How can you clean under a laptop's mousepad & keyboard?

Butch Cassidy

Underneath my keyboard is manky. There's all sorts of grime and dirt and what I think is dead skin.

Save for taking all of the keys off is there some kind of cleaning method for laptop keyboards?

ED E

Airbrush or Hoover, although some claim hoovers create too muck static.

If disassemble the top of the body the keyboard is usually on a single plate thats easy enough to clean up with a strong bristled brush.

Oh_Noes

Lethal_Bullet wrote: »

Airbrush or Hoover, although some claim hoovers create too muck static.

If disassemble the top of the body the keyboard is usually on a single plate thats easy enough to clean up with a strong bristled brush.

You can buy these cans of aerosol "air dusters" specifically for cleanign keyboards, but they're like €10 a can. Someone pointed out to me the other day that I should have just grabbed a bicycle pump.

Butch Cassidy

Are there any laptops designed with a keyboard that isn't open to the elements and thus gathers dust and dead skin?

Voodu Child

Butch Cassidy wrote: »

Are there any laptops designed with a keyboard that isn't open to the elements and thus gathers dust and dead skin?

So-called 'chiclet' keyboards.

The keys arent raised up on stalks with gaps around them (like a normal keyboard); instead they pop up out of holes in the surround similar to keys on mobile phones etc.

See the current Macbook keyboards for example. Many laptops have them nowadays.

ricman

you could use a brush dipped in a very small amount of vcr cleaning fliud ,it drys ,evaporates ,clean and then wipe the keyboard with a soft cloth.vcr cleaning kit 2 euro, or use the glass cleaning kit ,wipes from boots 4 euro approx ,contains about ten wipes.
have laptop switched off ,obviously when cleaning, power plug plugged out.
and you can use a small vacuum nozzle to pick up the dust first.

subway

most laptop keyboards are designed like a drip tray to prevent crap getting into the internal components.
replacement keyboards are usually somewhere between 15 and 25 euros online (iirc)
it might be cheaper and less hassle to just replace the keyboard if its particulalrly bad.

evilmonkee

Much the same as everyone has said air dusters , removing the whole keyboard/buy a new one (the last two will void any warranty).

Also if you get a new stiff paint brush hold the laptop on its side and give it a good scrub it'll get a fair bit of it out, you might have to turn your laptop upside down and GENTLY tap it or shake it to get any loose stuff out.

If you do decide to to take out the keys/keyboard you can use cleaners that you'll get from any pc shop but vodka (and most other spirits, but vodka is best) works just as well. Make sure your not drinking it at the time though

subway

evilmonkee wrote: »

removing the whole keyboard/buy a new one (the last two will void any warranty).

not any warranty, check with your manufacturer...

zilog_jones

ricman wrote: »

you could use a brush dipped in a very small amount of vcr cleaning fliud...

This is isopropyl alcohol (IPA), you can get big cans of this for cheap enough. This, and a small brush of some sort or cotton buds (or the edge of a cloth you can jam inbetween keys), a hoover (ideally with a small nozzle attachment) and maybe some compressed air should do the job.

Airbrush or Hoover, although some claim hoovers create too muck static

Static electricity isn't going to damage your keyboard, there's no sensitive components in it, just a lot of springs or rubber and stuff.

Butch Cassidy

What's best to use for disinfecting the keys? I've heard there's a lot of bacteria that can stay on the keys.

ricman

see here, http://www.ehow.com/how_5917618_clean-disinfect-computer-keyboard.html

zilog_jones

Isopropyl alcohol is a disinfectant, it is used in sterilizing pads like Sterets (used as pre-injection swabs, etc.). It is relatively safe to use on most plastics, just not vinyl.

@ricman: Ammonia is a terrible idea! It can damage plastics, and it's toxic and corrosive among other things.

Butch Cassidy

zilog_jones wrote: »

Isopropyl alcohol is a disinfectant, it is used in sterilizing pads like Sterets (used as pre-injection swabs, etc.). It is relatively safe to use on most plastics, just not vinyl.

@ricman: Ammonia is a terrible idea! It can damage plastics, and it's toxic and corrosive among other things.

Any household products that can be used?

zilog_jones

I don't know, isopropyl alcohol is the only one I know that won't damage plastic. It is often sold as a lot of other things in various forms of dilution, e.g. tape head cleaner, some computer and TV cleaning products, etc. - the label should tell you what's in it. You may find it in chemists, camera shops, and other places. Maplin stock it, or you can get it easily on ebay and elsewhere online.