I apologise for the disturbing photo. Perhaps it is enough to convince you to clean your keyboard.
Otterman mentioned this recently, around the same time that I had other warnings that I should clean my keyboards thoroughly. I was convinced, but I put it off.
Today, I levered out some keys from a spare keyboard that I need to use for photography. Seeing the gunk for myself reminded me that I should get to this sooner rather than later. All the more since I’m recovering from a bad cold. It’s been a week.
My office keyboard definitely needs to be cleaned. So too, my desktop keyboard at home. My MacBook is protected by a silicone sheet, so it’s not that bad. I wouldn’t try popping out the keys of my MacBook anyway.
How often will I have to do this?
I’ve even thought of buying a flexible, washable keyboard. (The price on that website is a rip off though. IIRC you can get it for under that price in Singapore dollars at Funan or Sim Lim shops.)
uncle sha
/ Thursday, 29 May 2008thanks for the reminders :)
acroamatic
/ Thursday, 29 May 2008No problem, now get cleaning!
RockyRacoon
/ Monday, 2 June 2008Just buy a new one?
acroamatic
/ Tuesday, 3 June 2008Nah, these things get dirty again really fast. Can’t be buying a new keyboard every few months. I’d rather clean it. Don’t think I’ll get the flexible keyboard. My current keyboard isn’t very old, and I quite like it.
Teutoburg
/ Thursday, 5 June 2008I’ve used keyboard skins ever since they were available. Washing them is easy and it feels like new every time.
The trade off is that you lose tactile feel and you don’t really enjoy the keyboard’s response against your fingers. Especially if you happen to own the legendary Apple Extended Keyboard, designed during the era of the Macintosh II.
A site posts cleaning instructions for this beauty! http://tinyurl.com/4c4m7j
I still have mine back home, stored away with a keyboard skin no less. Given the new chic-let keyboard that Apple supplies now, it confirms the fact that “they don’t make ‘em like they used to.”
And washable keyboards are a croc!
Patricea Chow-Capodieci
/ Thursday, 26 June 2008Erm, was reading the article found on Ottaman’s blog about cleaning keyboards. It is mainly for computer keyboards. Are there any instructions on how to clean the keyboards of laptops (Compaq, Fujitsu, etc) and especially the Mac PowerBook G4?
acroamatic
/ Thursday, 26 June 2008I did a cursory search but haven’t found simple and clear instructions for cleaning keyboard laptops. Have to get back to you on that.