I have a keyboard that became very dirty with the years. Its (originally) white color and clear case made the dirt very apparent.
So I wanted to give the dishwasher a try, and without taking each key apart -- patience has its limits!
It worked great for me, and just requires some caution.
In any case, please use your common sense; do it at your own risk; in case of doubt, don't do it. (Well, you're on instructables.com)
So I wanted to give the dishwasher a try, and without taking each key apart -- patience has its limits!
It worked great for me, and just requires some caution.
- If possible, take the case apart. This will help the dirt, then the water, go away.
- Allow to dry completely. It will take days. Failing to do it may cause shorts and harm your keyboard and your computer!
- Wash at mild temperature.
In any case, please use your common sense; do it at your own risk; in case of doubt, don't do it. (Well, you're on instructables.com)
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Depending on your model, use the appropriate screwdrivers.
I needed a TX5 (small hex) and a PH0 (small Phillips), from my warranty voiding kit.
And important: You need a second keyboard, to be used while the first one is drying (it takes days!). Otherwise, the temptation to use the still wet one may be too high.
Optionally an USB hub is useful to lower the risk of harming your computer when testing the keyboard at the end of the process.
I needed a TX5 (small hex) and a PH0 (small Phillips), from my warranty voiding kit.
And important: You need a second keyboard, to be used while the first one is drying (it takes days!). Otherwise, the temptation to use the still wet one may be too high.
Optionally an USB hub is useful to lower the risk of harming your computer when testing the keyboard at the end of the process.
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Sunshiine
I had a colleague having the Thinkgeek t-shirt (instead of the skills) but I prefer to have the kit! ;-)
And, well, yeah, it's a good idea to let it dry off completely, I let mine sit unused for a weed to dry. BUT---
In reality it would probably work just fine wet. The keyboard works with low voltage, so there would be no danger to the user. And since the last cycle in the dishwasher is the rinse, any residual water would have a very low conductivity and the electrical operation of the keyboard would not be effected.
But don't pay attention to me and let the thing dry real well. Just because.
Keep it in a warm place, like outside in the sun or in your car that sitting in the sun for 2 days or more.
Dry it out completely.
It may help to take the back cover off so water can evaporate.
After all the water evaporates it should be ok.
1/ Never get your LCD wet. I was lucky that my Android LCD was well sealed. Water kills LCD screens.
2/ As soon as you discover that you have wetted some electronics, remove power or battery. I once saw a motherboard mostly etched away by power on a board wetted with alkaline water.
3/ Do not wash electronics without taking it apart so you can see what you are wetting. Dry by hand, hair dryer (cautiously) before re-assembly. Make sure everything is completely dry before applying power.
So don't wash it with the battery.
If you dry an electronic circuit do not apply a lot of heat since electronic chips could be destroyed easily with higher heat.
350 F is way to high a temperature about 120 F or 140 would had been ok for about 2 days. Usually everything higher than 150-160 F could destroy chips.
On a serious note, I have dropped a phone in a sink before, and by removing the battery, drying it out disassembled for a couple fo days, it worked fine. The only thing that was never quite the same was a smear on the screen in a spot which I couldn't get behind to wipe.
In the oven, the files may shrink; you can correct them with 7zip or similar.
After repeating the process too often, the files may crack. All you can do then, is sell them on a warez site...
I don't remember, but aephix found one on Amazon.