The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    Keyboard cleaning

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by etcetera, Feb 21, 2008.

  1. etcetera

    etcetera Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    52
    Messages:
    604
    Likes Received:
    166
    Trophy Points:
    56
    My keyboard is a year old and it has a lot of dust inside and crumbs.

    I tried an air duster and found it marginal if not useless. I don't think it removes anything, just shuffles the stuff that's already there from place to place.

    What's semi-effective is removing one key at a time and removing the dust and crumbs trapped underneath with a mildy wet cloth. But it's tedious, time consuming and there is a danger of breaking the keys on Dell E1705, the plastic bracket they seat on are kind of fragile.

    Maybe the solution is to remove the keyboard and shake it upside down? I found that solution is very effective for desktop keyboards, it's amazing how much stuff falls out, especially if you do it first time in 2 years.

    Can this shaking be done without keyboard removal?
     
  2. flipfire

    flipfire Moderately Boss

    Reputations:
    6,156
    Messages:
    11,214
    Likes Received:
    68
    Trophy Points:
    466
    The upside down shaking thing is what i usually do for my external keyboards.. Get compressed air, flip it upside down and pump it with pressurised air. Watch all the crap pop out

    For laptops, depending which one you have. If you can remove th keyboard module then there wouldnt be much of an issue. Look at your Service manual and learn how to remove it properly.

    Removing keys one by one might not be a good idea as some keyboards have keys that arent removable and it would be time consuming
     
  3. powerpack

    powerpack Notebook Prophet

    Reputations:
    7,101
    Messages:
    5,757
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    I would agree dust buster not effective you can't create any kind of seal to get suction where you need. A can of compressed air has the power to dislodge crumbs and such. Turning upside down, sure but the keys are hollow and will catch crumbs like a bucket. And I do not recommend disconnecting individual keys I would sooner disconnect the entire keyboard to clean.
     
  4. bmwrob

    bmwrob Notebook Virtuoso

    Reputations:
    4,591
    Messages:
    2,128
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    Agreed, and would also suggest not dropping crumbs into your keyboard. lol

    Recently, I was in an office and on the walls where the clerks and typists worked were signs saying, to please, eat, drink and snack as you wish, but keep food and drinks away from the DAMN computers! :D
     
  5. etcetera

    etcetera Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    52
    Messages:
    604
    Likes Received:
    166
    Trophy Points:
    56
    Any links on how to remove the keyboard on Dell E1705?
     
  6. pilda

    pilda Newbie

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    2
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    Hello :)

    i need help with my keyboard on Compaq NX7300. Don't know how to clean it. It was spilled by some sweet drink :( any tips pls ?
     
  7. pilda

    pilda Newbie

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    2
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
  8. sgogeta4

    sgogeta4 Notebook Nobel Laureate

    Reputations:
    2,389
    Messages:
    10,552
    Likes Received:
    7
    Trophy Points:
    456