How do you fight the crumbs under the keys >?

[PLAfiller]

I damaged a key recently due to crumbs under it and I couldn't successfully remove it from the laptop. So what do you do to brush off the crumbs under the keys ?

I 've seen the mini USB -> Useless. I tried make up brush > not really helping. The gel, I've never tried, neither I have an especially cut sponges for keys. So far regular vacuum cleaner has done the job for me, but it can't go under the keys of the laptop apparently.

 

[HumanSmoke]

To clean the actual keys on membrane keyboards (non removable keys) I use a toothbrush and mild detergent. To clean under the keys I use a 4" fine natural bristled house painting brush (don't laugh) that has no other use, and my monitor cleaning solution ( 75% isopropyl alcohol, 25% distilled water). For my laptops I keep food and drink well away from them.

 

[manofthem]

Very rarely do I eat at my pc, unless it's a LAN party I do drink here all the time, and the only time I've spilled was when I was holding my baby girl; she knocked over a bit of my hibiscus tea. Thankfully it didn't damage anything, but I did remove the keys and dry it out.

 

[95Viper]

I do different things for different stuff.

I use a regular vacuum, canned air, brushes, flip & shake, and, if needed, take apart.
Also, no eating in computer room.


You might wanna have the option to select more than one choice in the poll. Just an opinion.

 

[PLAfiller]

More than one choice added.
People you are slamming me down . I eat in front of the monitor on a regular basis. I expected others do so as well

 

[truth teller]

take kb apart, remove internals, leave it soaking a bit, if it is very dirty wash with a large brush, dish soap and a hose outside, otherwise put it in the dishwasher
then let it dry out in the sun for a coupe of hours, or if you are in a hurry rinse it good with 95% alcohol, it will help in removing the remaining water droplets quicker, then reassemble once everything is nice and dry
its mostly cookie and bread crumbs, and sometimes some eyelashes, anyway

 

[MIRTAZAPINE]

Depend on the style of the keyboard. I find my logitech k120 rather clean and I have nothing stuff in it. Again I don't eat near my keyboard(its a health hazard from the bacteria content) and I keep things that can get stuck away. Prevention is usually the best way. For desktop I don't clean them lol. Unless it is too oily from my sweats and I just wipe it with a micro fibre clothe soak in alcohol

Chiclet style keyboards in recent notebooks are easier to clean and less things getting stuck as the gap is bigger unlike the traditional keyboards or the "flat island keys". For laptop if something get stuck you can get a plastic spudger and slowly pry one key out. It is easy to break a key and I don't recommend it unless a key is causing trouble.

 

[rooivalk]

Just smack it to anything, works for me.
http://www.funnyjunk.com/funny_gifs/2471168/Keyboard

 

[AsRock]

If a membrane type i just turn them over and shake haha, how ever do that with a mech keyboard you probably be in a world of pain as the crap can land in the switch. So with a mech i remove all keys \ turn upside down and clean with some tlc.

 

[PLAfiller]

To clean the actual keys on membrane keyboards (non removable keys) I use a toothbrush and mild detergent. To clean under the keys I use a 4" fine natural bristled house painting brush (don't laugh) that has no other use, and my monitor cleaning solution ( 75% isopropyl alcohol, 25% distilled water).

I have a set of unused children's painting brushes, I'd give this a shot. Thank you for the idea. (thumbs up)

And may be the plastic tool @MIRTAZAPINE suggested, but that would require a small purchase.

 

[Frick]

I usually take the entire keyboard apart from time to time and wash the entire thing.

 

[MIRTAZAPINE]

How to remove stuck keys.

Prepare your plastic spudger. This spudger usually comes with small screw driver kit. Their use to pry thing apart and they do get worn down. Those that want a spudger that last long should get the metal ones. Their stronger but their not as soft as plastic and can cause scratches. This is mine it is green. It cost a few cents. You can get a pack from ebay. I do this example on my laptop keyboard. the chiclet style.



Next select the key that you want to pry out.

Insert the spudger slowly and gently under a key. Do NOT use force as this can risk breaking the clips. What you want the spudger to do it to get the plastic key clip to detach from the scissors mechanism.


If you are successful the key would pop out with a click. This would be reveal. The scissors mechanism, the membrane key and the plastic key you taken out.




Remove what ever debris stuck there with a brush.

 

[CAPSLOCKSTUCK]

Something else..............nothing.


My k/b is-----IBM KB 7993

its really old and i love it, i have tons of others but it is the only one i use.

I have never taken it apart to clean it.

I smoke and eat at my desk.

About a month ago a former friend of mine, now called "Twat" tipped water all over it, the resulting effluent was coffee coloured and very unpleaseant.

