Skip Navigation

I spilt coffee all over my keyboard this morning and it’s all sticky, since it didn’t break can I just pour water on it to help the stickiness?

I know that sounds like a stupid ass question. I have the Logitech wireless mx keys. I wiped the keyboard down so the surface of the keys aren’t sticky, just hard to press down and some have a spasm.

Since a whole ass thing of coffee did not short it, it gives some credibility that it is water resistant. Can I just dump water on it to help it?

34 comments
  • Turn it off, REMOVE THE BATTERY (important step, batteries are dangerous and do not like liquids), then disassemble it. Remove the keycaps and rubber membrane and wash them with soapy water, and wipe down the gold contacts with isopropyl alchahol. Wait for it to dry completely before reassembling it.

  • Did a quick search and it looks like it uses Kalih Choc V2 mechanical switches. The each key cap should be held on to the switch by a friction fit. You should be able to pull each key cap off then soak them in some soapy water. If you don't have a key cap puller, you can try using some string and a pencil or wooden dowel to make a cheap one.

    Although from what you described, coffee may have gotten into some of the switches. That would require replacing the sticky switches or taking them apart, cleaning, and re-lubing them. In either case, pulling the key caps will give you a better idea of where all the fluid ended up.

    Some people have recommended alcohol. If that gets into the switch it will dissolve the lubricant.

    I would say pull a couple keys you care the least about then take a closer look before you decide how you want to tackle cleaning it.

    https://www.kailh.net/products/kailh-choc-v2-low-profile-switch-set

  • Well if you take out the batteries, probably you could - but I think it's best to just strip it down and I washed mine in the bathroom sink with a bit of detergent (dish soap), then dry it before re-assembling it (I did this with my ancient Logitech K270 keyboard a few times).

    The main issue with spills is that they dry sticky, and then the keys will get sticky - so you need to dump out the keys and wash them. On my keyboard, they just pop out and clip straight back in again.

  • No way around just disassembling and cleaning with alcohol. Even if it works now, you have certainly reduced the lifespan without a cleaning. Water damage can sometimes take time to corrode and destroy components.

  • I've found that the best way to clean a keyboard is to pull the keycaps, then clean between the keys with isopropyl and cotton swabs.

    if coffee got into the mechanism, probably just use a spray bottle with isopropyl & soak those individual keys.

    back in the day I used to run keyboards through the dishwasher, but not sure about modern keyboards

  • Funny story, I spilt coke all over my first mechanical keyboard. I tried everything to fix it, water, rice, alcohol. After all that it still felt horrible so I ended up just buying a new one. But I didn't throw it away, I just stuck it in my closet where it remained for years.

    Then approximately 8 years later, I take it out, randomly decide to try typing on it.. its perfect. Felt just like it did when it was new, I dunno if the sugar just broke down or degraded over time or what, but it was fixed.

    So if nothing else, just put it into storage for a decade and then try it out again lol.

34 comments