[ubuntu-uk] Bacteria in your PC

[Tan Xuan You]

Regarding the dishwasher method, there's probably a few things that
could go wrong:

1) Hard water. Calcium and other mineral deposits (better known as soap
scum) left behind after drying can make the keyboard worse than it was.

2) Improper drying. Surfaces under surface-mount chips on the keyboard
circuitry may still be moist from the water if left to air-dry, and
cause shorts.

To solve the above two problems, a non-conducting, volatile fluid like
naphtha (lighter fluid) can be used to expel the water after cleaning,
and made to dry faster than water.

3) Heat. Less of a problem, but washing in high temperature water can be
dangerous for silicon chips. IIRC 85 or 90 is the critical temperature
for modern chips, and they experience mechanical failure after that.
Might be less of a problem for the lower complexity keyboard chips.


Just my two cents worth. I probably wouldn't toss that Optimus Maximus
in a dishwasher anytime soon. =)

Xuan You