PS Magazine - TB 43-PS-717

PS, The Preventative Maintenance Monthly

ISSUE 717

AUGUST 2012
PS Magazine - TB 43-PS-717 - Page 26 of 33
Have You Seen My Keys?
± If±you’re±highly±ambitious,±you±can±remove±the±keys±to±give±your±keyboard±a±really±
thorough±cleaning.
± Most± standard± desktop± keyboards± are± of± the± membrane± type.± They± allow± you± to±
remove±the±keys.±But±most±laptops±are±made±differently.±The±keys±aren’t±supposed±to±
come±off.±So±don’t±try.±You’ll±just±damage±the±keys±and±posts.
± Here’s±the±right±way±to±remove±the±keys:
48
PS 717
AUG 12
1.
Read±the±user’s±manual±to±find±out±if±you±can±safely±remove±the±keys.
2.
Before±removing±keys,±use±a±copy±machine±or±a±camera±to±record±the±layout±of±the±
keyboard.±Later±on,±you’ll±be±able±to±return±each±key±to±the±right±location.
3.
Remove±keys±safely±by±using±a±keycap±puller.±That’s±a±tool±with±two±loops±of±wire±
on±a±handle.±The±loops±grip±the±key±so±you±can±lift±it±straight±up.±Prying±the±keys±
out±with±a±stick±or±screwdriver±might±cause±damage.
± ± You±can±order±a±keycap±puller,±part±number±0606-0069,±at±the±GSA±Advantage±
website:±
± ± Or±you±can±get±one±at±your±local±computer±supply±store.
4.
Remove±all±keys±if±you±want.±But±the±larger±keys—such±as±the±space±bar,±shift,±caps±
lock,±tab,±backspace±and±enter—can±be±difficult±to±put±back.
5.
Once±you’ve±pulled±the±keys,±clean±the±keyboard,±posts±and±keys±using±the±
materials±and±methods±described±earlier.
6.
Use±the±keyboard±layout±you±made±to±return±each±key±to±its±post.±Press±firmly±but±
gently±until±it±snaps±into±place.
Cleaning Keys
Here’s±the±right±way±to±clean±your±keyboard:
1.
Log± off± the± computer± and± shut±
down±the±power.
2.
Unplug± the± keyboard± from± the±
computer.
3.
Spread± a± sheet± of± newspaper± on±
a±desk±or±the±floor.±Firmly±holding±
the±keyboard,±turn±it±upside±down±
and± shake± it± over± the± paper± to±
dislodge± the± debris.± Tapping± its±
bottom± or± pressing± the± keys± may±
help.
4.
Turn±the±keyboard±so±that±the±keys±
are±right±side±up.±Tilt±it±at±an±angle.±
Spray± compressed± gas± duster± at±
the±sides±of±the±keys±to±loosen±and±
remove± dirt± from± between± and±
under±the±keys.
± ± If± you± don’t± have± a± can± of±
compressed± gas± duster,± use± the±
paint±brush±to±sweep±away±debris.±
You± may± even± need± to± use± the±
tweezers± to± pick± out± stubborn±
particles.± These± last± two± steps±
should±get±rid±of±most±of±the±junk±
clogging±your±keyboard.
5.
Vacuum± any± remaining± dirt.± Just±
make± sure± the± keyboard± doesn’t±
have± loose,± “pop± off”± keys± that±
the±vacuum±could±suck±up.
6.
Clean±both±sides±of±the±board±with±
the±disinfectant±wipes.±Make±sure±
to±rub±the±tops±and±sides±of±keys.±If±
you±don’t±have±disinfectant±wipes,±
use± a± cotton± cloth± dampened±
with± isopropyl± alcohol.± Pour± the±
alcohol± on± the± cloth,± not± the±
keyboard.± Wring± out± any± excess±
moisture.± Foam± swabs± dampened±
with±alcohol±also±do±a±good±job±of±
cleaning±the±sides±of±keys.
± ± You±clean±a±laptop±keyboard±the±same±way.±Just±remember±to±lean±the±laptop±on±its±
side±before±using±the±compressed±gas±duster±or±a±paint±brush±to±clear±away±debris.
± *These±NSNs±are±not±on±the±AMDF.±Order±them±on±
DD±Form±1348-6±and±put±“NSN±not±on±AMDF”±in±the±
REMARKS±block.
NSN
Item
Vacuum cleaner
Vacuum bags
Disinfectant wipes
Compressed gas duster
Foam swabs
Isopropyl alcohol
Keyboard/mouse cleaning kit
here’s a
summary
of the nsns
mentioned
in this
article…
later
on…
take a photo
before
removing keys!
there…
picture
perfect!
smile!
I don’t do
windows.
seriously?
Shake±
keyboard±
over±
newspaper
Vacuum±remaining±dirt
Spray±gas±duster±to±loosen±dirt±between±keys
717 48-49.indd
1-2
7/3/12
3:23 PM
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