Spilling water or other liquids on your keyboard can be a frustrating and potentially expensive accident. However, with some quick action and troubleshooting, you may be able to fix the keyboard yourself without having to buy a replacement.
What to do immediately after spilling liquid on a keyboard
When liquid gets spilled on a keyboard, it’s important to act quickly in order to prevent permanent damage. Here are the steps you should take right away:
- Unplug the keyboard immediately. This will prevent shorts and further damage to the electronics.
- Turn the keyboard upside down to drain out as much liquid as possible. Give it a good shake or two over a sink to help drain the liquid out of tight spaces.
- Pat the keyboard dry with a towel. Absorb as much moisture as you can.
- If possible, use a can of compressed air to blow out any traces of moisture. The compressed air will help displace liquid from between the keys and other tight spaces.
- Leave the keyboard in a dry, warm place for at least 24 hours. This allows any residual moisture to evaporate.
Inspect the keyboard for damage
After the keyboard has had time to dry out, the next step is to inspect it closely for any apparent damage. Look for:
- Visible corrosion on the circuits, contacts, or connectors.
- Keys or switches that feel stiff, loose, or unresponsive.
- LED lights that are unlit when the keyboard is plugged in.
- Any signs of shorting like burn marks on the circuits.
If you see extensive corrosion, damaged components, or evidence of short circuiting, the prognosis for the keyboard is poor. The liquid likely reached critical internal components and caused permanent damage. In this case, it’s best to replace the entire keyboard.
Try using the keyboard again
If the visual inspection didn’t reveal any major damage, the next step is to plug the keyboard back in and try using it. Boot up your computer and open a text document to test all of the keys.
Press down firmly on each key and make sure it inputs properly without getting stuck. Pay special attention to the space bar, enter/return keys, commonly used letters, and modifiers like shift and alt. Also check that features like LED backlights and specialty keys are working.
Here are some of the issues you may encounter:
- Some keys don’t work – This likely indicates localized damage to a specific switch or circuit under that key. You may be able to clean the affected areas with isopropyl alcohol.
- Entire sections or rows not working – This points to damage shorting out the contacts for that part of the keyboard. For example, if the entire number row isn’t working, liquid probably reached the circuitry for that row.
- Keys feel stiff or squishy – The switches under these keys may have residual liquid or corrosion buildup. Try cleaning them.
- Keys register the wrong characters – This is a sign of corroded or damaged contact pads under specific keys. Unfortunately, this type of issue is difficult to fix.
If none of the keys appear to be working, liquid may have shorted out the entire keyboard matrix or main control board. The prognosis for recovery is poor if this is the case.
Clean the keyboard with isopropyl alcohol
If you identified individual keys that are unresponsive or performing poorly, cleaning the keyboard internals with isopropyl alcohol may help. Follow these steps:
- Unplug the keyboard again.
- Pop off all of the keycaps using a keycap puller tool. This exposes the switch mechanisms.
- Use a small brush dipped in isopropyl alcohol to scrub around the switch mechanisms. Be gentle yet thorough in cleaning corrosion buildup.
- Flip over the keyboard and locate holes where you can access the backside of the board. Use cotton swabs soaked in alcohol to scrub away corrosion.
- Allow the keyboard to fully dry for at least 2-3 hours before reassembling.
The isopropyl alcohol will displace any lingering moisture and clean away corrosion deposits from the contacts. This may restore conductivity and connectivity.
As you reassemble, check that the keys feel snappy and responsive. If certain keys still give you issues, you can try cleaning them again with some added pressure. But be cautious of damaging delicate components.
Use a keyboard cleaner
Another option for deep cleaning keyboards after liquid damage is using a purpose-made keyboard cleaner. These devices blast pressurized air through the keyboard which flushes out any remaining moisture or debris.
Here is an example of the keyboard cleaning process with a professional cleaner:
- Disassemble the keyboard fully by removing all keycaps and separating the outer housing.
- Place the internal keyboard assembly into the cleaning chamber. The components should be fully exposed.
- Run cleaning cycles according to the product instructions. Multiple back-to-back cycles provide maximum effectiveness.
- After completed cleaning cycles, use a brush and isopropyl alcohol to clear off dissolved contaminants flushed out by the process.
- Dry the keyboard for 48-72 hours to ensure any lingering moisture has evaporated before reassembling.
Keyboard cleaners can reach tight spaces between keys and around components that are difficult to access manually. The powerful air circulation flushes away stubborn deposits. However, these cleaners represent an added expense on top of replacement parts and cleaning materials.
Replace individual keys or switches
If cleaning attempts fail to restore functionality to certain keys, another option is replacing individual key switches. Many keyboards allow you to simply pop out the malfunctioning switches and replace them with new ones.
For keyboards with removable/replaceable switches, follow these steps for replacements:
- Identify which exact keys/switches need replacing. Remove the associated keycaps.
- Use a switch puller tool to detach the bad switches from the keyboard plate.
- Press in replacement switches. Make sure they are fully seated.
- Reattach the keycaps and test keyboard functionality.
Replacing individual switches or keys is cheaper than an entire keyboard replacement. Just take care to get replacement keys/switches specifically designed for your keyboard model.
Use silicone sealant on external leaks
If your keyboard has visible damage to external housing that allows leaks inside, you may be able to seal up the external leaks with silicone sealant or epoxy resin.
For example, if there are cracks in the outer keyboard frame or damage around ports that let liquid inside, apply sealant to the affected areas after cleaning and drying the keyboard. This can prevent future spills from seeping inside.
Use a small amount of sealant and spread it thinly over damaged areas. Avoid getting any sealant on internal components. Let the sealant fully cure before reassembling the keyboard.
Replace the entire keyboard
If you’ve tried all other troubleshooting steps without success, replacement of the entire keyboard may be necessary. A new keyboard will be needed if:
- Liquid reached electronic components on the keyboard’s circuit boards and caused irreparable corrosion.
- Short circuits damaged the keyboard matrix or input controllers beyond repair.
- Cleaning attempts were unsuccessful and keys still don’t work properly.
- Cost of replacement parts exceeds more than 50% of a new keyboard price.
To replace the keyboard, first determine the make and model of your laptop or desktop computer. Then search online to find a replacement keyboard that matches or is compatible with your specific model.
For laptops, the keyboard is typically easy to access on the underside. Remove any screws securing the keyboard and detach the ribbon cable connecting it to the motherboard. Place the new keyboard in position, reconnect the ribbon cable, and replace screws.
Desktop keyboards can be swapped out by simply unplugging the old keyboard and plugging in the new one. Make sure the new keyboard matches the port type on your computer (USB, PS/2, etc.)
Conclusion
Spilling liquid into an electronic keyboard can certainly cause issues, but is not always the end of the world. In many cases, if you act quickly to clean and dry out the keyboard, damage can be minimized and full functionality restored.
Always unplug and drain keyboards immediately after a spill. Isopropyl alcohol cleans corrosion buildup effectively in many cases. For stubborn issues, stronger cleaning methods and replacements of individual components may be needed.
However, if leaks reached critical integrated circuits and caused extensive corrosion, replacement of the entire keyboard may be unavoidable. But following proper troubleshooting steps gives you the best chance of saving a liquid-damaged keyboard.