My keyboard had become extremely dirty from food and cigarette ash, so I tried to clean it because the packaging described it as washable. I put it in the dishwasher with the heat cycle running, and now none of the keys work. I'm worried I ruined it and can't afford a replacement right now. Is there anything I can do to recover it?
3 Answers
The wording on the box is easy to misunderstand, but washable and dishwasher-safe aren’t the same thing. Electronics should only go in a dishwasher when the manufacturer specifically says they can handle that exact process. For future cleaning, unplug the keyboard, remove the keycaps, and use compressed air plus a slightly damp cloth.
Unplug it immediately and don’t try powering it on again. Take it apart if you can, remove the keycaps and internal parts, and let everything dry completely in a warm, ventilated place for several days. Dishwasher heat, detergent, and water pressure may have permanently damaged it, but thorough drying is the only realistic recovery attempt.
Unfortunately, it may be beyond repair. “Washable” usually means it can handle limited rinsing or spills, not a hot dishwasher cycle with detergent. If drying doesn’t bring it back, look for a basic used keyboard, a thrift-store option, or ask someone locally if they have a spare.
The box really did say it was washable, so I thought using the dishwasher was safe. I’ll leave it unplugged and try letting it dry completely.