Welcome to the MacNN Forums.

Cody Dawg · Mar 14, 2005, 12:30 AM

So, there was a glass of milk and a plate with a cookie on it next to the Mac on the desk. The dog jumped up and took the cookie...and spilled milk all over my Apple keyboard.

I am taking it apart right now in an attempt to get it to work again.

Any ideas are appreciated.

Also, commiseration stories (did something like this happen to you ever) are also welcome.

Cody Dawg · Mar 14, 2005, 01:43 AM

Well, this happened at midnight and it is now about 2:45 AM our time (EST) and we just put the keyboard back together after completely disassembling it and taking every single thing apart, drying it, then put it all back together. IT WORKS.

Only an Apple keyboard could be so trashed and actually work again as good as new.

Dead thread, I suppose, unless others have similar horror stories.

moonmonkey · Mar 14, 2005, 02:30 AM

How did you take it appart?

Mine is full of toast crumbs (at least thats whet they look like).

Cody Dawg · Mar 14, 2005, 02:37 AM

Toast crumbs are very easy.

Just lay the keyboard out on a big wide area (desk or table - I used the kitchen table) and starting with the bottom row, pop the keys off one by one. (I used a flathead screwdriver to get under the edge.) Line them up on the table in neat rows in exactly the same order as you take them off. I started on the bottom row and worked my way up. Once they are all off use an old toothbrush to brush it all out. Then wipe down each key and after they are all wiped down put them back on.

On the keys such as the space bar remember to slide the little metal arms back under the plastic ledges (I don't know what else to call them) before you snap them back on.

Now, what I had to do was different. I had to take the entire keyboard apart starting from the back and I had to separate the pieces of the keyboard and dry it out from inside. I used a jeweler's screwdriver and a tiny torx that I had.

Don't take yours apart, though; just pop the keys off to clean it out then pop them back on.

It's easy.

storer · Mar 14, 2005, 03:03 AM

Well done... i think.

But don't let ur dog in the house. Don't flame me, but that disgusts me.... ewww

Xeo · Mar 14, 2005, 03:09 AM

Cody, that's cool. I have had varying success with this sort of thing. Sometimes, the liquid creates a short and burns out a few pathways. Apparently there is a special kind of electronics pen which can fix the path but I haven't purchased one yet. Other times, it happens just like you say, you can take it apart and as long as there is no short, you can clean it all with warm water, dry it out, and put it back together.

Glad to hear it was one of the latter times for you. I've been impressed with Apple keyboards for a while. Speaking of which, my iBook keyboard needs a thorough cleaning.

Originally posted by storer:
Well done... i think.

But don't let ur dog in the house. Don't flame me, but that disgusts me.... ewww

OK, you're weird.

Na just kidding. I don't think there are many Americans who would agree with you. Mostly, our culture is fine with it. Farmers still have "outside dogs" but many people keep dogs inside, especially those who don't have several acres for the dog to run around freely. My question to you would be, is your sentiment standard across Oz or are you weird there too? It's probably just a cultural thing.

badidea · Mar 14, 2005, 05:03 AM

In case you really haven't seen this picture yet and because it's perfect for this thread...you're lucky that's it wasn't a notebook keyboard!

storer · Mar 14, 2005, 05:45 AM

Originally posted by Xeo:
OK, you're weird. Na just kidding. I don't think there are many Americans who would agree with you. Mostly, our culture is fine with it. Farmers still have "outside dogs" but many people keep dogs inside, especially those who don't have several acres for the dog to run around freely. My question to you would be, is your sentiment standard across Oz or are you weird there too? It's probably just a cultural thing.

No a LOT of people have dogs inside here too. I just think dogs are dirtu and therefore don't belong in houses. My dogs are still my best mates and I love them to death, they just live outside. And they don't mind it either.

tavilach · Mar 14, 2005, 05:53 AM

Originally posted by storer:
No a LOT of people have dogs inside here too. I just think dogs are dirtu and therefore don't belong in houses. My dogs are still my best mates and I love them to death, they just live outside. And they don't mind it either.

