-------------------------------------------------- From: "V G" Sent: Sunday, September 12, 2010 10:33 PM To: "PICLIST" Subject: Re: [OT] Got my keyboard wet, need help > On Sun, Sep 12, 2010 at 4:12 PM, V G wrote: >> Hi all, >> >> I have an apple wired keyboard and spilled cold milk all over it this >> morning. I dried it off with a paper towel but the milk got inside the >> keyboard and made the keys sticky. So I took it to the sink and washed >> it with cold water under the tap. The water got rid of the milk and >> cleaned out the keys. I then dried it off as much as I could, and >> stuck the keyboard beside a space heater for half an hour to dry it >> off. I then plugged it back into the USB port. The keyboard didn't >> work. Pressing the keys did not result in anything happening. So I >> went to the Windows device manager and saw that the keyboard was >> recognized. >> >> Did I make the mistake of plugging the keyboard in too early? Not >> giving it enough time to dry? >> >> Could the damage be permanent? >> >> I know I should have used distilled/deionized water to clean it off, >> but I didn't have any. I didn't want the sugars in the milk >> precipitating underneath the keys. I'm glad I washed it out when I >> did. >> >> It's a really nice keyboard. > > Update: The build in HUB works, but none of the keys work. The caps > lock key LED doesn't even turn on when the caps lock key is pressed. I have done this exact thing two or three times with a wireless keyboard I= =20 used to have and like. I occasionally would work late and snooze at my desk= ,=20 then knock the glass (of milk) over... :-) Anyway, I found that wiping/drying it did nothing - I had to take it apart= =20 completely, and clean it thoroughly with something like methyl/isopropyl=20 alcohol. On my keyboard there was a clear plastic membrane over the PCB board that=20 had contacts on it which the keys pressed onto the contacts on a PCB (IIRC,= =20 something like that anyway) Anyway, the milk always managed to get between= =20 this membrane and whatever else and gum stuff up. On cleaning/drying this *thoroughly* it worked again, keyboards are=20 generally pretty robust with not too much "active" electronics inside so I= =20 doubt yours is dead, but I may be wrong - I am reasonably sure you will nee= d=20 to pull it apart and clean it properly though. =20 --=20 http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive View/change your membership options at http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist .