I have a 3 year old Samsung laptop that has an intermittently functioning space bar. It works if tapped enough times, but is quite annoying. I'm afraid to spray switch cleaner under it. Anybody have any ideas?

Switch cleaner won't work because there are no exposed switch contacts that would work on. What you need is a replacement keyboard for it. How easily you can get one or how cheaply is anyone's guess.

That's obviously not what I wanted to hear, but sounds reasonable.
Thank you for the reply.

Many times the answer isn't what we were hoping for... true mechanical keyboards all but went extinct over a decade ago... do to cost and complexity... there are literally only a few places that still make them for purists... but those are for desktops and not laptops.

If you don't need to carry this around... you can always use a USB keyboard and mouse for a desktop... that will extend its life if you find a replacement is either not available or too expensive.

Yes I used my first computer 34 years ago... and have nonstop ever since.