Good evening, SF.

A wonderful, sweet lady I worked with (she retired very recently) called me this evening. She's in her 70s, and is just an absolute sweetheart. We talk routinely, and have great chats.

During this evening's call she said, "I've done something stupid." Naturally, I laughed and asked what she had done.

It turns out that she used a Clorox wipe (or similar) to clean her TV remote, and "now it's sticky and I can't get it clean!" I'm guessing some chemical in the cleaning wipe had an adverse effect on the remote's plastic body.

I've had other plastic/rubber things get this way in the past (my spotting scope, for instance) and I've not been able to remove the "sticky-ness."

If I knew more specifics about her TV and remote, I'd simply buy her a new remote. I thought about suggesting she just get a universal remote, but I know she's not going to be up for that. She won't want that complexity.

Is there a way to get my friend's remote non-sticky again? Thank you all.

303 protectant will fix this, although some armor all products will as well as tire shine or baby oil.

my gear shift gets sticky every few months from the plastic/ rubber breaking down and then i re-coat it with 303 protectant and its good as new for a few months.

quote:

Originally posted by sjp:
303 protectant

This stuff? (O'Reilly link)

Isopropyl alcohol works on sticky / old plastics.

The stuff that turns sticky on automotive interior plastics cleans up well with the cheapest glass cleaner. The kind that is ammonia based.

Think great value window cleaner.

If this is that rubberized covering, few things will remove that stickiness with lasting results. Some claim simple gasoline will do the trick. Obvious precautions. I've never tried it but YouTube video look convincing.

Is the "sticky" on the rubber buttons? Or the hard plastic case ?

I keep my remote in either a baggie or I wrap it in plastic wrap.

To avoid rubbing the numbers off the controls and to keep body oils or dust and debris from getting in the remote

quote:

Originally posted by bendable:
Is the "sticky" on the rubber buttons? Or the hard plastic case ?

It's the case.

Good result for me was eBay search for genuine replacement remote. In age group of your friend do not add change to her life.

I will have to try some of these remedies. When my track loader was brand new, somebody smoked in the cab and stunk it up. I put an ozone generator in it and it made the rubber joysticks feel sticky.

Guessing here, maybe car wax might help if the armor-all/protectant approach doesn't do anything?

It makes sense to try household stuff before throwing in the towel and replacing. Hopefully the project won't go that route.

Thanks, all!
She and I talked last evening; she's going to try the ammonia-based window cleaner first, and we'll see how that goes.

quote:

Originally posted by vthoky:
Thanks, all!
She and I talked last evening; she's going to try the ammonia-based window cleaner first, and we'll see how that goes.

If you strike out with the advice above, check with a hotel in your area. I think they deal with sticky remotes on a regular basis.


.

quote:

Originally posted by TigerDore:

If you strike out with the advice above, check with a hotel in your area. I think they deal with sticky remotes on a regular basis.

Insert Marzy's signature line here.

You're a bad man, Mr. TigerDore!

quote:

Originally posted by vthoky:

quote:

Originally posted by sjp:
303 protectant

This stuff? (O'Reilly link)

yes, this stuff. goo gone might work too.