Aluminum Keyboard spill

After much web browsing searching for solutions, I think I found an answer to the sticky keys leftover from (literally) the drops of fine ale that found its way onto my keyboard.
First, take the keys off as described here:
http://skeltoac.com/2007/10/22/apple-keyboard-aluminum-keycap-removal/
Some added info: use a stiff guitar pick to lift up the top edge; pay attention to the fact that not all keys lift the same way; and it's gonna feel like you're gonna break the keys or something underneath when you do it. I can yank a key in no time now.
Then, no amount of water, cleaning, toothpicks, or other removal techniques seemed to work on the stickiness. Finally came to a small amount of WD-40 on the damned plastic scissors, wiped on and the excess off with a q-tip, and voila, limited to no stickiness (well except my "n" that I'll get right when I'm done here.
Too bad the keyboard isn't more easily maintained but this'll do you a treat if yours is sticky and you don't want to shell for a new one.

[Clean and Repair your Mac keyboard: How-To Guide|http://lancej.blogspot.com/2008/04/clean-and-repair-your-mac-keyboard-how .html]
[Keyboard Repair|http://www.mactech.com:16080/articles/mactech/Vol.05/05.01/Keyboardrepai r/index.html]
[Removing key caps from Aluminum Keyboard|http://skeltoac.com/2007/10/22/apple-keyboard-aluminum-keycap-removal>
Then there's always the dishwasher (I'm not kidding - search the web).

Similar Messages

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    I am new here.  Can I get help with a mid 2010 MacBook Pro?  It appears to have a LED backlit screen.  A keyboard spill left me with a display problem.  In bright light at the right angle you can see that the display is still working, but there is zero backlighting available.  I have replaced inverters on other machines in the past with this problem, but they were not LED backlit.  I think this problem is different.  Can someone give me a clue what to do to fix this please?  Thank you!!!

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    Some liquid has just spilled into your Mac. What should you do?
    Do
    Immediately shut down the computer and unplug the power cord.
    Remove the computer's battery (if you can)
    Disconnect any peripherals (printers, iPods, scanners, cameras, etc.)
    Lay the computer upside down on paper towels to get as much liquid as possible to drip out.
    Note what was spilled on your Mac.
    Bring the computer into an Apple store or AASP as soon as possible.
    Don't
    Don't try to turn it back on. Liquids can help electrical current move about the components of your Mac in destructive ways.
    Don't shake the computer (this will only spread the liquid around).
    Don't use a hair dryer on it (even at a low setting a hair dryer will damage sensitive components).

  • Mid 2010 MacBook pro took a keyboard spill.  It still works but display is sooo dark - like no backlight.  I think this is an LED screen.  Does anyone know the fix for this?

    Hi all...  My mid 2010 MacBook Pro took a keyboard spill.  It still works but the display is very very dark.  A faint image can only be seen at an angle in very bright light.  I think this model has an LED screen.  Can anyone please tell me what the fix for this is?  Thank you sooooo much! 
    < Email Edited By Host >

    Spill Cleaning
    Some liquid has just spilled into your Mac. What should you do?
    Do
    Immediately shut down the computer and unplug the power cord.
    Remove the computer's battery (if you can)
    Disconnect any peripherals (printers, iPods, scanners, cameras, etc.)
    Lay the computer upside down on paper towels to get as much liquid as possible to drip out.
    Note what was spilled on your Mac.
    Bring the computer into an Apple store or AASP as soon as possible.
    Don't
    Don't try to turn it back on. Liquids can help electrical current move about the components of your Mac in destructive ways.
    Don't shake the computer (this will only spread the liquid around).
    Don't use a hair dryer on it (even at a low setting a hair dryer will damage sensitive components).

  • Apple Aluminum Keyboard slow responding after reboot

    I have Leopard installed on my external firewire drive, and 10.4.1 installed on my PowerBook. Whenever I boot from one to the other I get a very slow response from my new Apple Aluminum Keyboard and my USB trackball. I have the trackball connected to the keyboard's USB port and the keyboard is plugged directly into the PowerBook. When I boot into either system it takes a good five minutes before the keyboard and trackball respond. In the meantime I have to use the keyboard on the PowerBook and the trackpad to login, etc... I also have USB Overdrive installed on both systems, but this problem developed before I installed USB Overdrive in Leopard. Any clues?

    Does this new keyboard pair fine with the other computer?
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    If you're having issues with your Apple Wireless (Aluminum) Keyboard disconnecting, there are a few things you can try.
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    http://discussions.apple.com/message.jspa?messageID=5783742#5783742
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    I've seen the very same problem. In my case I have a wired Mighty Mouse attached to one of the USB ports on the aluminum keyboard. Every time I plug it in -- not recognized first time. Second time -- success. Highly annoying.
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  • Apple Aluminum Keyboard and 23" cinema Display and MacBook Pro??

    Hello there
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  • Problem with a new aluminum keyboard

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    I have exactly the same problem. I just replaced my old Aluninium Apple wireless keyboard that got damaged. I am running OS10.5.8 on a 3.06 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo. I just unboxed my new French wireless keyboard that I ordered form the Apple online store, and can use the sound buttons! I get the dashboard or the old F3 key instead.
    DMarsh thanks for your tip, the box is unticked, but the F keys are still scrabbled. My old Apple wireless English keyboard is working fine (3 batteries).
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  • How to remap volume control keys on aluminum keyboard?

    I want to remap my volume control keys (increase, decrease and mute toggle) to F16, F17, and F18 on my new aluminum keyboard. But I can't figure out how to do this. I called AppleCare tech support and was told that volume key location is hardwired into the keyboard. Say it ain't so! There's got to be a way, right?
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    I second this, I still think this was a poor decision on Apple's part. I loved real media keys, this is not a laptop keyboard, (Fn)+(..) should not be necessary. My real complaint comes from IF i can get it to remap in OSX i am still stuck with it as is in Bootcamp. No remapping programs work with (Fn) in XP.
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  • New Aluminum Keyboard

    Received new iMac keyboard today, hooked it up, downloaded Apple Keyboard Update 1.1, and rebooted. Except for the F3 and F4 keys, everything works fine. F3 only brings up Expose, and F4 only brings up Dashboard if I assign these keys appropriately in system preferences, and use fn in combo with each. This is with the option to use standard function keys turned off.
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    www.macfixit.com posted one guys work around which fixes this problem.
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  • Apple aluminum keyboard brightness keys

    Just bought a apple aluminum keyboard (wired, not wireless) and hooked it up to my Macbook Pro which has all the latest system updates. The Macbook is connected to a Samsung SyncMaster 213T. Everything seems to work fine except that the F1 and F2 keys, which are supposed to control the brightness don't do anything. Before taking the keyboard back for an exchange, I thought I would ask here if there are any tricks I should try...like turning something on or off?

    Hi,
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