# Sticky Keys **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 25, 2011, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sticky-keys/583167 "2011-05-25T15:52:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Cabin\_Fever\_1](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cabin_fever_1/32/2908_2.png) [@Cabin\_Fever\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cabin_Fever_1)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2011, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sticky-keys/583167/1 "2011-05-25T15:52:48Z")
As in Beer.Spilled.Onto.Laptop.Keyboard. :smack: Yeah - I was a wee bit tipsy, and thankfully my keyboard still works OK. However the total left-side keys sort of crunch when I type. Annoying as all get out, and one can hear the “crunch” sound when I’m typing in a quiet place. I’m getting strange looks from folks, although that just might be my personal paranoia talking… What is a good way to clean the dried, funked-up ale from underneath the fore-mentioned keys without sending this sucker to a repair depot? I don’t think what happened is covered under my warranty. ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2011, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sticky-keys/583167/2 "2011-05-25T15:58:23Z")
If it were me I’d… buy a new keyboard. Only kidding (well I probably would) but if I wanted to salvage it I’d… take it apart (unplugged, of course) Put the non electronic parts in a washing bowl full of hot water and washing up liquid. Wipe the electronic contact surface with the best/most appropriate cleaner for that sort of thing I can find in my house (probably an alcohol-based cleaner but I’m no expert) Let that dry for a while (important it must be thoroughly dry before you put it all back together) Clean the non electronic bits that have been soaking. Put it all back together. DOH!! I missed **the most important word** in your post - _**[COLOR=“Red”]'laptop’**_. Well, you _might_ still be able to remove it. Laptops I’ve had had removable keyboards.[/COLOR] ---
**Author:** ![UncleRojelio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unclerojelio/32/3160_2.png) [@UncleRojelio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleRojelio)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2011, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sticky-keys/583167/3 "2011-05-25T15:59:29Z")
Apparently, [you can stick an Apple Keyboard in the dishwasher to clean it](http://www.cultofmac.com/its-official-keyboard-in-dishwasher-works-great/1625). ---
**Author:** ![Cabin\_Fever\_1](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cabin_fever_1/32/2908_2.png) [@Cabin\_Fever\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cabin_Fever_1)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2011, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sticky-keys/583167/4 "2011-05-25T16:03:31Z")
> [@Lobsang](#): > > DOH!! I missed **the most important word** in your post - _**[COLOR=“Yellow”]‘laptop’**_. Well, you _might_ still be able to remove it. Laptops I’ve had had removable keyboards.[/COLOR] Yeppers, a brand new laptop. It still works, but the crunching sound is embarrassing. It’s really loud. ---
**Author:** ![Cabin\_Fever\_1](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cabin_fever_1/32/2908_2.png) [@Cabin\_Fever\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cabin_Fever_1)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2011, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sticky-keys/583167/5 "2011-05-25T16:10:01Z")
> [@UncleRojelio](#): > > Apparently, [you can stick an Apple Keyboard in the dishwasher to clean it](http://www.cultofmac.com/its-official-keyboard-in-dishwasher-works-great/1625). 😃 DEFINITELY not covered under my warranty. I just checked. I think the CSR even got all the tech supervisors on the line just so they could laugh at me. (I was thinking about disassembling this laptop and taking the keyboard component out and doing what you suggested). One tech said take warm, distilled water (no soap) , lather and repeat, then dry thoroughly. Anyone hear of this? ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2011, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sticky-keys/583167/6 "2011-05-25T16:39:01Z")
Look up on the internet how to disassemble your particular laptop to remove the keyboard. Often there will be a youtube video. Then clean it with water, and let it dry completely before reassembling. If I can do it, so can you. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2011, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sticky-keys/583167/7 "2011-05-25T16:42:50Z")
Why not try a can of spray contact cleaner, while somehow holding the laptop upside down? ---
**Author:** ![Cabin\_Fever\_1](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cabin_fever_1/32/2908_2.png) [@Cabin\_Fever\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cabin_Fever_1)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2011, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sticky-keys/583167/8 "2011-05-25T16:45:25Z")
Thanks needscoffee. I’m probably going to do that, I just didn’t want to void my warranty. It’s just a cheap COMPAQ/HP laptop, but it’s all I have for now. At least it was a good ale that I happened to dump upon it. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Cabin\_Fever\_1](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cabin_fever_1/32/2908_2.png) [@Cabin\_Fever\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cabin_Fever_1)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2011, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sticky-keys/583167/9 "2011-05-25T16:51:59Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > Why not try a can of spray contact cleaner, while somehow holding the laptop upside down? Thanks Leaffan. Sounds like a good idea! There is an electronics store just down the street. (I’m laughing at myself…) Do you think if they would know if contact cleaner would remove ale residue? Aw, heck. I’ll just go ask them. Maybe they are beer drinkers themselves and would understand my predicament. ---
**Author:** ![mlees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@mlees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mlees)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2011, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sticky-keys/583167/10 "2011-05-25T17:35:33Z")
> [@Cabin\_Fever](#): > > 😃 DEFINITELY not covered under my warranty. I just checked. I think the CSR even got all the tech supervisors on the line just so they could laugh at me. > (I was thinking about disassembling this laptop and taking the keyboard component out and doing what you suggested). > One tech said take warm, distilled water (no soap) , lather and repeat, then dry thoroughly. > Anyone hear of this? No soap, lather and repeat? I’ve heard of “hard water”, but I’ve not seen it lather… ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2011, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sticky-keys/583167/11 "2011-05-26T02:47:38Z")
> [@UncleRojelio](#): > > Apparently, [you can stick an Apple Keyboard in the dishwasher to clean it](http://www.cultofmac.com/its-official-keyboard-in-dishwasher-works-great/1625). I found the grubby dishwasher controls to be very funny, when talking about cleaning stuff…