Comments on: HOW-TO: Cleaning the Apple Keyboard

By: Egypt Urnash

Egypt Urnash — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 18:06:47 +0000

Hey, thanks for this - the wash-in-a-bag method worked great. I used dish soap and skipped your shower-head step; I just emptied out the bag and put more water in to rinse.

By: Equinox of Insanity — Easy Way to Clean an Apple Keyboard

Equinox of Insanity — Easy Way to Clean an Apple Keyboard — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 23:19:39 +0000

[...] to be no obvious way to really clean the keys. With Apple’s older keyboards you could easily pop off the keys, clean them with soap and water, and then pop them back on once they’re all nice and dry. The new, “low-profile” keys, however, don’t [...]

By: Suzanne

Suzanne — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 17:11:19 +0000

Never mind… figured it out. On a note to those with the same problem:
The solid horizontal part of the tension wire clips into the KEY and the two short horizontal pieces go UNDER the white brackets on the keyboard base, thus creating and maintaining the even tension along the key. So much for taking note to how it looked when I disassembled it…

By: Suzanne

Suzanne — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 16:56:16 +0000

Cleaned the keyboard…looks great.
Now those keys with those metal attachment clips do not work properly. They are attached to the keys, via those little brackets, but they seem to not sit away from the key,against the keyboard, allowing for even pressure. The keys do work when hit dead-center. Any ideas?

By: Life in the Geek Lane » Cleaning keyboard

Life in the Geek Lane » Cleaning keyboard — Mon, 12 May 2008 07:57:02 +0000

[...] http://theminiblog.co.uk/archives/2006/11/16/how-to-cleaning-the-apple-keyboard/ [...]

By: Κίνδυνος για την υγεία τα βρώμικα πληκτρολόγια

Κίνδυνος για την υγεία τα βρώμικα πληκτρολόγια — Sat, 03 May 2008 11:37:14 +0000

[...] How to: Cleaning the Apple keyboard [...]

By: Ian

Ian — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 23:38:48 +0000

Thanks for that article!

By: solisflos

solisflos — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 14:43:15 +0000

This was a a great tutorial. My keyboard is like new. thank you so much!

By: links for 2008-03-07 « squarechick

links for 2008-03-07 « squarechick — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 11:31:06 +0000

[...] the mini Blog » HOW-TO: Cleaning the Apple Keyboard (tags: apple keyboard mac) [...]

By: Jenna

Jenna — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 05:50:02 +0000

I think you are very sweet to have done this. It’s a little bit of angel geekiness. Thanks

By: Victor

Victor — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 02:34:36 +0000

thanks man,
i’m writing on my brand new white keyboard!

i’m in southamerica, i bought this keyboard for 60 bucks.

thanks

By: Super Dave Osbourne

Super Dave Osbourne — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 21:16:26 +0000

I have been using, cleaning and reselling used components in the IT field since about 1982. The basic principle of a keyboard has not changed regarding the majority of what is out there, qwerty and push, contact devices. Keycaps are pretty much all the same (with some exceptions noted by notebook owners, of which I’m one). Pop off keys with flathead screwdriver, or in my case a trusty leatherman flathead/standard driver. Soak in bowl of lightly soapy (suds don’t matter) warm yet not scalding water for 3-5 mins. Take base of keyboard, hold upside down and brush off with dish brush even natural haired paintbrush. Spray lightly with windex or other ’solvent’ while board is upside down. Wipe down. Brush lightly keycaps that have been soaking, rinse in strainer. Blow out capstem (you’ll get dizzy doing this, but make the kids giggle) and reassemble. Should take about 15 mins or 20 on 2-3 time around. First time I think I took 30 if I can remember back in the day when the Apple ][ was the deal. Its all been the same all this time, and no my time is not worth 100 per hour. If it is, you may be best to donate your keyboard to a local charity or round file it, and buy a new one. One piece of advice is, find a keyboard you LOVE, that feels good, and that is productive for you. I have 10 computers, and one keyboard, using VNC to interact with them all. The KVM or VNC makes it possible for you to uniformly get at your computers and enjoy it. 90% of your time with a computer input is via keyboard. Much like a bed is worth 1000s for a proper fitting, so is a keyboard worth 100s. Keeping it clean is just part of the ritual I have to make sure I’m effective in my daily computer. Even if 0.01% efficiency is lost due to crud, back key motion or flow, over time that adds up to be much more than the cost of a good multi hundred dollar keyboard.

By: CcK

CcK — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 19:47:16 +0000

Thanks for your howto
The keys feel very strong, the keyboard quality justifies the price i think
Now I’m another proud user of a freshly cleaned apple keyboard It definitely looks better
Now let’s eat some pizza will coding to make all that really dirt again

By: The Abarentos Narrative » links for 2008-02-05

The Abarentos Narrative » links for 2008-02-05 — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 22:39:31 +0000

[...] the mini Blog » HOW-TO: Cleaning the Apple Keyboard (tags: apple keyboard howto clean diy cleaning) [...]

By: Scott

Scott — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 20:46:06 +0000

Just cleaned my Apple Bluetooth Wireless Keyboard. I found that a paint can opener, (loop and stem style) had just the right curvature to gently remove the keys without marring the plastic. Much easier on the fingers, while applying less torque to the keys. Removing the “attachment clip” keys was easier than described. A gentle pry up in the center, under the front edge removes even the spacebar without twisting and potentially damaging the clip or the key.

In Mark Landers comment, the Keyboard Viewer is a shortcut to a reference photo of your keyboard. For laptops users with a wireless or extra USB keyboard, this doesn’t work, as the Viewer only shows the layout of the onboard laptop keyboard.

Be careful to mark which clip goes with each key. I don’t remember which one now, there are two similar keys with different size clips. The smaller clip was on the larger key. Mixing them up could affect proper function.

By: EH Blog | Como dejar tu teclado apple como nuevo (o casi)

EH Blog | Como dejar tu teclado apple como nuevo (o casi) — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 18:49:20 +0000

[...] Así que me di a la tarea de limpiarlo a fondo, y recordé que hace un tiempo había visto este post de como hacerlo, entonces les dejo el procedimiento “traducido” y adaptado a mi manera. [...]

By: ok computer

ok computer — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 00:01:11 +0000

ho, asi era, que facil que boludo como no lo hice antes, gracias

By: Heather S

Heather S — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 00:27:08 +0000

Thanks for this step-by-step… My dirty keyboard has been annoying me for some time!

By: halcyonhalogen

halcyonhalogen — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 18:43:46 +0000

Mmm, yeah - great blog. I’m going to try it at my daughter’s place. she got a replacement keyboard but it’s not so good as the Apple one.

I like the tip about using sticky tape to clean the Mighty Mouse scroll ball. Try that too.

Ain’t life a wonderful thing!

By: Clarke Douglas

Clarke Douglas — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 01:16:05 +0000

Amazing!
This is a great blog site! I just completed the cleaning of my wireless keyboard, it was easy, and simple. I even took the time to oil the brackets!
THANK YOU!