My language was equally foul, i stuffed a little bit of toilet paper in to act as a wick, left it alongside our coal fire and 2 days later plugged it back in.

i am using it now..........even after more than 20 years of badger fingering it doesnt even smell.

 

[RejZoR]

Dishwasher

 

[AsRock]

Dishwasher

Not all are trust worthy, better safe than sorry and not do that.

 

[AlienIsGOD]

I just don't eat at my pc, makes things risky specially if you drink near it.... I've had a close call before and learned my lesson

 

[PLAfiller]

Something else..............nothing.


My k/b is-----IBM KB 7993

View attachment 70110

View attachment 70111

its really old and i love it, i have tons of others but it is the only one i use.

I have never taken it apart to clean it.

I smoke and eat at my desk.

About a month ago a former friend of mine, now called "Twat" tipped water all over it, the resulting effluent was coffee coloured and very unpleaseant.

My language was equally foul, i stuffed a little bit of toilet paper in to act as a wick, left it alongside our coal fire and 2 days later plugged it back in.

i am using it now..........even after more than 20 years of badger fingering it doesnt even smell.

This is why the cyborgs in Animatrix/ Ghost in the shell were killing people. They just wanted us to stop treating robots as disposable and neglect their maintenance.

You sir are not entitled to a personal cyborg.

Dishwasher

Ahahaha, apparently you have a washable one

 

[CAPSLOCKSTUCK]

This is why the cyborgs in Animatrix/ Ghost in the shell were killing people. They just wanted us to stop treating robots as disposable and neglect their maintenance.

You sir are not entitled to a personal cyborg.

OK,
unless he is tiny with a little mop and bucket to get inside the k/b he probably wouldnt be of much use to me anyway

 

[Toothless]

Use strange sticky substances to pull all the grime out.

 

[SnakeDoctor]

Had one of these usb vacuum cleaners , thought was a piece of junk
but over a year later tested it again , actually works quite well especially for that left over dust that cant ever get out the pc case on corner
Should suck up dusk in laptop keyboard , if loose and not caked in

Pic from OP

 

[NdMk2o1o]

It's not normally crumbs with me but tobacco bits Normally a warm damp cloth with my KB upside down and rub it over all of the keys quite forcefully gets most of the crap out and cleans the keys up nice, I'm not anal enough to worry about the crap thats left over after that.

Edit: This was my Razor Lycosa that I had for a couple of years up until a drunken night a month or so ago when I tipped a whole glass of vodka and coke over it (missing the top of my tower by centimetres...) and proceeded to kick the shit out of it when it failed to work right after that just so it was truly dead before I flung it out

 

[P4-630]

I never eat/drink something above my keyboard, I just use a small cloth to wipe the dust from the keyboard every day.

 

[MilkyWay]

What model laptop? Cant recommend what to do as don't know what type of keys the laptop uses or its construction. If it was a mech keyboard for a regular desktop id say take the keycaps off which is easy enough and just use a vacuum attachment or a thick paint brush to knock the shit out and tip it onto a surface.

My key caps fade so i paint on isopropyl one i can't see the lettering but the best way to clean key caps is washing machine powder (detergent) in a bowl in some mildly warm water.

 

[FordGT90Concept]

I use a really fine flat head screwdriver (probably only 1 mm wide) and I drag in between the rows of keys from right to left and then up at the end. After I do that, I tilt the keyboard to the left and break up any crumbs stuck in there and scrap/fling it all into the garbage.

 

[PLAfiller]

What model laptop? Cant recommend what to do as don't know what type of keys the laptop uses or its construction. If it was a mech keyboard for a regular desktop id say take the keycaps off which is easy enough and just use a vacuum attachment or a thick paint brush to knock the shit out and tip it onto a surface.

My key caps fade so i paint on isopropyl one i can't see the lettering but the best way to clean key caps is washing machine powder (detergent) in a bowl in some mildly warm water.

It was more of a general question. But to answer: the laptop/ keyboard I am referring to is Lenovo E540 with AccuType keyboard.

 

[P4-630]

years ago when I had a PC with wireless keyboard I spilled a bowl of cornflakes with milk on my keyboard, I took out the keys and all other parts, washed it with mild detergent and warm water, then I let it to dry in the sun on my balcony, which did not took long since I was living in Bangkok at the time.

Another time (years ago) I spilled my drink on my netbook, it turned off instantly, the whole keyboard was sticky and a mess, took the battry out and I tried to get the keys off but that was a no go, since the parts under the keys would break. I cleaned the keys with window cleaner and left it to dry for a day on a radiator heater at that time. Popped in the battery the next day and luckily it started again although the keys are still sticky underneath and the touchpad does not work well so a mouse is needed to use it.

Since then I never eat/drink near my keyboards anymore.