Anyone ever do this?- Keyboard/Dishwasher

[maytagbear]

On the other forum I post to (not appliance related), a member told how she spilled a latte into her keyboard. Some said "just replace it," and others said "unplug it, and slip it in the dishwasher."

I Googled it, and there are articles, and pictures of this. Any of you do this? I would think that the detergent might not be so healthy for the connections.

I haven't, and don't plan on it, because my keyboard is a wireless one.

Lawrence/Maytagbear

 

[tolivac]

I don't think I would run a computer keyboard thru the dishwasher-the detergent would eat up the contacts.However I have seen power tubes for transmitters,and audio patchbays run thru them-if the patchbays would rinse and dry them promply-to prevent corroding the contacts.The dishwasher spray would blast cooked in bugs out of transmitter tube radiators.Sounds like he will have to replace his keyboard.We go thru 'em a lot here.Another disposable part.

 

[DADoES]

I have not done it, but I have heard the recommendation. As for detergent damage, it could be run through without detergent, but there'd still (likely) be rinse aid involved.

 

[mathemagical]

Of course in theory, just about anything electronic can be immersed in water and survive, given enough time to dry before being used.

This worked better on the old mechanical-spring keyboards. Today's keyboards are all rubber membrane-backed, with the contacts on the rubber membrane bubbles. I don't know if the contacts behind the rubber would be able to dry completely before they rusted. Or if the water would even get at any goo that might've gotten behind the membrane.

But if it's an old, heavy IBM or Apple Extended...it just might work if you skip the detergent and use the "no heat" setting. If it's not, replacing it would probably cost less than running the dishwasher

 

[Kevinpreston3]

Aren't keyboards

about $6.99 down at Staples? Not worth wasting the time or detergent. Plus, although one could guess that engineering strides have eliminated this, there was a time that if you shorted a keyboard you could possibly short the keyboard controller on the logic board of the computer. Probably not an issue in the last 10 years and with the advent of USB keyboards. That said, I would not run anything through the dishwasher with electric contacts on it.

Just my $.02!

 

[nurdlinger]

Approaching from the opposite direction...

Washing of electronic items will leach out lead compounds and other stuff injurious to health, contaminating the interior of the dishwasher. You should never do this in a machine used for washing items used in food preparation or serving.

 

[filterflo14]

I have seen washable keyboards

I have a catalog from Tiger direct and they have keyboards that you can run water over and some of them are wieless.

TigerDirect Sunset

 

[tolivac]

Good point Nurdlinger:Washing electrtical-electronic items in a dishwasher could leach out hazardous materials-in the case of transmitter tubes-the ceramic envelope of the tube contains Beryllium-not a good stuff to season your food with-it is very hazardous.I knew of another engineer who washed power tubes in a dishwasher.I wouldn't do it myself.If you do wash those non-dish items-would run the machine thru a complete cycle with detergent to flush out the undesirables.I do wonder what the reaction would be between dishwasher detergent and ceramic tube and vac capacitor envelopes-will clean them good-but--what about toxic reactions?

 

[drmitch]

Let`s try it just for fun. Heck, lets wash the whole computer! OK, Now who`ll vollenteer their computer?

 

[tolivac]

You know for extra fun-lets wash the computer-with it turned on no less-in one of those glass front dishwashers like what you used to see at Sears---Now that would be an interesting dishwasher demo!!