| I know most of you will not heed this advice, but | | | | needs to be installed along with the key. |
| KEYBOARDS CAN MAKE YOU SICK (how's that for | | | | * An alternative to compressed air is to use an |
| tactfulness?). Germs live on your hands and fingers. | | | | electric hair dryer with the blower on high. It matters |
| When you type, many of them jump on to the | | | | little if the heat is on or off. It's great for dusting too. |
| Gateway MT3707 MT3711c Keyboard. When | | | | * Consider leaving the space bar in place. It is hardest |
| someone else types on your keyboard, those germs | | | | to get back on and easiest to break. |
| transfer to their fingers. Or when you later type on | | | | * If you forget the order in which the keys on your |
| the same keyboard, those germs reconquer your | | | | keyboard go, simply boot up your computer. Go to |
| fingers. Regularly disinfecting the keyboard can | | | | Start>All |
| prevent this. | | | | Programs>Accessories>Accessibility>On |
| Tips: | | | | Screen Keyboard This will give you a keyboard on |
| * Some people actually wash the keyboard in a | | | | the screen, which you can simply copy the order of |
| dishwasher. Don't attempt to clean a keyboard that | | | | letters/numbers/characters off. |
| way unless you're willing to risk losing the keyboard. | | | | * Laptop keyboards are a bit different. It is not |
| If you do put a keyboard through the dishwasher, | | | | usually necessary to remove keys from a laptop in |
| make sure the keyboard is completely dry before | | | | order to clean it. Isopropyl alcohol and Q-Tips or |
| using it. This should definitely be avoided with wireless | | | | compressed air is usually enough. |
| keyboards. | | | | Warnings: |
| * You can remove all keys from your keyboard, put | | | | * When spraying compressed air, do not turn the can |
| them in a little closed bag (like for socks) and wash | | | | upside down. Doing so can cause liquid propellant to |
| them with your clothes in the washing machine. Clean | | | | spray into the keyboard, damaging it. Also, be sure |
| the keyboard skeleton with your vacuum cleaner and | | | | to use the compressed air in a well ventilated area. |
| a wet rag. | | | | * If you remove the keys, keep them away from |
| * Or, simply take a picture of the Gateway MT3707 | | | | small children or pets. Loose keys pose a choking |
| MT3711c Keyboard ( ) with your digital camera | | | | hazard. |
| before you start pulling the keys off. | | | | * Do not inhale the contents of the compressed air. |
| * The keys on a laptop can be difficult to replace, | | | | While it's safe to use in a ventilated area, the |
| especially keys like the space bar and the Enter key, | | | | concentrated contents are toxic and could injure or |
| which have a separate support under them that | | | | kill you. |