Ages upon ages ago I spilled something on this keyboard. I don’t really remember the details. The control key is sticky. It takes about twice as much force to push down and it really annoys me. I suppose I thought over the years it would get better, but it seems like it has gotten worse. How do I clean it or fix it? This keyboard does not have removable switches. The switch is MX Brown.
even without hotswappable switches there’s a good chance you’d be able to replace the switch anyway
if cleaning it doesn’t work, you should be able to look up how to desolder and then replace the switch yourself. you should only need a cheap soldering iron, some wick, some solder, and a new switch.
as long as it’s easy to physically get the keyboard apart, the switches should be just about the easiest thing to solder there is
One way might be to flush it with a spoonful of 99% IPA[1], followed by some wiggling and then using a compressed air-can to push wind into it from one direction, causing the IPA and the dirt mixed with it to come out of some gap in the opposite direction.
Since it is the Ctrl key (hoping it to be in the a corner as it usually is), you can tilt the keyboard such that the Ctrl key is on the bottom, then pour IPA on the higher corner of the key, such that it drenches the PCB under the key while flowing down and while you wiggle it. And then again, spray from the higher point, such that the exhaust is in the direction of the edges and corners, reducing the dirt that might transfer to other keys.
However, you might want to check just in case the back is removable. That should make stuff easier as you then won’t require guessing which way the dirt solution might go in a closed box.
Either way, keep it for a while after you do the thing and before plugging it in (right, you need to unplug it first), so that most of the IPA is evaporated before you start it up.
Keyboards tend to be much simpler as compared to stuff like motherboards, so I’d guess using a hair dryer instead of compressed air should be fine too (just don’t turn on the heat).
Can I not disassemble it if it’s attached?
I myself haven’t seen Cherry MX keys with non-removable keycaps…I just reread and realised it was the switches that were non-removable and not the caps. But then what seems to be the difficulty?
Is it perhaps that the liquid that you spilt, got inside the switch? - IDK how that would have happened, but in that case you will just have to disassemble the switch (yes, open the single switch) to clean it. It should be doable without getting its bottom off the PCB, just a little harder.I was originally expecting the stick to be happening duo to the keycap and the surrounding stuff, but if it is the switch itself, then the previously given solution won’t work and you are better off using IPA and a Q-Tip inside the switch.
Maybe try one of these:
Yeah it’s definitely affecting the switch mechanism, not the cap. If I remove the cap it still is sticky. I’ll check the links later. Thanks!