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Level 1

12 points

Macbook keyboard not working after cleaning?

Hey all!

Earlier I cleaned my Macbook keyboard with a wet wipe, brushed over the keys (pressing them down whilst doing so). Firstly when I went to go back to using my MacBook the trackpad at first decided to use right click only functions, after a bit I managed to get this working fully again. However the keyboard did nothing but work a bit but the keys not doing the functions they were assigned to do. So I rebooted and tried to login but couldn't because the keyboard wasn't functioning resulting in me having to get a USB keyboard to sign in. For a while the caps lock light worked, but now has completely died and doesn't work even when pressed on the USB keyboard. The keyboard is still active as occasionally when I go to try and use it for example a key that doesn't actually control the brightness ends up controlling the brightness?

I've run diagnostic checks and it's all been passed. Absolutely no idea what's going on? If I have to reinstall Lion i'm more than happy to do so but i'd rather not if I don't have to?

Perhaps I damaged the keyboard itself when going through all the keys pressing them down? Although it's pretty unlikely the liquid from a wet wipe could get in right? Any help would seriously be appreciated!

Macbook

Posted on Apr 20, 2012 3:17 PM

19 replies

Aug 5, 2016 1:43 AM in response to K Shaffer

I have a Mac aluminium keyboard and, after cleaning with a anti-bacterial wipe, half the keys didn't work and I was getting the iiuiiiiiiiidddddddddddddddiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii.................... treatment. So, I wacked it in the oven for 15 minutes at 50 degrees. Pulled the thing out and found that now neither of the keys worked. Undeterred, I put it back in at around 35 degrees and left it in for the hour, then switched the oven off and left it in there for the rest of the day and overnight. Woke up next morning with a sense of positiveness, a great night's sleep was had and morning sunshine was beaming in through my windows. Switched my Mac on, took the keyboard out of the oven, plugged it in and, hey presto, a fully working keyboard 🙂

PS Cooking temperatures and timing may vary, I was using a fan-assisted oven. Other, more conventional ovens may require more time.

Oct 15, 2016 3:48 PM in response to JoshH93

I had the same issue and I resolved it by pouring an entire bottle of alcohol isopropyl over it (the 90% alcohol) keeping it leaned on one of the sides so the excess alcohol to come off then dried it by putting it upside down on top of a space heater at a very low temperature (I live in Chicago so I did not have a lot of sun heat) . I tried it again after 3 hours. At first it still did not work but after a minute or so of typing it started working fully again.

Good luck!

gderanan

Level 1

4 points

Sep 6, 2017 11:56 AM in response to FrankyEight

Are the temperatures you listed celsius or Fahrenheit?

hoodun12

Level 1

8 points

Nov 4, 2017 12:07 PM in response to Anndoheb

I'm on my 8th keyboard... these keyboards are complete crap. They die easily and are unrepairable.

Macbook keyboard not working after cleaning?