This technical note is brought to you by Thomas Plummer,
After having searched the web for advise about fixing a sticky keyboard on my
laptop, and finding nothing very helpful, I put together this HOW TO based on my
own successful method. This will restore the keyboard to new, or
better, performance. Laptop keyboards don’t wear out, they foul out. Proper
cleaning and lubrication as described here will restore your laptop keyboard to
the snappy and smooth performance it had when new. There are several reasons why
the keys will start to stick, spilled drinks, normal wearing off of the factory
lubrication, weakening of the rubber pieces which give each key its snap action,
and contamination by dust and hair. The following will completely solve these
problems and return the keyboard to perfect operation.
This will require about 2 hours time once you have collected the proper cleaning
materials.
◦Cleaning materials:
◦Cotton swabs
◦Cosmetic foam rubber cleaning pads ( use only with naptha (lighter fluid), NOT
alcohol)
◦Paper towels
◦Rubbing alcohol
◦Water
◦Lighter fluid (naptha)
◦Fine tipped tweezers
◦Scissors
◦Kitchen strainer
◦Household cleaner, Windex or equivalent
◦Super Lube Dry Film spray (critical - DO NOT SUBSTUTUTE !) K-Mart automotive.
◦This is a PTFE (teflon) based lubricant which dries perfectly DRY and is
ideally suited for this application.
Proceed as follows:
DISASSEMBLE
IMPORTANT: Make a keyboard map so you know where each key goes.
Carefully pry each key loose with a small screwdriver and place in a container.
They pop off. DO NOT use excessive force. There may be a small rubber piece for
each key. Remove all of these and place in a separate container. CAREFUL, these
are small and like to jump away.
CLEAN KEYBOARD ( do this well...... you will be wonderfully rewarded )
Clean the keyboard with cotton swabs SLIGHTLY DAMPENED with water. Replace these
often and BE SURE they are only slightly damp. If they are too wet the excess
water will contaminate the keyboard through capillary action. This will clean
all water soluble contaminants like Coca-Cola, coffee, and sugar residue. For
the very small places, cut the foam rubber into small pieces and use the
tweezers, again SLIGHTLY DAMPENED, for cleaning. You must clean each and every
key space, inside and out, this is critical since this is where the key touches
and moves.
Repeat this procedure again using rubbing alcohol and cotton swabs but NOT the
foam rubber as it disintegrates when used with alcohol.
Finally repeat this procedure using naptha (lighter fluid) and foam rubber. You
can clean even the smallest key guides with small pieces of foam rubber and
tweezers. This action will remove any petroleum based contaminants as well as
the grease that is sometimes used on the wider keys which may have guide wires,
for example, the SCACE BAR.
CLEAN KEYS
Some keys may have wires attached and some grease on them, clean these first
with cotton swabs and naptha (lighter fluid). Remove all traces of the grease.
Place all keys in a kitchen strainer. Spray with household cleaner and let stand
for 5 minutes. Rinse thoroughly with hot water and place keys on paper towels to
dry. Let dry completely.
CLEAN RUBBER COMPONENTS
Place all rubber components in a kitchen strainer. Spray with household cleaner
and let stand for 5 minutes. Use stopper in the sink so that you don�t lose
these if they jump out of the strainer. Rinse these thoroughly with hot water
and place on paper towels. Fold the towels over and press to squeeze most of the
water out of the pieces. Let dry completely.
LUBRICATE KEYS
Place all keys bottom-up on a paper bag. Lightly coat the keys, at a 45 degree
angle with Super Lube Dry Film lubricant. Do this from all 4 sides to assure
penetration and coverage into the small and critical guide spaces inside each
key. Let dry ( this happens nearly instantly). DO NOT overdue this step as the
carrier solvent may affect the plastic.
LUBRICATE KEYBOARD
Mask off the laptop with paper and scotch tape. Apply lubricant (as above in
LUBRICATE KEYS) to the keyboard and let dry.
All right, you now have perfectly cleaned and lubricated keys, keyboard, and
rubber components.
REASSEMBLE
Place all rubber components into the keyboard.
Install keys with wires. Make sure wire is secured in the key, usually snapped
into place. Place ends of wire in the guide slots adjacent to the key location
as you align the key. Firmly press down to snap the key into place.
Install the rest of the keys by aligning and firmly pressing down.
CONTRATULATIONS, you now have a keyboard which will operate smoothly and
perfectly for years to come.
“Men are generally more careful of the breed of their horses and dogs than of their children.” William Penn
MGM
© ALS Independence 2003-11