I think I killed my keyboard.

Beggar Monkey · Nov 10, 2009, 09:01 AM

Well, I knew it was going to happen to me sooner or later. As I was laughing hysterically over a very funny video on YouTube, I managed to hit my elbow against my Mike's Hard Lemonade (which I apparently had a little too much of) and spill it all over my keyboard, phone, and papers. I tried to get as much of it up as quickly as possible, wiping down the keyboard and turning it upside down to shake it out, and I thought I had done a pretty good job. Alas, when I woke up this morning and tried logging into my email my keyboard was completely unresponsive. It looks like there is still some lemonade trapped in the bottom. Is there anything I can do to save it or should I just give in and buy a new one?

I have the standard Mac keyboard for OS X with the numeric keypad if that helps at all.

kroeks · Nov 10, 2009, 09:04 AM

there are some topics about liquified keyboards around here.
what i should do is just try and let it dry for like 2 days.

Contact someone at a retail store. They can prolly help you!

Beggar Monkey · Nov 10, 2009, 09:07 AM

I kind of looked around but I didn't see any other threads. I guess I should look harder next time. :3

Thanks! I'll let it sit around a bit before I look into buying a new one then. This is the first time my keyboard has been completely unresponsive, so I panicked a bit.

kroeks · Nov 10, 2009, 09:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beggar Monkey

I kind of looked around but I didn't see any other threads. I guess I should look harder next time. :3

Thanks! I'll let it sit around a bit before I look into buying a new one then. This is the first time my keyboard has been completely unresponsive, so I panicked a bit.

I can understand that!
(tip: go to the macbook tread)

I once had this with a regular keyboard.
Well.. regular.. It was a pretty expensive Logitec gamerkeyboard.

I searched for a bit:
I think its the best to NOT USE IT for a while.
It could only damage the system more If you do so.
Just try and contact the retailer/visit one or a computer shop.
They could provide you with tips

good luck!

Mike Macintosh · Nov 13, 2009, 12:09 AM

Word of Advice, don't eat or drink around your computers, :P saves the whole problem from happening in the first place, but ya give it a couple days and see if it starts working again, if not just buckle up and get a new one.

n459umb4786ers · Nov 14, 2009, 08:48 PM

Well I heard some people say they washed their Apple keyboard in their dishwasher on the top rack on the low cycle. Probably with no soap and let it try for a few days just to be safe. If I ever spill something on my future Apple keyboard I would wash it in the dish wash since it's the only solution other than Apple replacing it under warranty.

sharkync · Nov 15, 2009, 09:28 PM

Hose it off (what do you have to lose) and put it in your oven at ~120-150F for 6-8 hrs. Hopefully giving it a good rinse will remove the sugars etc. that were in the lemonade.

Look on the bright side - at least it wasn't a laptop.

zen.state · Nov 15, 2009, 09:33 PM

Could be you didn't let it dry long enough. I have heard many tales of ipods surviving being washed by accident so I would imagine a keyboard could live again.

kellen · Nov 15, 2009, 09:38 PM

I would submerge it or throw it in the dishwasher. Long shot either way, but I think better then letting it sit.

Plus new ones are cheap.

Sun Baked · Nov 15, 2009, 09:44 PM

The acid in the lemonade is going to digest the traces, and the sugar will leave sticks keys.

A newer aluminum keyboard cannot be taken apart and cleaned. And if the traces get eaten, it is bye bye keyboard.

The old plastic ones can be cleaned and repaired as long as you don't kill the circuit board, the digested traces can be repaired with a Radio Shack trace pen.

n459umb4786ers · Nov 15, 2009, 11:00 PM

Answer: It's dead

mchalebk · Nov 16, 2009, 09:40 AM

I have also read the suggestions that you put it in the dishwasher with no soap and let it dry for a few days. While I don't know it that will work, I did spill beer on my Mighty Mouse (wired) and the click got a little sticky and loud. I finally decided I had to either fix it or replace it because it was too annoying. So, I put it in a glass of hot water from the tap (so maybe 130 degrees) and pulled it up and down by the cord for a minute or so. I then drained it and let it sit for three days. Result? Good as new.

Before you give up entirely on it, I would suggest either using the dishwasher method or running hot tap water on it so that it can get a good rinse. Then let it dry for at least a couple of days before plugging it in.

Abyssgh0st · Nov 16, 2009, 10:37 AM

Seeing as though you've gotten many good answers thus far, what was the funny video?

Nov 10, 2009, 09:01 AM	#1
Beggar Monkey macrumors newbie Join Date: Nov 2009	I think I killed my keyboard. Well, I knew it was going to happen to me sooner or later. As I was laughing hysterically over a very funny video on YouTube, I managed to hit my elbow against my Mike's Hard Lemonade (which I apparently had a little too much of) and spill it all over my keyboard, phone, and papers. I tried to get as much of it up as quickly as possible, wiping down the keyboard and turning it upside down to shake it out, and I thought I had done a pretty good job. Alas, when I woke up this morning and tried logging into my email my keyboard was completely unresponsive. It looks like there is still some lemonade trapped in the bottom. Is there anything I can do to save it or should I just give in and buy a new one? I have the standard Mac keyboard for OS X with the numeric keypad if that helps at all.

