Are Computer Keyboards Dishwasher Safe?

We had a discussion around the office about how to clean your keyboard. I mentioned that I put my Microsoft ergo keyboard in the dishwasher and let it air dry for a few days. It came out spotless and it is still working fine almost a year later. I can't say you won't have any trouble, but if it's either throw it away or try something desperate, this might be your thing.
Here is an article from NPR talking about the same subject.

by Nell Greenfieldboyce
Morning Edition, June 14, 2007 ·

Studies show that computer keyboards have more bacteria than toilet seats.
But it's hard to clean all those keys. So some people advocate an extreme
solution: Throw your keyboard in your dishwasher.

At first glance, this seems insane. But the computer-keyboard-in-the-dishwasher advice is all over the Internet. And don't we wish it were true? My keyboard is an old Hewlett Packard that's encrusted with a kind of mysterious black grime. I thought, "Well, why not try my KitchenAid?'" I ran the experiment one night. I put the keyboard on the top rack, cord and all, key-side down. I used a little soap, and hit "normal wash." (I didn't want to pots 'n' pans it.) I was encouraged to do this by Scott Moschella a computer guy who runs a blog called Plastic Bugs.

According to Microsoft's Sean Butterworth, I had just made a big mistake. "We do not recommend putting our keyboards, or any keyboards for that matter, in the
dishwasher," he says. "What will cause the problems first, is the short-circuiting in the wiring." Butterworth should know. At Microsoft's hardware division, people check out every possible thing that might harm a keyboard. "We test with everything from cracker crumbs, salt and pepper, hair," he explains. "We even create a special solution we call artificial sweat." They have also submerged keyboards in plain water. "And that gets you relatively close to what it would be like if you put it through the dishwasher," Butterworth says. "And typically that makes most keyboards lose functionality."

Other major manufacturers have the same party line. Robert Gulino, with
Logitech, told me I could wipe the surface gently with a damp cloth. Or, blow
out dust with a little can of compressed air. "But, you know, in terms of
washing it, we certainly don't recommend that," Gulino says. "If you did want to
be able to do that, it would have to be a very different keyboard. The
electrical components inside would have to be encased in membranes. But we just
don't do that."

I was just hoping my keyboard wouldn't have to be replaced.
After its ordeal in the dishwasher, I let it air dry for a week. Then I plugged it in and started to type. I tested the space bar, the return key, all the numbers and letters. It seemed perfect.

Here is the complete story: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=11029793