S W E A T Y PowerBook G4 keyboard smell

[alectrona6400]

so i just managed to score an a1095 that was getting thrown out (1.5GHz, 2GB RAM, 128MB VRAM, 250GB HDD, 10.5.8) and what i've noticed is that the keyboard smells like someone hasn't taken a shower in like, 7 years. i know this happens on G3 iBooks too (and i've heard it's much worse lol) but it's kinda uncommon to see people have this issue on aluminum powerbooks. is there a way to fix this without having to replace the keyboard? i know it's caused by some sort of strange adhesive that apple used

 

[Eriamjh1138@DAN]

It’s probably embedded in the silicone domes under the key caps.
can you remove the keyboard from the PowerBook Or is it a part of the lower chassis?

You won’t be able to get rid of smell without using a liquid cleaner. Then you have to dry it out completely without leaving residue or liquid causing shorts.

Plain soap and water will help a ton, but only if you can dry it out. I have no other advice other than leaving it in the sun for a few days.

 

[bobesch]

Leave the lid open a while and the smell gets better and it increases, while the PowerBook has been tucked away for a while with lid closed.
You won't get rid of the smell without removing the plastic-sheet, that is sticked somewhere beneath the keys but afterwards the keyboard is FUBAR.
Maybe using Ozone on the KB-assembly gets rid of the smell.

 

[pmac0973]

It's the type of glue that was used. Yes, leaving the lid open for a while will help.

Methods that I have used
1. Orange peel and rubbed it on the keyboard and trackpad. Several times
2. Fabric softener inside the battery bay between the battery.
3. Zero Odor spray
4.trackpad cover ( amazon for 15" MacBook) had to modify
5. If you have the unit apart remove as much glue as possible. Especially under the trackpad
6. If you need to close the lid place a fabric softener across the keyboard.
7. Direct sun for 15 minutes. Multiple times I covered the monitor just to be safe.

Hope this helps.

Used a PB 17 for several years after doing the orange peel several times and sun. Did not close it unless it was necessary. You really had to stick your nose into the keyboard to have a faint smell.

 

[hobowankenobi]

Having supported a fleet of white iBooks...I always thought it was the soft plastic of the keys themselves absorbing body oils and grime from fingers.

I don't have any tips better than those listed. It was an ongoing thing, and it seemed that the iBook heating up released the funk. Powered off...not bad. Powered on and running in a closed room: yikes!

Funny story: Had a coworker who was German. He tried a dryer sheet on the keyboard while closed up and in a bag. The next day...he opened the bag and sniffed.

Me: "How's it smell?"
Him: "Like a Frenchman."
Me: "...Huh?"
Him: "BO and flowers!"

 

[Project Alice]

15" and larger Aluminum PowerBooks are extremely easy to open, and the top case comes off in one piece. Save yourself the time and order a new top case from eBay. Should take like 15min tops to install.

 

[laikos]

First of all I wasn't expecting to get answer for this problem when I got my powerbook g4. The smell were really too strong for me. I gonna start leave it open first see if it get less stink after few days. Thanks for the tips

 

[B S Magnet]

First of all I wasn't expecting to get answer for this problem when I got my powerbook g4. The smell were really too strong for me. I gonna start leave it open first see if it get less stink after few days. Thanks for the tips

Riffing off, in part, what @Project Alice suggested (and something I have done with other keyboard assemblies):

Rather than buy a whole new assembly, get a litre or two of 99 per cent isopropyl alcohol (not 91 or lower) at your local medical supply store and also a rubbermaid-style storage bin (like the kind which can be slid underneath a bed) — one which is large enough to lie the keyboard top case assembly flat within it. Place the assembly (just the assembly, not the whole laptop) flat inside that container and pour in the alcohol (either directly atop the assembly or add in the assembly after pouring it in, it won’t matter).

Cover and let soak from a few hours or overnight. Maybe halfway through, gently agitate the assembly side-to-side and/or flip it over back into the alcohol bath. Some old dirt and grime (as well as oils from past use) should now be falling into the alcohol.

Afterwards, take out the keyboard top case assembly and let it thoroughly air-dry for a couple of days before reassembling the laptop.

What this should do is not only clean and disinfect the assembly from past use, but it should also reduce some of the odours coming from the glues used in the keyboard assembly.