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Syd Lexia
Site Admin
Title: Pop Culture Junkie
Joined: Jul 30 2005
Location: Wakefield, MA
Posts: 24887
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I have a Gamecube controller that apparently had soda spilled on it. It seems to work fine, but it sticky to touch. How should I go about cleaning it?
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Andrew Man
Title: Is a Funklord
Joined: Jan 30 2007
Location: Annandale, VA
Posts: 5603
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Syd Lexia
Site Admin
Title: Pop Culture Junkie
Joined: Jul 30 2005
Location: Wakefield, MA
Posts: 24887
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Mostly it's the part of the controller you grip.
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Andrew Man
Title: Is a Funklord
Joined: Jan 30 2007
Location: Annandale, VA
Posts: 5603
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anorexorcist
Title: Polar Bear
Joined: May 21 2008
Location: The Cock and Plucket
Posts: 2131
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This is a good thread, any idea what you do for Xbox 360 controllers? The start and X buttons are sticky...I spilled beer on the controller, it works but those buttons are sticky as balls.
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 Lawyers, Guns and Money |
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Andrew Man
Title: Is a Funklord
Joined: Jan 30 2007
Location: Annandale, VA
Posts: 5603
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| anorexorcist wrote: |
| This is a good thread, any idea what you do for Xbox 360 controllers? The start and X buttons are sticky...I spilled beer on the controller, it works but those buttons are sticky as balls. |
You can of course take the whole thing apart and very carefully clean all the affected areas in detail.
What I do (at least I have with GC controllers) is take a a VERY lightly damp and warm cloth and vigorously rub the face of the controllers. This has unstuck buttons for me in the past.
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My Muzaks! CHECK IT OUT!!!
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Syd Lexia
Site Admin
Title: Pop Culture Junkie
Joined: Jul 30 2005
Location: Wakefield, MA
Posts: 24887
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Would rubbing alcohol be safer?
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SoldierHawk
Moderator
Title: Warrior-Poet
Joined: Jan 15 2009
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 6113
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| Syd Lexia wrote: |
| Would rubbing alcohol be safer? |
This was my instinct. I've never had to clean a controller like that, but if I did, a small amount of rubbing alcohol on a towel or pad would be the first thing I'd go for.
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| William Shakespeare wrote: |
| Love all, trust a few, do wrong to none. |
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Syd Lexia
Site Admin
Title: Pop Culture Junkie
Joined: Jul 30 2005
Location: Wakefield, MA
Posts: 24887
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That's what we used back in the day to clean dusty NES cartridges. I think Nintendo said not to, because you needed THE OFFICIAL NINTENDO CLEANING KIT. But no one I know ever had any issues with that method.
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Dan315
Joined: Aug 19 2009
Location: Texas
Posts: 2
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I usually take the controller apart and wipe it down with a damp cloth. I've never tried rubbing alcohol.
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Pandajuice
Title: The Power of Grayskull
Joined: Oct 30 2008
Location: US and UK
Posts: 2649
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I'd recommend taking it apart as well. That's really the only way you'll get it fully cleaned. Try hot water first and only go to alcohol or something like that if the water doesn't work. Also, be careful taking it apart as some controls have parts that become loose after you remove the case, and it's very easy to be unable to get the controller put back together the way it was.
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Rydog
Title: Dragon Slayer
Joined: Aug 11 2009
Location: Massachusetts
Posts: 1511
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Rubbing alcohol comes to mind because of the NES carts....Goof off is pretty good at removing sticker residue and such, I would try that.
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TheRoboSleuth
Title: Sleuth Mark IV
Joined: Aug 08 2006
Location: The Gritty Future
Posts: 2739
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| Syd Lexia wrote: |
| That's what we used back in the day to clean dusty NES cartridges. I think Nintendo said not to, because you needed THE OFFICIAL NINTENDO CLEANING KIT. But no one I know ever had any issues with that method. |
That was bull. You needed the alcohol after the standard of blowing on the cartridge stopped cutting it, and that OFFICIAL NINTENDO CLEANING KIT cost way too much.
