Computer keyboard is 'dishwasher-safe'

[Robbien]

Source: Contractor UK

The first “dishwasher-safe” computer keyboard that can be fully submersed in water to help eradicate harmful bacteria lying on its surface has been unveiled.

Unwrapped at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, the ‘anti-microbial’ suite of keyboards, mice and remote controls is said to be impenetrable to water.

Although it is aimed at healthcare providers, tasked to eradicate super-bugs, the set is also due to be a hit among businesses, keen to protect staff from ‘Qwerty tummy.’

Tests by consumer watchdog Which? found office keyboards can be five times dirtier than the average loo seat, and can host bacteria that could lead to a stomach upset.

Using the “washable” keyboard was hailed by its US makers Seal Shield as a “clean, safe and secure” way of ‘combating the spread of cross contamination infections.’


Read more: http://www.contractoruk.com/news/004149.html

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Germs are not the biggest worry. On the other hand, spilled cups of coffee have defeated more than their fair share of hapless keyboards.

[Veritas_et_Aequitas]

1. When will Detroit make a keyboard that can withstand a venti latte?

[Rebubula]

4. Yup

I could not care less about germs, but spilling my coffee or lunch is a problem.

[otohara]

2. Or...you could wash your hands a lot during the work day

I'd sure hate to be the person delegated to go around the office and pull all the keyboards, stick them in the dishwasher and plug them all back in.

[Soylent Brice]

5. i was thinking the same thing. why not just wash your hands?

:shrug:

we can't even get people to do their own dishes in the company kitchen, let alone wash friggin keyboards.

there's obviously a hug benefit here, but damn are there some gross people out there...

[SharonRB]

6. Do you work in my office?

We have the same problem. I sometimes wonder what these people do with their dishes at home. It's disgusting.

[Soylent Brice]

9. word!!

if it's any indication, i would have to assume most of them here probably aren't washing their hands at all...

eeeeewwwwww....

[LiberalEsto]

3. I recently tried to clean my keyboard

I bought it second-hand.

It was absolutely disgusting. I used pipecleaners and a sewing seam ripper to gouge out old layers of crusty food lurking beneath the keys.

It would be nice to have a keyboard without spaces for the crud to fall into.

[onehandle]

7. I replace my keyboard every year at work and at home.

You cannot clean them. Not really.

A dishwashable keyboard sounds like a pretty good idea.

[Bette Noir]

11. A friend of mine regulary disassembles his keyboards,

and puts the plastic parts in the dishwasher. I've already forwarded him the link to this article. A fully machine-washable keyboard would change his life.

[HopeHoops]

8. That should be helpful, what with Global Warming raising the ocean levels.

"Honey, the bottom rack is full and the top rack is mostly empty"

"Just throw in the keyboard and mouse"

Somehow I doubt that will be a common household exchange.

[alfredo]

10. I've had this keyboard for eight or nine years. I've spilled just about every

liquid that can be spilled on it. When It happens I put it in the shower and rinse it good. I shake it out, sit it in front of a small fan until dry, and it works just fine. I'm using an Apple Pro keyboard.

I always wash my hands well after leaving the WC. I'm the only user of this keyboard.

[Thor_MN]

22. "spilled just about every liquid" WAY too much information...

[alfredo]

25. At my age, I doubt I could "throw" anything that far.

[uncle ray]

12. most keyboards are already washable.

you just need to give them plenty of time to dry before using them again.

though i wouldn't do it too often, but if it's a matter of it being so crusty it's either throw it away or give it a bath, what do you got to lose?

[Tempest]

14. I've been cleaning keyboards in dishwashers for decades

You're right, all you have to do is give them plenty of time to dry out.

I work in IT and I swap out the user's dirty keyboards, take them home, run them through the dishwasher, give them two weeks to dry out and then put them back in production.

I've been doing it since the first IBM PCs came out on the market back in the early 1980s.

So far, not one single failure from running them through the dishwasher.

[frylock]

17. me too!

we have dishwashers here in the breakrooms that I use to wash our keyboards.

[Tempest]

18. I was using the company's dishwasher, but people complained

They thought it was disgusting so I started taking them home.

You should see the crap they would put into the dishwasher. Dishes and glasses with month old mold growing on them.

[frylock]

20. no kidding!

I made the mistake of washing a couple of keyboards along with some nasty serving spoons that had been sitting in there for gad only knows how long. Needless to say, the keyboards had a bit of a funk to them.

[madmom]

13. A spew worthy keyboard.... great for Du....

:puke: now we don't have to buy new ones as often.

[47of74]

15. Qwerty tummy

So that's what the one neocon I work with is always coming down with.

[Tab]

16. Screw the bacteria

But I have lost more keyboards to spilled soda, wine, or beer...

In the "desktop" days, not a big deal, I kept some extras around, but now in laptop-land, it's a big deal to lose a keyboard.


FUN FACT: This may actually help you, if you lose a keyboard (or other electronic device, e.g.: cell phone) to moisture, bury the thing in a bunch of dry (uncooked) rice for a day or two - it'll absorb the moisture.

[and-justice-for-all]

19. It is not that hard to clean...

just take the screws out and wash the top, there are not electronic components to worry about.

[ozymandius]

21. I always peruse the computer hardware aisle at Goodwill for keyboards.

Since I still use a computer with a ps/2 connector - I find it easy to replace a keyboard after spilling something on it. Or after the cat has horked up on it. Spray it with Lysol before using it is always my biggest advice.

[applegrove]

23. What a great idea. Keyboards are notoriously dirty.

[demwing]

24. Does no one remember the early model IBM keyboards?

You could hose it down in your driveway, wash it with a scrub brush, and let it dry in the sun for an hour or so, and it worked like a charm.

[Hepburn]

26. I can think of at least 3 of my previous keyboards that went to that...

...big electronics store in the sky thanks to beverage spills!

:hi:

[slackmaster]

27. That's pretty cool

I HATE grimy keyboards and mice.

I use Windex and paper towels to clean them.

[johnaries]

28. Not the first.

Sun Microsystems had a dishwasher safe keybaord years ago. We had them here at work. They also had laser guided mice - although you had to use a relective grided mousepad with them.