How to Dishwash a Computer Keyboard

This is a guide for people with especially dirty keyboards who are unsure of how to clean them. Good news! It’s simpler than you think. A dishwasher is a perfectly reasonable way to deep clean a gross keyboard. Despite the fact that no manufacturers suggest this process and that this process will void all warranties, when done properly any wired keyboard can be washed in a dishwasher. It is important to note that this will only work as long as it is not plugged in, as there is no power flowing through it. Whenever attempting this process, you should always keep a spare keyboard nearby in case something goes wrong. This keyboard will always be needed after the wash since the keyboard cannot be used for seven days while it dries. You should also not do this unless you do not really care about your keyboard or your keyboard is so far gone that you do not think it could be hand washed. For relatively clean keyboards, it is a much better idea just to hand clean them by removing the keycaps and wiping down the surface. Nevertheless, here is a step by step tutorial on how to wash your keyboard in the dishwasher.

A wired keyboard

A dishwasher

Make sure that you have a backup keyboard and that your keyboard does not have any batteries before proceeding. Also be warned that this will void all warranties on your equipment and has the potential to ruin the entire device. This is not a tutorial for laptops or wireless keyboards, they will be ruined if you put them in a dishwasher. This is for plastic, wired computer keyboards.

If you would like a deep clean, remove the keycaps and place only the keyboard into the top rack of the dishwasher. Do not use any soap in the wash and only rinse. If there are any settings on your dishwasher which use hot water, do not use them for this, we will be doing a cold rinse for this process. Make sure that there is nothing else in the dishwasher other than your keyboard and start the rinsing process.

Once the dishwasher has finished cleaning, find a place to put the keyboard to dry that is out of the way. Begin by patting down with paper towels until the surface is dry. Then prop the keyboard up so that it is upside down and the key slots can breathe. Leave the keyboard to dry for 7 days.

Reassemble any part of the keyboard which you took apart then enjoy your clean keyboard!