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clarify that we are not talking about dishwasher components

Cleaning computer and electric cables In the dishwasher

I have a number of computer cables worth several hundred dollars in total which have come into my possession, that were stored in such a way that they may have been contaminated (nothing a good washing wouldn't fix). I would prefer not throwing them out. Most of us have probably heard about washing a keyboard in the dishwasher, and now I am wondering if the same method can be applied to dirty cables. My assumption is that because the older PS2 keyboards used in these dishwashing experiments have their own copper cables attached, what could be the difference? I am wondering if any of these cable types have different material or fastenings that will not hold up in a dishwasher, under heat, or when wet.

The assortment of cables include:

  • HDMI
  • DVI
  • VGA (DE-15)
  • Other DSUB types
  • Cat 5e/6 ethernet
  • SATA
  • USB (Micro, Mini, A to B printer types)
  • Speaker wire
  • S/PDIF
  • RCA
  • 3.5 mm Stereo
  • Auxillary (to headphones jack, maybe same as 3.5 mm)
  • Computer Power Cords (IEC60320 C13 standard)
  • Any C-Type standard cables for that matter
  • DB-25 Parallel Printer cables (I know, throw it out)
  • D-Sub
  • Power cords with AC/DC Transformers attached (like a phone charger, or router power cord) These are often device specific and difficult to replace.

Follow up questions:

  1. If there is concern about the temperature of the dishwasher (although I cannot imagine it hurting the cables and not a keyboard), can they be washed by hand?

  2. If there is any water left in the cables after several weeks of drying out, could they damage the electronics they are plugged into? Or will they simply not function?

user58446
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