You hear that phrase sometimes, “treat it like a lady”. People usually mean be gentle, be respectful, careful like. I found myself thinking about that the other day, but maybe not in the way most people would expect. It wasn’t about a person.
It started with this old mechanical keyboard I had tucked away in a cupboard. One of those proper heavy ones, clicks like thunder. It had been sitting there for ages, gathering dust, looking a bit sorry for itself. I used to love typing on that thing.
Getting Started
So, I decided it needed some attention. Not just a quick wipe with a cloth, but a proper, careful job. Like it deserved some respect, you know? I pulled it out and set it on my workbench. First thing was unplugging it, obviously.
Then I started taking it apart. Real slow. You gotta be careful with older plastic bits, they can get brittle. I found a little pry tool and gently started popping off the keycaps, one by one. Took a while.
The Cleanup Process
I laid all the keycaps out on a towel, trying to keep them roughly in the right order so I wouldn’t mess up putting them back later. Then I got a bowl of warm soapy water. Nothing fancy, just dish soap. Dumped all the keycaps in for a soak.
While they were soaking, I tackled the main keyboard body. Man, the dust and grime under the keys! It was pretty gross. I used a soft brush to loosen everything up, then blasted it with some compressed air. Got right in between the switches. Had to be gentle here, didn’t want to damage anything. Just patient work, brushing and blowing, bit by bit.
After the main board looked clean, I went back to the keycaps. Took an old toothbrush and gave each one a gentle scrub, getting the finger gunk off. Rinsed them all thoroughly and laid them out on another towel to air dry completely. This part took the longest, just waiting for them to dry properly.
Putting it Back Together
Once everything was bone dry, I started putting it back together. Carefully snapping each keycap back onto its switch. Making sure it was the right key in the right place. That satisfying click as each one went home was pretty good.
Checked the layout maybe three times just to be sure. Looked clean. Looked right.
The Result
Finally, I plugged it back into my computer. Typed a few sentences. That solid, clicky feel was back. It felt… respected. Clean, working perfectly, every key responding just right. It wasn’t just about making it clean; it was about the process. Taking the time, being careful, giving it the attention it needed.
Maybe that’s what “treating it like a lady” means in practice sometimes. Not about being weak or fragile, but about giving something the proper care and attention it deserves. Whether it’s a tool, a piece of equipment, maybe even just a process. You put in the careful effort, you get a better result. Felt good, anyway. Felt like I’d done it the right way.
