Have you bought an old computer, and when you opened the box you found a horrible grimy mess? Worried about what’s lurking between the keys of that keyboard? Well, it’s time to pull those nitrile gloves on and get scrubbing! This broken Amiga 500 I bought from eBay was described as “the power light comes on.” Previously we discovered an exploded capacitor and a leaky battery. We’ve recapped it and replaced the expansion connector. We’ve built a new modern power supply. Now it’s time to clean it up.
Grime Removal and Deep Cleaning
There’s a little bit more to cleaning a computer than scrubbing the case. Yes it does need a good scrub, and for that regular window cleaner spray is really good. But for the stubborn stains and ink marks, something stronger is needed. I used baking soda mixed with a little water. This is slightly abrasive, so it needs to be used with a little caution, since it will affect the surface texture,
Inside, the keyboard will need a good clean. Pull off all the keys and clean them individually. Yes it is a tedious job, but it has to be done. The tray will be horrid – all that muck and gunk that’s dropped between the keys over the years. And it’s somebody else’s. Eww.
Often the plastic will have yellowed with age. This can be reversed through a process called “retrobrighting”. It involves hydrogen peroxide (the kind used in hair salons) and lots of very bright sunlight (or a UV lamp, or a greenhouse grow light). Essentially it’s going to bleach the plastic back to its original colour.