That's why many people only let dogs into certain areas of the house, and forbid them from sleeping on the furniture and such. What else is there to worry about? I'd rather cover my house in mud than keep my dog outside, but that's just me.

demograph68 · Mar 14, 2005, 07:17 AM

Apple keyboards suck. You can't take it apart without it breaking them. I hate them. I would know. This has happened to me too.

Mastrap · Mar 14, 2005, 08:16 AM

My old IT support guy used to drop dirty keyboards into the dishwasher, Top shelf, short run, dry for two days, a quick last blast with a hairdryer and plug back in. I have no idea how safe this is, so if it doesn't work for you don't blame me.

Cody Dawg · Mar 14, 2005, 09:54 AM

Wow! A lot of different responses.

All respect to you, Mastrap, but I'm not running my keyboard through the dishwasher. When I took it apart there were all these little pieces and the sensors and I have no doubt that running it through a dishwasher might not be good for it. If I had an extra one then I'd try it but I don't.

Now about the dog in the house?

I cannot imagine NOT having the dog in the house. We live where the average daily temperature is about 85 degrees fahrenheit daily. In the summer it is about 95f. Keeping a dog outside where it is very hot and where mosquitoes will give the dog West Nile virus, or heartworm, or he'll get mange from the dirt is not a good option.

As it is, the dog that we have right now was a puppy that was left in a back yard and when we got him he had a torn dewclaw that was infected. He was dirty and not that healthy. He's a Border Collie and he has a thick coat and he would be miserable and dirty outside.

Here he is leaping around at the beach:

And here he is just chilling at home:

RAILhead · Mar 14, 2005, 10:41 AM

Originally posted by demograph68:
Apple keyboards suck. You can't take it apart without it breaking them. I hate them. I would know. This has happened to me too.

User error is your problem -- it's not the keyboard.

turtle777 · Mar 14, 2005, 10:42 AM

Originally posted by Cody Dawg:
Any ideas are appreciated.

Sell the dog to the Chinese restaurant around the corner.

-t

OB1 · Mar 14, 2005, 10:43 AM

Dog revenge.

Cody Dawg · Mar 14, 2005, 10:52 AM

It's really not the dog's fault...it is the fault of the child who was playing on the computer and happened to leave milk and cookies out. The dog was just helping himself.

I wish we had a Chinese restaurant around the corner, though; we don't and often wished that we did. We have to settle for Thai and not very good Thai food at that.

That reminds me: Did the Chinese breed the Chinese hairless/crested because they wanted to see exactly how big their dogs were/are before they eat them? DO the Chinese eat dogs? I thought only Koreans did that.

Hmmm...

kmkkid · Mar 14, 2005, 10:58 AM

Originally posted by Cody Dawg:
Well, this happened at midnight and it is now about 2:45 AM our time (EST) and we just put the keyboard back together after completely disassembling it and taking every single thing apart, drying it, then put it all back together. IT WORKS.

Only an Apple keyboard could be so trashed and actually work again as good as new.

Dead thread, I suppose, unless others have similar horror stories.

Most keyboards are pretty resistant to harm. I decided to clean mine one day when the crumbs in it built up so high I couldnt press keys anymore. Against the warnings, I completely immerged the keyboard in a tub of hot water, and thoroughly rinsed it out. It still works, good as new.

You just have to make sure it's bone dry before plugging it in of course.

Chris

demograph68 · Mar 14, 2005, 11:05 AM

Originally posted by RAILhead:
User error is your problem -- it's not the keyboard.

I've used keyboards that have taken real abuse. Apple keyboards are fragile and expensive. Period.

turtle777 · Mar 14, 2005, 11:12 AM

Originally posted by Cody Dawg:
I wish we had a Chinese restaurant around the corner, though; we don't and often wished that we did. We have to settle for Thai and not very good Thai food at that.

Maybe the Thai guy will make an exception and take the dog anyways...

