Wireless Keyboard 3000 v2.0

Mine is an older keyboard and the wrist rest is becoming very sticky and unusable.  Is there a quick solution?  Soap and water (dish detergent) doesn't solve the problem.  Is there a replacement part?  Cover the rest with duct tape?

First thing to say is that these keyboards were simply not fit for purpose because of the defective rubberized coating on the palm rest. Microsoft know this full well but have failed to own up to their responsibility as designer and manufacturer. Instead of an honest admission of a manufacturing defect they urge owners to simply create more e-waste by dumping an otherwise good keyboard in favor of purchasing a new one. Not even a discount offered!     

There is a fairly simple, practical solution to deal with this issue that takes about 20 mins to complete:

1. Switch the keyboard off.
2. Remove the 4 small Phillips screws directly under the palm rest and gently prize the palm rest from the keyboard.
3. Put the keyboard safely to one side to avoid contact with cleaning chemicals.
4. Generously apply a product such as Goo Gone or Mineral Spirit to the rubberized surface of the palm rest
5. Use a blunt blade such as a butter knife to scrape up as much of the softened rubber as possible. Repeat the application of Goo Gone / Spirit and scrape more goo away a couple more times.
6. Soak some folded paper towels in Mineral Spirit and use with a firm scrubbing action to remove any remaining rubber goo.
7. Apply a domestic silicone polish to the palm rest and polish to a a clean gloss finish.
8. Reassemble, switch on and you're good to go!

Hope this helps keeps the e-waste mountain a little smaller.

Mine is an older keyboard and the wrist rest is becoming very sticky and unusable.  Is there a quick solution?  Soap and water (dish detergent) doesn't solve the problem.  Is there a replacement part?  Cover the rest with duct tape?

Another solution would be just remove the wrist rest all together if possible.

Then see if you can buy a neoprene mat which you can put the keyboard on.

Cut it big enough so you have a over lap for your wrist.

This material is much like the wet suit material.

A form of open cell rubber like material.

The best solution is a new keyboard.  Not really expensive.  When shopping, there is no correlation between price and quality.  Buy on price and features alone.  Most of my clients are perfectly happy with a wired keyboard that can be found for well under $20.