I spilled some iced coffee on my Corsair Gaming K95 keyboard, and now the left arrow key is sticking, and possibly the Right CTRL key too. I've managed to work around it by disabling the affected keys using PowerToys, but I want to get this resolved because using the left arrow is essential for my writing. Additionally, the backspace key doesn't always register unless I tap it multiple times. I've cleaned the keyboard with a damp cloth and used compressed air, but I'm wondering if I should apply some isopropyl alcohol to the key mounts and let it sit overnight. I'd really prefer not to be stuck without a keyboard for a day! Also, I take full responsibility for the spill; I accidentally shook a bottle of coffee without a lid. I've cleaned what I could, but I guess it wasn't thorough enough.
5 Answers
Once my cat vomited on my keyboard after I spilled coffee. I removed all the keycaps and cleaned them with distilled water and left them to air dry. For the switches, I did a follow-up clean with 90% isopropyl and let everything dry for a full day. You might end up losing a switch or two, but having extras helps! Good luck!
You might want to check out the cleaning guides on forums like /r/mechanicalkeyboards! I think the general advice is to soak the keyboard in distilled water or use isopropyl alcohol to clean the sticky areas. Good luck!
Just straight-up rubbing alcohol worked wonders for me in the past. If your keyboard is already acting up, it might be worth a good clean.
I’ve had great success washing my keyboards on a gentle cycle without soap! I bought a couple to switch between while one is drying. Just be careful! Alternatively, use rubbing alcohol and cotton swabs to clean around the problematic keys. Corsair keyboards are pretty durable, really.
I had a similar issue with juice spills. What worked for me was soaking the keyboard in warm tap water for a few hours, then drying it and giving it another scrub with alcohol afterward. It was a last resort, but my keyboard ended up working perfectly again!
I found a guide thanks to you! Fortunately, my keyboard still works mostly, just needs some TLC. Appreciate the tip!