When I've done it, I've always used a little bit of soap, because I was told I'd need some sort of surfactant to clean it properly. Also, depending on the type of keyboard, you may want to take it apart and wash only the affected pieces, to cut down on drying time. I enclose, for your edification, the postmortem I sent to the list after I had performed the operation the first time:
------------------------------------------- January 15th 2002 A few people were kind enough to make comments on this one, so I thought I'd fill you all in on the results. Just for the record, the following results are mine and mine alone; anyone following my instructions bears the risk for any possible terrible results; et cetera, et cetera. 1. With help of clumsy cat, managed to spill a great deal of sugar-sweetened cola product onto otherwise perfectly functional Apple Design Keyboard. 2. Tipped keyboard into sink; marvelled at sheer amount of cola product housed within; scolded cat (to no avail, alas); pondered what to do next. 3. Sent message to list with following inquiry: "soap or no soap?" 4. Received one "no soap" and one "yes soap" reply. Decided to split the difference and use "little bit of soap" (hey, there were already a couple of plates in there, okay?) 5. Not knowing any better, threw entire assembled keyboard in dishwasher (after tying up cord to keep it out of the way of moving parts). Took deep breath; turned dishwasher on. 6. Waited rather impatiently as dishwasher cycle took far longer than it has ever taken before. Entertained visions of letters and numbers being carried off down the drain; lamented never learning to touch-type. 7. Far too late, searched internet for reports of others who had done the same thing. Panicked after reading "that thing's almost as good as an autoclave" on some website; decided to shorten the rinse cycle to cut down on the heat. 8. Retrieved keyboard from dishwasher; noted all letters and numbers were still where I had left them; put away plates. 9. Stared in wonder at the absolutely pristine cleanliness of keyboard. If nothing else, was impressed by the knowledge that I had washed away the grime of the ages. Took keyboard apart. 21 screws, in case anyone wanted to know. 10. Laid each individual piece out to dry. Found that one of the pieces was a thin piece of black fabric. Something tells me that particular piece did not need to go in the dishwasher �- and it's probably why some folks told me it would need a week or so to dry out. 11. Blow-dried the holy hell out of each and every piece. Managed to shrink the black fabric piece by at least half an inch in the process. Live and learn. Was satisfied that everything looked and felt dry, but was particularly worried about parts I couldn't see, like the logic board and the adb ports. Decided to leave everything for bit and figure it out later. 12. Went out. Returned home nine hours later. Was quite convinced keyboard was dry. Reassembled keyboard rather prematurely, prompted equally by impatience, frustration with my replacement keyboard and the fact that I know a place where I can get another for fifteen bucks. 13. Reconnected keyboard; restarted computer 14. Ran the keyboard test in Techtool Pro. All systems go. Am currently typing this email with newly washed keyboard, and everything has worked flawlessly. So there you go. Apparently (and somewhat amazingly) it can be done. I don't think I'd do it the same way again, though. My advice to those in a similar predicament would be, as one poster suggested, to take the thing apart and see exactly where the offending liquid had lodged itself. I probably could have taken care of the whole problem by simply rinsing the key housing and not subjecting the circuit sheets and logic board to the dishwashing process, but that's because I caught it early. If the sticky stuff had had a chance to seep though, it might have been a different story, so do as your situation dictates. At any rate, I am indebted to you all for my success with this. Much appreciated. Mitch. On 1/23/03 4:49 AM, " Greg Burkman" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > On 23/01/2003 0:45, "Marc van Gemert" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > >> Greg Burkman wrote: >>> On 22/01/2003 21:43, "Mitch Hogg" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: >> >>> Thanks Mitch. I'll give the old keyboard here a trip through the dishwasher >>> to try. >>> >>> How long do you allow the old ones to dry? 24 hrs? >> >> Greg, beware not to use soap when you put 'em through the dishwasher!! >> I have never washed mine in the dishwasher, but have heard not to use >> soap several times on this and other lists. >> >> Marc > > Thanks, Marc. Just run 'em through with water and let 'em dry. > > _/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/ > > Best, > Greg Burkman > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > ICQ 62393161 > IN CASE OF EMERGENCY, BLAME CLINTON. > -- G-List is sponsored by <http://lowendmac.com/> and... 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