Nov 10, 2009, 09:04 AM	#2
kroeks macrumors regular Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: The Netherlands - That's why some people don't understand my very bad English :(	there are some topics about liquified keyboards around here. what i should do is just try and let it dry for like 2 days. Contact someone at a retail store. They can prolly help you! __________________ 27" iMac, 2.66 GHz Core i5, 8 GB RAM <3 13" MacBook (white), 2.0 GHz Core 2 Duo, 2 GB RAM ..and no, not everyone in the Netherlands is wearing clogs and tulips."

Nov 13, 2009, 12:09 AM	#5
Mike Macintosh macrumors regular Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Washington State	Word of Advice, don't eat or drink around your computers, :P saves the whole problem from happening in the first place, but ya give it a couple days and see if it starts working again, if not just buckle up and get a new one. __________________ 12" Powerbook G4, 1.5 GHz, 768 MB RAM, 80 GB HD 60 GB iPod classic 8GB iPhone 3G (coming soon: 27" iMac i5 $2189-$2300)

Nov 15, 2009, 09:28 PM	#7
sharkync macrumors regular Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Raleigh	Hose it off (what do you have to lose) and put it in your oven at ~120-150F for 6-8 hrs. Hopefully giving it a good rinse will remove the sugars etc. that were in the lemonade. Look on the bright side - at least it wasn't a laptop. __________________ Late 08 uMBP 2.53 4GB 320 iMac 24 2.93 16GB 3G 80GB iPod Classic

Nov 15, 2009, 09:33 PM	#8
zen.state macrumors 6502 Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: British Columbia, Canada	Could be you didn't let it dry long enough. I have heard many tales of ipods surviving being washed by accident so I would imagine a keyboard could live again. __________________ Give me Mac or nothing at all..

Nov 10, 2009, 09:07 AM	#3
Beggar Monkey Thread Starter macrumors newbie Join Date: Nov 2009	I kind of looked around but I didn't see any other threads. I guess I should look harder next time. :3 Thanks! I'll let it sit around a bit before I look into buying a new one then. This is the first time my keyboard has been completely unresponsive, so I panicked a bit.

Nov 14, 2009, 08:48 PM	#6
n459umb4786ers macrumors regular Join Date: Aug 2009	Well I heard some people say they washed their Apple keyboard in their dishwasher on the top rack on the low cycle. Probably with no soap and let it try for a few days just to be safe. If I ever spill something on my future Apple keyboard I would wash it in the dish wash since it's the only solution other than Apple replacing it under warranty.

Nov 15, 2009, 09:38 PM	#9
kellen macrumors 65816 Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Philadelphia	I would submerge it or throw it in the dishwasher. Long shot either way, but I think better then letting it sit. Plus new ones are cheap. __________________ Octo MP 2.8 12GB, 3.8TB, 4870. MBP 2.4. Dual 23" ACDs. 3GS 32GB iPhone. Nikon D50.

Nov 15, 2009, 09:44 PM	#10
Sun Baked macrumors 603 Join Date: May 2002	The acid in the lemonade is going to digest the traces, and the sugar will leave sticks keys. A newer aluminum keyboard cannot be taken apart and cleaned. And if the traces get eaten, it is bye bye keyboard. The old plastic ones can be cleaned and repaired as long as you don't kill the circuit board, the digested traces can be repaired with a Radio Shack trace pen. __________________ May you be plagued by images of Richard Simmons flouncing through you brain, and squat thrusting his way though all waking thoughts.

Nov 15, 2009, 11:00 PM	#11
n459umb4786ers macrumors regular Join Date: Aug 2009	Answer: It's dead

Nov 16, 2009, 09:40 AM	#12
mchalebk macrumors 6502 Join Date: Feb 2008	I have also read the suggestions that you put it in the dishwasher with no soap and let it dry for a few days. While I don't know it that will work, I did spill beer on my Mighty Mouse (wired) and the click got a little sticky and loud. I finally decided I had to either fix it or replace it because it was too annoying. So, I put it in a glass of hot water from the tap (so maybe 130 degrees) and pulled it up and down by the cord for a minute or so. I then drained it and let it sit for three days. Result? Good as new. Before you give up entirely on it, I would suggest either using the dishwasher method or running hot tap water on it so that it can get a good rinse. Then let it dry for at least a couple of days before plugging it in.

Nov 16, 2009, 10:37 AM	#13
Abyssgh0st macrumors Demi-God Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Texas	Seeing as though you've gotten many good answers thus far, what was the funny video? __________________ 3.06 iMac 21.5" PC 3.4GHz dual-core,4GB, HD 5750, 2TB HDD, 32" LCD 16GB Black iPhone 3G S⃣ Canon EOS 450D; 18-55mm IS; 55-250 IS

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