A billion years ago (2006 or so probably), I impulse bought four or five of the Elite model all at once. Probably to save on shipping or some dumb thing, I don't remember. At the time I had gone through three of the keyboards by spilling water on them. Even a little water destroys the membranes inside, so I was like hey, I'll just stock up so I don't have to wait to order.

Then they stopped making them. I have one remaining in storage, and two in active usage. One of those (this one I'm typing on now) has a flakey 1 key. I'm really dreading the day I finally destroy it and have to find some new keyboard to replace it. Nothing I've ever seen compares to the original MS Natural Elite.

Still got it attached to my server box. Other than comfort being able to pop it in the dishwasher for deep cleaning is my fav feature.

> being able to pop it in the dishwasher for deep cleaning

How much disassembly does that take? Can't imagine water being too good for the USB hub electronics & such.

I have washed a regular keyboards in a dishwasher, electronics and all. Works fine; the downside is that it takes too long to dry. It can take several days before the last bits of moisture stop interfering with the membrane contacts.

Therefore, of course disassembly is the preferred approach. It is fairly simple for most cheap membrane keyboards, like from Dell or Logitech and whatever. You unscrew some dozen or so screws, and and then the top cover which houses the keycaps separates from the bottom. Removing the top reveals the silicone sheet that provides the rubber domes for the key action and protects the internals from spills and debris. That rubber sheet removes easily; it is just loosely placed over the membrane switch board.

You can wash the keycap housing in a dishwasher without popping the caps off at all. The rubber sheet can hand-washed in seconds in the sink with some soap and water.

That's pretty much it.