The PC keyboard is still one of the most utilised PC peripherals, but as a result of the extended periods of use, it is highly susceptible to collecting dust, grimy fingerprints, crumbs, as well as those unfortunate fluid spills. Swiss peripheral maker Logitech has now put an end to grimy keyboards with its new Washable Keyboard K310.

The K310 can be hand washed with water and soap in the kitchen sink, and users are even able to fully submerge the device in up to 28 cm of water. However, the same does not go for its USB connector cable, since this cable isn’t water-resistant.

Besides being easy to clean, this keyboard is also simple to dry out, since the back of the keyboard has holes for draining off water as well as to help with air drying.

According to Logitech, users do not have to worry about the keyboard’s key characters becoming faded over time, as these are laser printed and UV coated to ensure that the letters don’t fade during the wash. In addition, the keys have been designed to be very durable so that they are able to last up to five million keystrokes.

This full keyboard also features a numeric pad, handy F-keys, as well as 12 hotkeys for functions such as controlling volume, media playback, and launching your web browser or email client. The Washable Keyboard K310 is compatible with Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP, and supports plug-and-play functionality so you do not have to install or download special software. No word on Windows 8 compatibility, but we’re sure it won’t be a problem.

Logitech’s Washable Keyboard K310 is expected to be available in South Africa from November 2012, for a suggested retail price of R600.

“We’ve all experienced that moment of distraction – followed by panic, when a cup of coffee or a soda spills all over your keyboard,” says Reon Coetzee, country manager for Logitech South Africa. “We all know that life happens, regardless of how careful you are you will spill, Logitech designed the Logitech Washable Keyboard K310 to look and function like new, even over time.”

For a look at some other cool tech check out our ‘Also in the office feature’ for October 2012.