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SPILL on macbook keyboard please help!

cloudblood84

cloudblood84

macrumors regular
Original poster
Apr 3, 2006
128
0
san diego, ca
so im a complete dumbass. i accidentally spilled bbq sauce on my white macbook keyboard. i got most of the sauce up by suking it through a straw and using tissue. the stain remains the the keys are starting to feel sticky. isnt there a way to take off the bottom case to clean this? please help! thanks
 
I cannot tell you how many times I've told people not to eat while using their laptop. With a desktop, it's not such a big deal since the keyboard can be replaced fairly easily. I'm not familiar enough with the Macbook yet, as I am still waiting to order one. So right now I don't really have a solution to your problem. Just heed my warning and don't eat food while using your laptop! :D
 
the sad thing is that i wasnt eating it. i picked it up (a to-go container) to put it in the fridge..my food was heavier than the box and fell onto the keyboard...the keys still work. wouldnt any damage have already occured at this point? (its been about 20 min, and the sauce is completely dried,in the cracks
 
cloudblood84 said:
that was a mistake...dont know how to delete it, feel free to have it deleted for me
Click to expand...
PM a Moderator or something, but read my post first;)
 
still no issue with keys. does this mean the worse is over? its al dry and a majority of the keys arent even sticky, though i can still see some sauce in between the cracks
 
:eek: I spilt a Martinee in my macbook managed to suck most of it out.

Took the battery out and left upside down to drain/dry overnight.

Spacebar was a little tacky for a while but is all good now.... that'll teach me to try and have a little class...
 
im so thankful the sauce was so viscous, it gave me time to suck it out and do all sorts of things to it. if it had been like water or soda, i would have been screwed
 
bigjimbob said:
:eek: I spilt a Martinee in my macbook managed to suck most of it out.

Took the battery out and left upside down to drain/dry overnight.

Spacebar was a little tacky for a while but is all good now.... that'll teach me to try and have a little class...
Click to expand...

HAHA! Martini and laptops don't mix I guess. I can see where you would be trying to mix two classy items tho... they just didn't jive I guess lol
 
Of course it would be best not to eat/drink near your laptop, but I've had one of these on my Powerbook from day one just incase anything should happen:

http://www.iskin.com/protouchmb/

Easily removable (it's silicone, so there's no adhesive - it just peels right off) and washable. I've got a clear one of course, rather than the bright blue they show on that page.
 
cloudblood84 said:
can individual keys be safely removed and put back on?
Click to expand...
Not without taking the bottome of the computer apart.
(Quite ironically I spilled a tad bit of BBQ sauce covered rice on my iMac keyboard a few minutes ago)
 
MacBook External Keyboard Spill

Yesterday, I spilled half a glass of orange juice on my new external keyboard. I had not turned my MacBook on. Immediately I unplugged the keyboard took it to the kitchen sink and ran cold water over the keys for 2 minutes. Held the keyboard vertically and watched water drain out. Propped it vertically on paper towel for 30 minutes. Lots more water soaked into the paper towel. Then, I put the keyboard over a heat register (the thing that blows warm air into a room), keys side down, and propped by two books to keep it out of contact with the register. Left it there for 4 hours, checking occasionally to make sure the keyboard was warm but not hot. Set the keyboard on a table overnight. Plugged it in this morning and I'm typing on it now. No sticky keys and they all work.

rhinohyde
 
Spill on macbook

The other night I had been using my macbook laptop and it was sitting in front of me on the coffee table. My clumsy girlfriend accidently knocked over a 2/3 full cup of diluted gatorade right onto the keyboard! I thought I saw my life flash before my eyes! I wanted to let people know about what I did in case it could help anyone (I looked at this thread when trying to figure out what I should do).

Within 2 seconds of the spill I was holding my laptop upside down above me trying to minimize the amount of liquid that could penetrate the innards of the laptop. Keeping it upside down, I used a dry towel to soak up what I could while pressing it against the keyboard. Then I took a paper towel and dampened it with rubbing alcohol and went over the keyboard again with that. The laptop was still on and I was able to save what I had been working on and shut it down. I then got out my vacuum (not a shop vac) and used the extension hose to try to suck moisture out, pressing it firmly against the keyboard and holding my laptop perpendicular to the floor. I then set it against our heater (I have no hair dryer), keeping it upright with the heat blowing on the keyboard, making sure it was not too hot because I didn't want to melt the screen. I left it like this for several hours. Before I went to bed I opened the laptop as far as it can go and set it upside down on the carpet to try to continue drying process.

The next morning all the keys where the spill occurred were tacky when I pressed on them. I went to the store and bought some air duster. I used most of that can trying to get under the keys as best I could. I saw a video on youtube showing how to remove macbook keyboard keys. The video is WAY over-simplified! I managed to remove one key and then it took me an hour to get it back on right so I decided against removing any more. I turned the laptop back on less than 24 hours after the spill occurred and I didn't notice any significant performance issues except for the sticky keys.

I feel like my whole life, including my job, is on this laptop. Even though I back everything up regularly, it was a slap in the face to realize how quickly it could be destroyed. Remind your friends and family with laptops not to have drinks nearby!
 
The thought of sucking BBQ sauce off of a computer with a straw is pretty nauseating, but I guess it's better than the alternative.
 
It is easy to repair

It is very easy to fix it.
You will need to remove the keys. Its pictures has been given on Flickr.com and once you remove all the keys and their bases (not the rubber pad), then saok them in mild detergent for 2-3 hours. then dry them.
You will need to clean macbook base with alcohol swab to remove any visible particle or stain.
Once you clean it, then replace it back. Key bord is now cleaner and almost back to its normal feel to work on.
 
Tacky Keyboard from Spill as well!

I had a tea spillage of Tea (with sugar and milk) a couple weeks ago on my new macbook. After airing it out for a number of days, the damage is a crazy ugly stain on the LCD screen and a tacky keyboard, but luckily nothing too serious.

I have already decided to get the LCD screen replaced by a certified Mac Technician, and I have refused to go into Apple to tell them about the spill. If I send in the computer, I can get the LCD screen replaced for around 200 bucks.

In terms of dealing with the tacky keys, I have tried everything. Air compressor....I have also removed the battery and power cord, and slipped a little water under each key with a sterile sponge and let it dry overnight to try and get the goop out. I do not think it's a good idea to take off the individual keys. It does look complicated and I fear not being able to put them back -- I don't think I'd have the patience.

However, what about taking off the top case? From what I see, that looks like a fairly easy procedure. http://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Repair/MacBook-Core-Duo-Upper-Case/283/1. There are also a number of videos on YouTube.

What I don't know is: After removing the top case, do I actually clean the keyboard or do I have to deal with the mechanisms underneath? Is this actually worth doing or would I not be able to clean the keys anyway? I would assume others who are suffering from a tacky keyboard or trackpad would appreciate knowing. Thanks!
 
rosalux,

Apple will know there was a spill. The new MB have sensors that indicate such. I am in the middle of this as my daughter spilled Dr. Pepper on my machine. It cost $1300 to repair a unibody MBP. Obvisouly, there are a number of options for repair. However, if you want to regain your warrenty or apple care there is only one.
 
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