Yucky keyboard problem

[Non-Driver]

My 3-year old has been suffering with Swine Flu and unfortunately projectile vomited over my laptop. Whilst it was pretty watery and I drained it straight away, I have a few non-working & sticky keys now. Is there anything I can flush it out with that won't cause short circuits or lasting damage ?

[jimtherev]

Depends on the model. However, the three or four different models I've looked at in the past year all had a couple of screws holding the keyboard in after removing battery & other stuff behind little doors underneath the machine. Try to download the maintenance manual, and you will see the right things to disconnect. Then carefully remove the yuck.

Never removed vomit from keyboard... beer a couple of times - waste of a pint.

[srobarts]

There are companies who will clean laptops after spillages. Might be worth contacting one of them. Alternative pick up a spare keyboard from ebay and replace keyboard.

[mad_jock]

Get a couple of cans of electrical contact cleaner. Or cans of deodorant have been used successfully in the past.

Take the battery off and if you can lift the keyboard out. Then give it a right good spray. Then hoover off and do it again.

Leave for an hour to dry and every 10 mins press every key properly don't just brush them all with the flat of your hand.

[Slopey]

Just buy a new one - you'll get one in Tesco's for under £20, even less if you shop around.

Unless it's a high end one, it'd be easier and better to bin it.

[Tarq57]

You could try wiping a tincture made from star anise over the keyboard. Rumour has it that it's supposed to help with swine flu symptoms.
(The highly - processed and expensive version can be bought over the counter as Tamiflu.) :E

But seriously, I've had the keyboard on mine apart a couple of times for routine cleaning, just keep track of where everything goes (digital camera is helpful here, if it's at all complicated) and it's pretty easy.

Never had to clean puke from sticky keys, though. I'm sure there are better ways to mess up a keyboard.
You should maybe use something gently alkaline to help neutralize the barf acids.

[Herky Turkey]

Turn sticky keys off. Quickly press the shift button 5 times.:ok::ok:

[Lancelot37]

I haven't seen any laptop computers in Tesco for underr £20!
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How about a new laptop via your household insurance? My nephew got one when his daughter spilled orange juice on his laptop.

[Non-Driver]

Suspect the laptop is not long for this world anyway so think I'll try the contact cleaner or deodorant (whch particular version of Lynx ?) and if it ends in tears we'll go shopping for new.

[Coconutty]

(whch particular version of Lynx ?)This will be the best one to use ;)

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d129/coconut11/LynxRecover.jpg

Or you could try shot blasting with this one :

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d129/coconut11/LynxShotBlast.jpg

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d129/coconut11/Coconutty.jpg

[FakePilot]

Unplug it, open it all up, and wash it out with water - only water no soap etc. No scrubbing of delicate internal parts.
Just make sure it's COMPLETELY dry before plugging it in. Reassembly would help too.

[mad_jock]

Non-driver you obviously know the score. Which ever flavour is the 3 for 2 offer on at tesco.

[Non-Driver]

The contact spray worked reasonably well except for loosening the attachment of one or two keys..........:ugh:

[mad_jock]

There is a knack of getting them back on. Get the key and work out which way round it goes and make sure that everything is located properly to the key.

Then get your better half to turn the laptop upside down and hold tight and then firmly push up to locate the key.

If they are half on half off get a jewellers screwdriver and ease them off completely its virtually impossible to get them back on without breaking one of the wee plastic lugs.

I presume you used the squirty straw attachment to jet blast under them.

[Slopey]

Whoops - mis-read the OP - thought it was just a keyboard, not one embedded in a laptop. [:(]