Cleaning rubber buttons from a remote

[derekantosh@shaw.ca]

Hello all!
I recently purchased a used univeral remote control (off ebay) that
unfortunately was in a smoking home. The thing stinks of smoke, and the
buttons themselves (which are made of rubber) are actually stained
yellow (they used to be white) from the smoke. I took the remote apart
and found that the rubber button "sheet" was really the only thing that
the smoke had affected. I took the rubber button sheet and put it in a
ziplock bag with baking soda to remove the smell. It worked perfectly,
and the button sheet no longer stinks of smoke. I am wondering what I
could use to remove the yellow staining of the buttons? They do have
labels painted on some of them, so I don't think bleach would be the
best bet. Any ideas?
Thanks!

[Nan]

On 18 May 2006 09:04:36 -0700, derekantosh@shaw.ca wrote:

>Hello all!
>I recently purchased a used univeral remote control (off ebay) that
>unfortunately was in a smoking home. The thing stinks of smoke, and the
>buttons themselves (which are made of rubber) are actually stained
>yellow (they used to be white) from the smoke. I took the remote apart
>and found that the rubber button "sheet" was really the only thing that
>the smoke had affected. I took the rubber button sheet and put it in a
>ziplock bag with baking soda to remove the smell. It worked perfectly,
>and the button sheet no longer stinks of smoke. I am wondering what I
>could use to remove the yellow staining of the buttons? They do have
>labels painted on some of them, so I don't think bleach would be the
>best bet. Any ideas?
>Thanks!

I suppose you could try soaking it in water and dish liquid solution,
but I'm thinking I'd just spend 7.88 at walmart and get a brand new
one, myself.

Nan

[derekantosh@shaw.ca]

Unfortunately this is a Logitech Harmony remote (~$150), so I was
hoping to be able to use this one instead of having to purchase another
one.

[smithfarms pure kona]

On 18 May 2006 11:46:02 -0700, derekantosh@shaw.ca wrote:

>Unfortunately this is a Logitech Harmony remote (~$150), so I was
>hoping to be able to use this one instead of having to purchase
another
>one.

Why not use rubbing alcohol? Or one of those Clorox Wipes that do not
contain bleach despite the Clorox name:)? I clean my keyboard, the
telephone, our cheap remote etc. with both of those things. Isopropyl
alcohol is so cheap, you might want to try that.

aloha,
Thunder
smithfarms.com
Farmers of pure Kona Coffee

[Mrs Bonk]

derekantosh@shaw.ca wrote:
> Unfortunately this is a Logitech Harmony remote (~$150), so I was
> hoping to be able to use this one instead of having to purchase another
> one.

I suppose the days of getting out of the chair and switching over are long
gone. I bought a universal remote control that tunes in to any TV all by
itself and it was about a fiver, it does TV, text, video, satellite,cable
and makes coffee.
Unfortunately I no longer possess a TV and only drink tea.
It always pays when purchasing on Ebay to look for the "Comes from a no
smoking home" title, unless of course one is not concerned about items
dripping in nicotine.

[Phisherman]

On Tue, 30 May 2006 11:06:43 +0100, "Mrs Bonk" <arse@cuteyspamout.com>
wrote:

>derekantosh@shaw.ca wrote:
>> Unfortunately this is a Logitech Harmony remote (~$150), so I was
>> hoping to be able to use this one instead of having to purchase another
>> one.
>
>I suppose the days of getting out of the chair and switching over are long
>gone. I bought a universal remote control that tunes in to any TV all by
>itself and it was about a fiver, it does TV, text, video, satellite,cable
>and makes coffee.
>Unfortunately I no longer possess a TV and only drink tea.
>It always pays when purchasing on Ebay to look for the "Comes from a no
>smoking home" title, unless of course one is not concerned about items
>dripping in nicotine.
>


I didn't have TV until my sister arrived with a vintage TV 2 years
ago. I've since added a 7.1 channel audio system and soon will have a
50" plasma TV remote to add to VCR, DVD carousel, and amplifier
remotes. I don't clean any of the buttons with any solvents in fear
of removing key labels or damaging the remote electronics. One swipe
with the upholstery attachment removes any bits of dust or debris. I
keep my remotes in a drawer to keep them clean & protected. For those
really wondering what kind of solvent to use on rubber without harming
the rubber is the use of wood alcohol. Methanol (wood alcohol) is a
serious health hazard, inhalation or skin contact. Ethanol
(moonshine) can clean rubber too but it can deteriorate rubber.

[Nan]

On Wed, 31 May 2006 00:55:47 GMT, Phisherman <noone@nobody.com> wrote:

>On Tue, 30 May 2006 11:06:43 +0100, "Mrs Bonk" <arse@cuteyspamout.com>
>wrote:
>
>>derekantosh@shaw.ca wrote:
>>> Unfortunately this is a Logitech Harmony remote (~$150), so I was
>>> hoping to be able to use this one instead of having to purchase another
>>> one.
>>
>>I suppose the days of getting out of the chair and switching over are long
>>gone. I bought a universal remote control that tunes in to any TV all by
>>itself and it was about a fiver, it does TV, text, video, satellite,cable
>>and makes coffee.
>>Unfortunately I no longer possess a TV and only drink tea.
>>It always pays when purchasing on Ebay to look for the "Comes from a no
>>smoking home" title, unless of course one is not concerned about items
>>dripping in nicotine.
>>
>
>
>I didn't have TV until my sister arrived with a vintage TV 2 years
>ago. I've since added a 7.1 channel audio system and soon will have a
>50" plasma TV remote to add to VCR, DVD carousel, and amplifier
>remotes. I don't clean any of the buttons with any solvents in fear
>of removing key labels or damaging the remote electronics. One swipe
>with the upholstery attachment removes any bits of dust or debris. I
>keep my remotes in a drawer to keep them clean & protected. For those
>really wondering what kind of solvent to use on rubber without harming
>the rubber is the use of wood alcohol. Methanol (wood alcohol) is a
>serious health hazard, inhalation or skin contact. Ethanol
>(moonshine) can clean rubber too but it can deteriorate rubber.

Why Phish, you're moving up in the world :-)
I use a baby wipe to clean our remote. I can wrap it around my
fingernail and get between the buttons pretty well. I figure if it's
okay for my darling's bum, it's okay for the remote <G>

Nan

[0tterbot]

"Mrs Bonk" <arse@cuteyspamout.com> wrote in message
news:4e2jpmF1d2eabU1@individual.net...
> derekantosh@shaw.ca wrote:
>> Unfortunately this is a Logitech Harmony remote (~$150), so I was
>> hoping to be able to use this one instead of having to purchase another
>> one.
>
> I suppose the days of getting out of the chair and switching over are long
> gone.

one horrific element about certain televisions etc (e.g. mine) is that some
functions don't work EXCEPT via the remote! it's horrible! i never wanted a
remote control telly but we inherited this one for free, so there's that.
but, we have to have the remote to go with it, or some things won't work.
(our dvd player is teh same, except worse).

I bought a universal remote control that tunes in to any TV all by
> itself and it was about a fiver, it does TV, text, video, satellite,cable
> and makes coffee.
> Unfortunately I no longer possess a TV and only drink tea.
> It always pays when purchasing on Ebay to look for the "Comes from a no
> smoking home" title, unless of course one is not concerned about items
> dripping in nicotine.

that yellow stuff is mostly tar, not nicotine :-) i know everyone thinks
it's nicotine, but it isn't. and ciggies aren't bad for us because of
nicotine, either - nicotine (in controlled amounts) is no worse for you than
caffeine in controlled amounts.

mind you, all that is another story.
klyie