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Old 16th Oct 2020, 10:18 am   #21
Richard_FM
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Default Re: Plastic gone sticky

I'm trying to remember what my wife used on my Remington hair trimmer, where the handle pads were turning into tar.
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Old 16th Oct 2020, 10:22 am   #22
terrybull
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Default Re: Plastic gone sticky

I used nail varnish remover to take that tacky rubber off a Roberts radio.
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Old 16th Oct 2020, 10:34 am   #23
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Default Re: Plastic gone sticky

Well, the washing up water was ok but didn't really do it. Perhaps washing powder is better.

John
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Old 16th Oct 2020, 10:58 am   #24
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Default Re: Plastic gone sticky

You need quite concentrated detergent. Neat washing up liquid should do it on small objects. Leave it to soak in for 10 minutes.
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Old 16th Oct 2020, 11:38 am   #25
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Default Re: Plastic gone sticky

I've had success just recently on a keyboard hand reset. I used nail polish remover and a cloth, applying plenty and giving it a good wipe

What I found though, is it smelt of nail polish remover for a few days after, and initially didnt seem to have worked.

Now its all cured or whatever, its lost all of the stickiness.
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Old 16th Oct 2020, 1:50 pm   #26
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Default Re: Plastic gone sticky

I cleaned a computer mouse with Ambersil FE10 with success.
It only lasted a month or so and then began to go sticky again.
I worked out that it was cheaper to buy a new one due to the cost of the solvent over time.
The old one got chucked in the bin.
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Old 16th Oct 2020, 2:03 pm   #27
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Default Re: Plastic gone sticky

I've just cleaned a sticky USB Bluetooth dongle using the legendary detergent Stardrops. I took off the plastic cover and immersed it in neat Stardrops for half an hour, then rubbed it down with a washing up spongepad. It seems to have worked well.

The availability of Stardrops is a bit patchy, but you can usually buy it in Wilkinsons or Savers for about a quid. One bottle lasts ages. It's a very versatile and effective cleaner.
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Old 16th Oct 2020, 8:41 pm   #28
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Default Re: Plastic gone sticky

I've had success with isopropyl alcohol
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Old 16th Oct 2020, 11:39 pm   #29
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Default Re: Plastic gone sticky

If it's any relation to that rubbery coating sometimes encountered, IPA and a lot of elbow grease worked for me.
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Old 20th Oct 2020, 7:23 pm   #30
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Default Re: Plastic gone sticky

Also, in one of those moments in the garage, trying random fluids that did not work (IPA, meths, petrol white spirit etc etc), I've had mixed success with brake fluid. Didn't work at all in one case, and in another worked extremely well leaving the black underlying hard plastic clean with the printed lettering still in place.

Suggests that there may be several varieties of this coating around which explains the multiple solutions that work/don't work.

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