Cleaning my keyboard

[Hoonigan]

I have a Microsoft Sidewinder X4, and I was wondering, does anyone know how easy it would be to take the keyboard apart and give it a proper clean?

Soap and water sort of clean.. I know it would void the warranty, but I don't think it has a warranty left, so that's not a problem.

Is there anything I need to be wary of while doing this? Would it be difficult to put back together?

[garethjohnowen]

You can buy a new one on Amazon for £33 if thats any help

[Hicks12]

I dont think he is looking to get a new keyboard as per the title...

You can give it a proper clean but id just recommend doing the following:

1. Pop off all keys, either get an image of the web or order them so you remember locations. Easy to pop off just either pull or get some leverage underneath (screwdriver/blunt knife) they pop upwards and shouldnt break at all, just dont be stupid with the pressure!

2. Wash each key, soak them or something, warm soapy water should be fine... cant say specifically with keys as they're all different like for example the Filco keys on my board will react with isopropyl alcohol so cant clean them that way, use the above as an example as i cant see soap destroying anything.

3. Clean the board, now i personally couldnt be arsed to soak a board take it apart etc (bar keys) so id recommend just getting a damp cloth with warm soapy water again and just cleaning around the key slots and then let it dry, job done.

4. Reassemble

Thats about it, keys just literally 'pop' back in as they're just plastic caps its easy . Hope this helps!.

Now you've made me think about cleaning my board, haha.

[Behemoth]

Turn it upsdie down and stick in the dishwasher if it doesn't have a LCD screen or backlit, then leave it in the airing cupboard for a day or so.

Turned my G510 upside down the other day and we had crumble for afters

[Hoonigan]

I decided to just go for it, totally stripped it down, all the keys in a bowl of hot soapy water to soak while I dismantled the keyboard, washed the whole lot in the sink, left to dry on the side for an hour then I went over it with a can of compressed air then a hairdryer.

It feels like a new keyboard now, the keys feel much nicer to type on and everything's shiny again

I was quite shocked by all the crap that was in it tbh, mainly tobacco and hair, from making cigs.

[Pancake]

You cleaning it with Fanta? doesn't seem like a good idea...

[Behemoth]

Is there an echo in here ?

[Pancake]

Is there an echo in here ?

[IronWarrior]

I decided to just go for it, totally stripped it down, all the keys in a bowl of hot soapy water to soak while I dismantled the keyboard, washed the whole lot in the sink, left to dry on the side for an hour then I went over it with a can of compressed air then a hairdryer.

It feels like a new keyboard now, the keys feel much nicer to type on and everything's shiny again

I was quite shocked by all the crap that was in it tbh, mainly tobacco and hair, from making cigs.

Yes, doesn't it look nice... all that is in your body each day.

This is why I use a plastic cover on my keyboard to keep it clean, still as new as I got it.

[Pancake]

Yes, doesn't it look nice... all that is in your body each day.

This is why I use a plastic cover on my keyboard to keep it clean, still as new as I got it.

You eat tobacco?

[Spank]

He could chew it.

After I clean & rinse my keyboard (G19) I leave it in the airing cupboard over night, I would never use a hair dryer as they can produce enough heat to soften & even melt some plastics.

[Hoonigan]

I would never use a hair dryer as they can produce enough heat to soften & even melt some plastics.

I used the "cool" function, which is basically just a high powered fan with a tiny bit of heat.. It evaporated a lot of the water pretty quickly, and made my life easier.

And besides, the water that I put the keys in was warmer than the air coming out the hair dryer.

[Pancake]

All you seem to know allot about hair-dryers....

[Spank]

I used the "cool" function, which is basically just a high powered fan with a tiny bit of heat.. It evaporated a lot of the water pretty quickly, and made my life easier.

And besides, the water that I put the keys in was warmer than the air coming out the hair dryer.

There are some people who wouldn't know that though.

[Spank]

All you seem to know allot about hair-dryers....

That's another reason why I don't use a hair dryer, I don't own 1 as my heads shiny

[IronWarrior]

You eat tobacco?

Why would you say that or even think that?