-t

hart · Mar 14, 2005, 12:11 PM

two words: sippy cups

no, I'm serious. No one comes out of the kitchen with an open beverage in our house, including me. I have a nice group of coffee sippy cups. or call em to-go cups, whatever. Anyway, cups with lids. big, strong, hefty lids.

and I have a ha ha strictly enforced rule, or should I say a constantly enforced rule that says no food for kiddies at the computers. constantly meaning everytime I turn around (literally turn around. my machine is placed so I sit with my back to them at theirs) I have to "remind" someone that food isn't allowed at the computer.

my kids are 4, 6 and 9 but lids out of the kitchen are still the rule. and since I constantly have a cup of coffee on my desk (with our own marauding group of cats) I don't think I'll ever stop using my own sippy cups. (I do feel a bit hesitant to put alcoholic beverages in a sippy cup. seems to spoil the ambiance somehow)

JustAnOl'Broad · Mar 14, 2005, 12:32 PM

Originally posted by Mastrap:
My old IT support guy used to drop dirty keyboards into the dishwasher, Top shelf, short run, dry for two days, a quick last blast with a hairdryer and plug back in. I have no idea how safe this is, so if it doesn't work for you don't blame me.

The dishwasher trick actually did work; I did it all the time back
when I repaired Xerox and Lottery machines. However, not sure I
would attempt this with my PB keyboard - have not yet peeked
inside to see what it looks like. I would think the electronics
have evolved to be much more delicate over the years.

The absolute filthiest keyboards were on the Ohio lottery
terminals. One that still sticks in my mind was a fish market,
just East of downtown Columbus, OH; stinky, nasty machine.
We finally got them to cover the keyboard with Saran wrap
when they weren't actively using it; cut their need for service
calls down to once a week.
I had 5 extra keyboards in my parts allotment, just for these
special cases.

For the copiers, the worst environment was the railroad yards
and the coal mines of WVa, OH, and KY. I had special spray to
dislodge the carbon before I ran them thru the dishwasher.
The rubber feed rollers for the paper path always had a burned
on glass like finish. The "new" plastic panels could never look the
same; the carbon embedded into the pores.

Hope all is back "good as new" now Cody!

jcadam · Mar 14, 2005, 01:57 PM

Originally posted by demograph68:
I've used keyboards that have taken real abuse. Apple keyboards are fragile and expensive. Period.

Absolutely 100% agree. I have been through 3 of the new Apple keyboards. All 3 broke inexplicably. The only thing I can think of is that I am a heavy-handed typist and that Apple's membrane keyboards can't handle it.

After recently losing Apple keyboard #3 (came with my G5), I ponyed up the $$ for a Matias TactilePro that has actual mechanical keyswitches in lieu of a membrane.
We'll see how long it lasts. I already like the old school super-loud clicking noise it makes as I type. I remember those old keyboards were real tanks and could take a beating. Hopefully this one is too.

Cody Dawg · Mar 14, 2005, 02:05 PM

Okay, I'll stick the keyboard into the dishwasher and see what happens, okay?

NOT!

Anyway, it's working fine.

Hart, the sippy cup thing is a great idea.

tooki · Mar 15, 2005, 04:36 AM

Originally posted by demograph68:
I've used keyboards that have taken real abuse. Apple keyboards are fragile and expensive. Period.

Yeah, when it comes to keyboards, Apple really doesn't make em like it used to! I mean, you could use an Apple Extended Keyboard (the ADB one) as a weapon to clobber someone over the head with. Or a couple of em stacked to use as ramps to raise your car for an oil change. And then they'd still work fine afterwards!

tooki

Cody Dawg · Mar 15, 2005, 07:44 AM

The keyboard is now like brand new - no complaints at all.

I actually have another problem that is more severe: Our eMac is shattering. Literally. The clear plastic bezel around the eMac is cracking and the only thing I can figure is that it is from expansion and contraction of the plastic as the computer heats up. It looks like crap and slowly it is getting worse. I just tried to call AppleCare at 8:42 AM EST and apparently Apple isn't open until 9:00 AM.

This reminds me of when my lid would warp on the old Titanium PowerBooks.

But, since I have AppleCare I'll give them a heads up. I'm not sure that it necessitates doing something right now, but I want them to make a note of it.