dvorak? qwerty? Let's call the whole thing off.

January 5, 2006 11:11 AM

So, I've got quite a bit of gooey stuff on my the keyboard of my laptop. How do I get it off?

I recently attempted to teach myself to type with the dvorak keyboard layout. To facilitate this I put little white stickers on my keys (a sort of physical remapping of the keyboard). Now I've decided to just stick with qwerty. I've peeled off the stickers but a lot of the glue was left on the keys. What can I use to get it off? (Typing on a gummy keypad is off-putting.) Of course I don't want to damage the laptop.

Thanks.

posted by oddman to Technology (7 answers total)

Isopropyl alcohol might do the trick nicely.
posted by five fresh fish at 11:16 AM on January 5, 2006

Second the alcohol. That or goo-gone (that stuff is amazing). Just be careful not to get any of the liquid into the keyboard. If you do - don't sweat it. Just make sure it's unplugged, and let it dry before using.

Also, I need to use this thread as an excuse to use my favorite computer term: hand salsa.

eww.
posted by twiggy at 11:25 AM on January 5, 2006

I'd try 409. Goof-off would certainly do it, but it's hella powerful, to use the vernacular. It might eat the plastic.
posted by teece at 11:28 AM on January 5, 2006

Put some lighter fluid (Ronsonol-type) on a Q-tip and rub the goo. Make sure it doesn't remove the letters, too.
posted by Kirth Gerson at 11:36 AM on January 5, 2006

Q-tip and either isopropyl (get as high a % as you can 90-99%) or lighter fluid (Ronsonol, Zippo - essentially, naptha). The naptha works better for gummy stuff while isopropyl works better for dried stuff.

Neither will damage the silkscreened/printed stuff on the keys.
posted by PurplePorpoise at 12:30 PM on January 5, 2006

So, I've got quite a bit of gooey stuff on my the keyboard of my laptop. How do I get it off?

Sounds like you already did!

*zing*

Sorry, couldnt resist. I second the goo-gone.
posted by skrike at 1:24 PM on January 5, 2006

I used WD-40 and Goof-Off to get masking tape residue off a keyboard. Also see other suggestions here.
posted by Fat Guy at 4:28 PM on January 5, 2006