nathan_thompson62•15d agoProlific Poster

Question about that old trick for fixing sticky laptop keys with isopropyl alcohol

My 2012 ThinkPad had three keys that got sticky after a coffee spill six months ago, and replacing the whole keyboard was going to cost $45 plus shipping. I read on a forum from 2015 that you can drip 91% isopropyl alcohol under the keys and press them a few times to break up the residue, which actually worked on two of the three keys. Has anyone else tried this method, or is there a better trick for the third key that still feels a little gummy?

2 comments

2 Comments

lily51115d agoMost Upvoted

Wait, @oliver242 actually thinks putting alcohol near electronics is gonna short something out? I mean, I get being careful but 91% evaporates super fast, it's not like you're dousing the whole motherboard. I've done this on two different laptops over the years and never had an issue, though I always unplug the battery first just to be safe. For your third key, maybe try a tiny bit of compressed air after the alcohol to really blast out whatever's stuck? idk, that's helped me with stubborn keys before, but your mileage may vary.

oliver24215d ago

That's just asking to ruin your keyboard or short something out, not worth the risk.