice girl named Rebecca from Small Dog Electronics. Here's the link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jUonF9OSvpA

Small Dog has good prices on keyboards and other parts. Keyboard was about $80.

If you decide to replace your keyboard, follow that video, it worked great for me. Here's some additional hints:

Keep track of what screws came from where, by using an egg carton. Label each egg compartment with a sharpie.

The flat ribbon cables for the backlight display and main keyboard are a little tricky. There's a "latch" that flips up on the connector. You'll need a magnifying glass to see it. (Try high-powered reading glasses, inexpensive at a discount store like Dollar General.) Then the ribbon itself slides out. There is no connector on the end of the ribbon, simply a flat ribbon. Also, there is glue on the bottom of the keyboard ribbon cable that makes it a little tricky.

The "black stick" that Rebecca mentions is a great help, but if you can't find one locally, you can make do with a plastic knife, or better yet, an old nylon toothbrush that's been filed to a tapered flat edge.

Here's my best hint: Get a 16 oz bottle of 70% isopropyl rubbing alcohol from any drug store or Wal-Mart. (Make sure it doesn't have Witchhazel or any green coloring or anything else in it, just 70% rubbing alcohol.) Then get a pistol-grip spray nozzle, and screw it into the alcohol bottle. You have just created one of the most useful tools I own.

I used the spray alcohol to spray under the trackpad button, which dissolved and washed away the sugary OJ residue, and now it works great! Do this with the battery removed (much safer that way, and you can also spray from the back ), with the MBP held above a sink to catch the alcohol drip. Also, be careful, as the alcohol is flammable - no smoking, and stay away from any possible ignition source.

Give it a few good sprays, then use paper towels to dry off as best you can, then a blow dryer to finish drying it.

I could have probably taken out the keyboard and cleaned it with the spray alcohol as well, but I had already bought a new one. (It works great, as you can tell from my typing.)

Since my OJ spill killed my warranty anyway, I had nothing to lose, and about 300 dollars to save.

Work carefully, and good luck!

Here is what you do. Be careful when you do it but it will work wonders.
1 remove the bottom cover
2 remove the battery
3 get a damp paper towel corner and clean up any sticky around the track pad
4 open the screen and lay it on your lap (so that the upper side of the track pad is exposed to your lap)
5 get a toothbrush and dip the tip gently in water
6 brush/drip the water all around the sides of the track pad (just in the moveable crevasses) you goal is not to get your computer or any wires wet, just down the sides of the trackpad, Don't forget the front middle crevasses.

This should dilute the substance after a few run throughs. Of course you know not to get anything wet, the water should just drip in your lap. Then of course dry up any water left on the outer case and inner case, check to make sure nothing will drip back inside when you flip it right side up. then put it all back together. Its not hard, works perfectly.