Are Keyboards Dishwasher Safe? 534
i_like_spam writes "Computer keyboards are a breeding ground for bacteria. Studies have shown that keyboards often contain more bacteria than toilet seats. Common cleaning methods, such as pressurized-air canisters and damp rags, help remove some of the dirt, but they also leave behind plenty of grime. National Public Radio describes a recent experiment by a reporter who used a dishwasher to clean her keyboard. Following the advice on Plastic Bugs, she placed her keyboard in the top rack, didn't use the heated dry cycle, and air dried the keyboard for a week afterwards. Her keyboard is now squeaky clean and functions perfectly. Has anyone else tried this or any other alternate keyboards cleaning methods? For those not willing to air dry for a week, dishwasher-safe keyboards are now available. Would you ever do this to your peripheral? "
At last! A story *made* for slashdot! (Score:5, Funny)
Bad Idea (Score:2, Funny)
Slight complication (Score:4, Funny)
A Week??? (Score:3, Funny)
A week? That's probably more fossil fuels consumed than a new keyboard would be.
Re:Slight complication (Score:5, Funny)
Bt caefl, thogh - the keys may fall ot, so it's easy to lose them.
Re:Did it many MANY times. (Score:4, Funny)
Would I do this to my peripheral?? (Score:2, Funny)
Re:At last! A story *made* for slashdot! (Score:5, Funny)
o.
Re:most things are cleaner than a toilet seat (Score:5, Funny)
Re:most things are cleaner than a toilet seat (Score:3, Funny)
The fallacy here is that having bacteria does not necessarily make something "dirty" (unhealthy). There's probably more bacteria in my stomach right now that my toilet seat. Does that mean I wouldn't want to get food in my stomach? There's good bacteria, chaotic neutral bacteria, and chaotic evil bacteria.
Re:The evils of soap (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Slight complication (Score:2, Funny)
Give it a try tonight and let us know how it worked out.
Re:most things are cleaner than a toilet seat (Score:5, Funny)
Re:At last! A story *made* for slashdot! (Score:5, Funny)
Re:most things are cleaner than a toilet seat (Score:4, Funny)
Re:At my university (Score:3, Funny)
Re:The evils of soap (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Easier Solution... (Score:4, Funny)
Re:So cheap (Score:2, Funny)
Re:So cheap (Score:5, Funny)
Re:At last! A story *made* for slashdot! (Score:2, Funny)
Re:We have nothing to fear but fear itself (Score:5, Funny)
After I use someone else's keyboard, I wash my hands. Maybe I should write an Ask Slashdot topic:
"I recently discovered it was possible to wash my hands. After looking up various hygiene-related articles (link to Wikipedia) I found out that hand-washing has been associated with greatly-lessened likelihoods of getting sick. And disease outbreaks have been shown to be limited among populations of folks who wash their hands. Finally, after I heard that Al Gore washes his hands (link to Al Gore), I started doing it myself. Has anyone else tried this? Where do you wash them? Do you live near a fast-moving river where you can wash them? I wash mine in the toilet, but I'm starting to think that's not helping as much as the online articles suggest. There are other fixtures in my bathroom, but I don't know what they do. Has anyone ever tried using these other fixtures?"
Re:The evils of soap (Score:3, Funny)
I hear ya. Ever since I've started washing my hands, I've noticed there's an invisible force field that repels all liquids, cat hair, and crumbs from the keyboard. It's an amazing phenomenon that only Douglas Adams could describe in great detail.
I don't know about keyboards.... (Score:2, Funny)
Re:No, but.. (Score:3, Funny)
I can't even believe this is a "story" on Slashdot (Score:1, Funny)
Re:At last! A story *made* for slashdot! (Score:2, Funny)
Re:At last! A story *made* for slashdot! (Score:2, Funny)
Re:A Week??? (Score:3, Funny)
Re:So cheap (Score:4, Funny)
It's funny... I had that same voice in my head... but my fingers wouldn't let me type the command to shut this box down...
Re:oh the irony (Score:5, Funny)
Re:most things are cleaner than a toilet seat (Score:3, Funny)
Heck if you told them they had (good) bacteria in their intestines, a lot of people would try to drink Dettol (or similar) and make the world a better place.
Re:Slight complication (Score:3, Funny)
Re:At last! A story *made* for slashdot! (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Bacteria, fungi, and viruses are everywhere. (Score:1, Funny)
Me too! Bacteria are the only culture some people have!