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Andrew Man
Title: Is a Funklord
Joined: Jan 30 2007
Location: Annandale, VA
Posts: 5603
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| RobotGumshoe wrote: |
| that OFFICIAL NINTENDO CLEANING KIT cost way too much. |
Exactly.
But yea, I could see the benefit of alcohol as it evaporates almost instantly, however it can be much more corrosive. I would say try water first.
Also, tooth picks and q-tips are your friends in situations like this.
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My Muzaks! CHECK IT OUT!!!
http://www.facebook.com/hellodharmaband
3DS is very good, and Wii U!
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GPFontaine
Joined: Dec 06 2007
Location: Connecticut
Posts: 11244
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I would clean it with a damp cotton cloth.
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Syd Lexia
Site Admin
Title: Pop Culture Junkie
Joined: Jul 30 2005
Location: Wakefield, MA
Posts: 24887
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Really? Couldn't water get into the controller and ruin it?
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Andrew Man
Title: Is a Funklord
Joined: Jan 30 2007
Location: Annandale, VA
Posts: 5603
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| Syd Lexia wrote: |
| Really? Couldn't water get into the controller and ruin it? |
Make it VERY lightly damp, just barley moist, and as hot as possible.
I have used this technique many times and it never resulted in any problems.
Sure, if you use a cloth sopping with water you will have some problems.
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My Muzaks! CHECK IT OUT!!!
http://www.facebook.com/hellodharmaband
3DS is very good, and Wii U!
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Rydog
Title: Dragon Slayer
Joined: Aug 11 2009
Location: Massachusetts
Posts: 1511
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Slap some duct tape on the bottom of the controller....problem solved.
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anorexorcist
Title: Polar Bear
Joined: May 21 2008
Location: The Cock and Plucket
Posts: 2131
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I don't want to take it apart, I can deal with stickieness I guess, or try the cloth on the face of the buttons or something.
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Lawyers, Guns and Money |
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Andrew Man
Title: Is a Funklord
Joined: Jan 30 2007
Location: Annandale, VA
Posts: 5603
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| anorexorcist wrote: |
| try the cloth on the face of the buttons or something. |
I'm telling you, put in some vigorous effort and this technique can be very effective.
I have no qualms with taking apart cheap controllers to fix like SNES, Genesis and such, but I would never want to take apart a $40 controller like for the 360. Too risky IMO.
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My Muzaks! CHECK IT OUT!!!
http://www.facebook.com/hellodharmaband
3DS is very good, and Wii U!
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anorexorcist
Title: Polar Bear
Joined: May 21 2008
Location: The Cock and Plucket
Posts: 2131
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Ya, I don't plan on taking my 360 one apart, I will give the warm water and vigorous rubbing a shot.
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Lawyers, Guns and Money |
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Rydog
Title: Dragon Slayer
Joined: Aug 11 2009
Location: Massachusetts
Posts: 1511
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| anorexorcist wrote: |
| I will give the vigorous rubbing a shot. |
Careful...too vigorous and it will start to chafe 
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Knyte
2010 SLF Tag Champ*
Title: Curator Of The VGM
Joined: Nov 01 2006
Location: Here I am.
Posts: 6749
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If you use water, just make sure you let it completely dry before using it.
Rubbing alcohol is best, and it won't mess up or damage any of the internal components. (Yes, it could do long term damage, but we are talking over many, many years.)
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Douche McCallister
Moderator
Title: DOO-SHAY
Joined: Jan 26 2007
Location: Private Areas
Posts: 5672
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| RobotGumshoe wrote: |
| and that OFFICIAL NINTENDO CLEANING KIT cost way too much. |
Atleast it came with cleaning cartridge for the inside when q-tips and alcohol just won't cut it anymore.
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username
Title: owner of a lonely heart
Joined: Jul 06 2007
Location: phoenix, az usa
Posts: 16136
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use those cleaning wipes. like the clorox ones. clean it w/that and use a paper towel immediately after to dry it up. thats what i do.
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| Klimbatize wrote: |
| I'll eat a turkey sandwich while blowing my load |
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