# Argh! Coffee in keyboard
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/argh-coffee-in-keyboard/441100
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
**Created:** [March 12, 2008, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/argh-coffee-in-keyboard/441100 "2008-03-12T13:40:11Z")
**Posts on this page:** 11
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Walpurgis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walpurgis)
#### Post date: [March 12, 2008, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/argh-coffee-in-keyboard/441100/1 "2008-03-12T13:40:11Z")
I just filled my keyboard with coffee (the external one luckily, not the one on my laptop). I wasn’t even flailing around or anything - it was a “sip… sip… fumbleFUMBLEFUMBLEsplat” or “inexplicable dropping of object”.
So how do I save my keyboard? Is it enough to put it upside-down on some newspapers and wait for it to dry out, or should I try to vacuum it or something?
(There wasn’t any sugar in the coffee, but there was milk - will it do interesting stuff to my keyboard if left to dry?)
Yours,
Ms Butterfinger
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### Author:  [@Rebo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rebo)
#### Post date: [March 12, 2008, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/argh-coffee-in-keyboard/441100/2 "2008-03-12T13:47:26Z")
I’ve never been able to save one. Hie thee to the computer store, says I…
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### Author:  [@Walpurgis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walpurgis)
#### Post date: [March 12, 2008, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/argh-coffee-in-keyboard/441100/3 "2008-03-12T14:30:03Z")
I was hoping someone might have a miracle method, but you’re probably right. ☹ Curse these fat fingers.
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### Author:  [@EmAnJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmAnJ)
#### Post date: [March 12, 2008, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/argh-coffee-in-keyboard/441100/4 "2008-03-12T14:34:16Z")
My dad used to wash his in the bathtub, and they still worked (after a thorough drying).
Keyboards are cheap though, it’s probably not worth the hassle to try and save the drenched one.
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### Author:  [@bbs2k](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bbs2k)
#### Post date: [March 12, 2008, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/argh-coffee-in-keyboard/441100/5 "2008-03-12T14:35:39Z")
Brb, searching for sdmb takes awhile.
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### Author:  [@bbs2k](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bbs2k)
#### Post date: [March 12, 2008, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/argh-coffee-in-keyboard/441100/6 "2008-03-12T14:39:11Z")
Perhaps it is a whoosh, but here is some advice:
[QUOTE=engineer\_comp\_geek]
If all you did was spill coffee or something else into it, it will usually recover if you put it upside down in the dishwasher, turn off the drying cycle at the end (often called power saver dry or some such, so you have to turn it ON to turn the heat OFF, just to confuse you) and also, don’t use soap.
Let dry for 1 day.
Note - this only works for spills and extreme dirt. It won’t resurrect a keyboard that has broken contacts on the circuit board or membrane.
[/QUOTE]
> **[My keyboard is broken](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=430341)**
>
> So I won’t be makin many posts for a few days, until I ave te time to etq a replaceqment.
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### Author:  [@Walpurgis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walpurgis)
#### Post date: [March 12, 2008, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/argh-coffee-in-keyboard/441100/7 "2008-03-12T14:42:03Z")
Thanks for the advice! I’ll get back to you with the results…
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### Author:  [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)
#### Post date: [March 12, 2008, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/argh-coffee-in-keyboard/441100/8 "2008-03-12T14:46:06Z")
Last time that happened, I washed the keyboard under warm running water (I used a shower), then turned it upside down and left it to dry for a couple of days. Keyboard worked perfectly after that. I’m sure a dishwasher would work too but it may be overkill.
But don’t try this with a laptop… 😃
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### Author:  [@freckafree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/freckafree)
#### Post date: [March 12, 2008, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/argh-coffee-in-keyboard/441100/9 "2008-03-12T15:12:59Z")
I ran my keyboard through the dishwasher a couple of months ago. I hadn’t spilled anything on it. It was just disgustingly grungy looking.
I let it dry for three-four days. Letting it dry COMPLETELY is essential.
Anyhoo, keyboard came out shiny-clean and still works fine.
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### Author:  [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)
#### Post date: [March 12, 2008, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/argh-coffee-in-keyboard/441100/10 "2008-03-12T15:30:25Z")
I washed mine too, using the sink hose. I really like this keyboard and couldn’t find another one like it.
Like everyone says, the key (heh) is drying. I used a spare and let the clean one dry for several days.
I wash my hands all the time – how do they get so dirty?
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### Author:  [@Dazzling\_White\_Diamonds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dazzling_White_Diamonds)
#### Post date: [March 12, 2008, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/argh-coffee-in-keyboard/441100/11 "2008-03-12T15:46:41Z")
I did this to my work keyboard last year. I popped off the keys, cleaned them by hand. Noted that none of the coffee got in the innards of the keyboard (the electronics) due to the design of the casing. Bonus. Cleaned the casing, put everything back together. Let it dry (just in case).
Works just fine, even though I think I missed a key - it sticks. Yeah, I drink my coffee with cream and sugar.