Remote controls and other rubberised things going sticky

Mutton_Geoff

I've got a couple of old remote controls (less than 10 years) and knobs on my car radio with a rubberised soft coating that has gone sticky to the touch.


Anyone got any tips how to reverse this or clean it off?

Jackmydad

I'd book marked this from when my electronic measuring tape went sticky.
http://wiki.diyfaq.org.uk/index.php/Soft_Touch_Removal
The meths works but as it says it takes a bit of work.

B_G_B

Isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol).

stragglebod

Or scrub with an old wire dish cleaner and a little water, the underlying plastic shouldn't get damaged.

Things will get much stickier as you scrub but persevere and it should come up nicely.

Remember to take the batteries out before you start and wait until it's thorougly dry before replacing.

leviathan

Just be careful about it on labelled buttons as sometimes the rubber coating is part of the stencil that forms the label and it's not just in the underlying plastic. You can only tell when it's too late.

Mutton_Geoff

The meths worked fine with a green sponge scourer. The labelling stayed intact as well. Now to tackle some other sticky knobs.

DaftyDuck

I've used a strong bicarbonate of soda paste with success.

unforeseen

B_G_B wrote: »

Isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol).

I never had any success with IPA

elsien

The handle on my iron went that way.
My solution was to stop doing the ironing.