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Are Keyboards Dishwasher Safe?

i_like_spam writes "Computer keyboards are a breeding ground for bacteria. Studies have shown that keyboards often contain more bacteria than toilet seats. Common cleaning methods, such as pressurized-air canisters and damp rags, help remove some of the dirt, but they also leave behind plenty of grime. National Public Radio describes a recent experiment by a reporter who used a dishwasher to clean her keyboard. Following the advice on Plastic Bugs, she placed her keyboard in the top rack, didn't use the heated dry cycle, and air dried the keyboard for a week afterwards. Her keyboard is now squeaky clean and functions perfectly. Has anyone else tried this or any other alternate keyboards cleaning methods? For those not willing to air dry for a week, dishwasher-safe keyboards are now available. Would you ever do this to your peripheral? "

12 of 534 comments (clear)

  1. At last! A story *made* for slashdot! by jthill · · Score: 5, Funny

    Post it again in a week!

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    As always, all IMO. Insert "I think" everywhere grammatically possible.
  2. Slight complication by rescdsk · · Score: 4, Funny

    What about laptops?

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    -- rm -rf / tells you if you have root or not
    1. Re:Slight complication by BerkeleyDude · · Score: 5, Funny

      Jst tae ot the eyboad, and wash it sepaately.

      Bt caefl, thogh - the keys may fall ot, so it's easy to lose them. :(

  3. Re:Did it many MANY times. by ralfg33k · · Score: 4, Funny

    I just lick mine clean.....kinda like the family cat. Sometimes the cat and I take turns licking the mouse, too. Never got sick, though I did get a second taste of some cashew chicken from last month. Mmmmmmm.

  4. Re:At last! A story *made* for slashdot! by qbwiz · · Score: 5, Funny

    Ae keboas ishashe safe?

    o.

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    Ewige Blumenkraft.
  5. Re:most things are cleaner than a toilet seat by Moe+Yerca · · Score: 5, Funny

    Obviously you've never seen my toilet seat.

  6. Re:most things are cleaner than a toilet seat by fimbulvetr · · Score: 4, Funny

    Not true! I've seen it leave your apartment when you're gone. It likes to go on a stroll, sometimes even takes the dog out. I wouldn't worry until it starts answering the phone, though.

  7. Re:At last! A story *made* for slashdot! by Anpheus · · Score: 4, Funny

    Wow! How many times do you have to refresh the post reply page before you get a captcha you can type?

  8. Re:The evils of soap by jbrader · · Score: 5, Funny

    I just wash my hands regularly.

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    You are so boring that when I see you my feet go to sleep.
  9. Re:So cheap by MillionthMonkey · · Score: 4, Funny

    "I would write a better reply, but why keep my computer on and waste the electricity" says a voice in my head. Not just any voice- this one sounds like Al Gore.

  10. Re:We have nothing to fear but fear itself by Kohath · · Score: 5, Funny

    I agree. In fact, I am internally equipped with various defenses to fight and defeat those evil bacteria. The bacteria on my keyboard was probably originally attached to me anyway.

    After I use someone else's keyboard, I wash my hands. Maybe I should write an Ask Slashdot topic:

    "I recently discovered it was possible to wash my hands. After looking up various hygiene-related articles (link to Wikipedia) I found out that hand-washing has been associated with greatly-lessened likelihoods of getting sick. And disease outbreaks have been shown to be limited among populations of folks who wash their hands. Finally, after I heard that Al Gore washes his hands (link to Al Gore), I started doing it myself. Has anyone else tried this? Where do you wash them? Do you live near a fast-moving river where you can wash them? I wash mine in the toilet, but I'm starting to think that's not helping as much as the online articles suggest. There are other fixtures in my bathroom, but I don't know what they do. Has anyone ever tried using these other fixtures?"

  11. Re:oh the irony by prandal · · Score: 4, Funny

    All the letters worked but special keys like Shift, Ctrl, Alt, Etc didn't. Where's the Etc key?