How caustic are alkaline batteries?
May 26, 2013 3:45 PM Subscribe
I had some AA energizer max alkaline batteries in my keyboard and one leaked. When I went to remove it some one the powder got between the keys on my keyboard. How caustic is the potassium hydroxide solution in this stuff? Is it concentrated or pretty diluted? Is it safe when its dry? I cant easily clean between my keys.
Rinse the keyboard thoroughly with warm, running water in your bathtub or wide sink. Use detergent (dish soap will do). Allow to drip dry on an edge (pin it against the side of the sink with a heavy pan, for instance; the edges will let water drain, but if held flat the electronics are more likely to puddle the water inside.) Turn it at least once, to make sure all the "water catches" drain.
Then either place it in a gas oven with a pilot (which will keep it around 100-120 F, very safe but warm), or let it sit in full sun for a few days. Seriously: 3-4 days. If you have the pilot-light oven, overnight might do.
Your keyboard will be clean, and fine.
It's amazing how freaking long moisture can hide inside a flat keyboard without heat-forced drying, which is why so many people think that water will destroy a keyboard.
Alternatively: gently pry off each damn key. They're built to be press-ons, and can safely be removed. Clean with a damp rag. Allow to air-dry (and rinse the key covers in the meantime), then replace all of them. Obviously more work.
posted by IAmBroom at 6:58 PM on May 26, 2013
Then either place it in a gas oven with a pilot (which will keep it around 100-120 F, very safe but warm), or let it sit in full sun for a few days. Seriously: 3-4 days. If you have the pilot-light oven, overnight might do.
Your keyboard will be clean, and fine.
It's amazing how freaking long moisture can hide inside a flat keyboard without heat-forced drying, which is why so many people think that water will destroy a keyboard.
Alternatively: gently pry off each damn key. They're built to be press-ons, and can safely be removed. Clean with a damp rag. Allow to air-dry (and rinse the key covers in the meantime), then replace all of them. Obviously more work.
posted by IAmBroom at 6:58 PM on May 26, 2013
If you are going to wet-clean, mix white vinegar and water at a 1:1 ratio and use a toothbrush dipped in that to clean contacts and any other areas which have the alkaline residue.
Then, do a wet clean like IAmBroom suggests.
As a step to speed drying, you can pour through some 91% Isopropyl alcohol as a last flush. As alcohol with that concentration is highly hygroscopic, and evaporates much more quickly than water, you can often shorten the drying time to hours instead of days, depending on heat and airflow.
posted by tomierna at 7:11 PM on May 26, 2013
Then, do a wet clean like IAmBroom suggests.
As a step to speed drying, you can pour through some 91% Isopropyl alcohol as a last flush. As alcohol with that concentration is highly hygroscopic, and evaporates much more quickly than water, you can often shorten the drying time to hours instead of days, depending on heat and airflow.
posted by tomierna at 7:11 PM on May 26, 2013
I netadmin a school, and I'm quite fond of cleaning our grodier keyboards in the dishwasher.
Take the battery compartment lid off and the batteries out before you put it in, and don't use any soap; dishwasher soap is caustic and will damage the electronics, and at the temperatures dishwashers operate at is unnecessary for removing anything you're likely to find contaminating a keyboard. Also, probably best to wash it by itself or with other keyboards.
Afterwards dry it out thoroughly per IAmBroom and it should work just fine. My personal favorite keyboard drying location is perched sideways on top of the grid at the back of the fridge - 48 hours there seems to be about right and yes, flip it once at half time to make sure all the internal buckets get a chance to empty completely.
posted by flabdablet at 11:53 PM on May 26, 2013
Take the battery compartment lid off and the batteries out before you put it in, and don't use any soap; dishwasher soap is caustic and will damage the electronics, and at the temperatures dishwashers operate at is unnecessary for removing anything you're likely to find contaminating a keyboard. Also, probably best to wash it by itself or with other keyboards.
Afterwards dry it out thoroughly per IAmBroom and it should work just fine. My personal favorite keyboard drying location is perched sideways on top of the grid at the back of the fridge - 48 hours there seems to be about right and yes, flip it once at half time to make sure all the internal buckets get a chance to empty completely.
posted by flabdablet at 11:53 PM on May 26, 2013
tomierna: As a step to speed drying, you can pour through some 91% Isopropyl alcohol as a last flush. As alcohol with that concentration is highly hygroscopic, and evaporates much more quickly than water, you can often shorten the drying time to hours instead of days, depending on heat and airflow.I've done this, and let me emphasize: it still will take longer than you expect. As you mention, heat and airflow are key; the isopropyl doesn't remove the need for these.
posted by IAmBroom at 12:16 AM on May 27, 2013
If you're lucky, though, you might get the right mix of isopropyl alcohol vapor and air inside your oven to make the pilot flame light off an explosion that will amuse all your neighbors. Perhaps outdoor drying would be a sounder choice if you're going to go the alcohol wash.
posted by flabdablet at 1:43 AM on May 27, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by flabdablet at 1:43 AM on May 27, 2013 [1 favorite]
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The danger here is that dried out, it's at quite high concentration, then you type, get some dust on your fingers without knowing it, rub your eyes later, and best case have achy weepy eyes for a while, worst case it's much worse. If it were me I'd either spend some quality time with many damp q-tips or if it was a cheap keyboard I'd replace it. In the short term you need to be vigilant about washing your hands and not rubbing your eyes, but eventually you'll forget if you're a normal human being.
posted by range at 6:25 PM on May 26, 2013 [1 favorite]