There was a discussion quite a few years ago about URC remotes becoming sticky. It's at [Link: remotecentral.com]

A client has two perfectly usable remotes, one an MX-880, the other I didn't want to even touch. These might be sticky enough to hold up their own weight if stuck to your hand! The ones in the old discussion were sticky in different places, while the ones I've run into are only sticky on the back. But they're pretty gross.

I have an MX900 that was not used for a long time and was sitting in a closet. I went to use it and noticed the back had gotten very sticky. I used some Goo Gone on it and it has been fine ever since.

Odd. I've been using urc for a dozen years. I also have a bunch of various models lying around. None have sticky buttons or shells. I have seen some clients remotes that are sticky, but chalked it up to their habits and grabbing them with dirty hands. The customer sticky button issues are not limited to URC but OEM, RTI, and pretty much any other remote.

I think this is caused by skin oil, oil-based materials or food grease. Light solvent usually removes it I have used Naptha.

I have vacation homes with light use and multiple remotes where the entire rear plastic shell got gooey over a few years. It wasn't human oil or food. Does not happen on all remotes.

Which remotes? Do you remember what model numbers? Curious if it is on models I don't or haven't really worked with. I have MX450, MX700, MX850, MX900, MX980, MX780, MX890, TRC780, TRX820, TRC1080, and TRC1280 all here and none of the issue. I have not seen any pattern of any of these models having this issue either in the field. Some random remotes only, and again, usually those households have other OEM remotes that also display the same nastiness.

I've had a house where 7 980's went gooey over about 6 years.

Some one or two off URC remotes.

Not every remote, inconsistent.

We have had human use/food cause issues, those are pretty easy to figure out.

Hmm. You are sure it wasn't caused by human interaction by dirty people? I would have guessed if it did happen by some "natural" environmental issues, it would be the older remotes like the 700 and older. Those backs are more rubbery and I would think more susceptible

This is exactly what happened to my MX900 after a long period of not being used. Since cleaning it with Goo Gone and using daily I have not seen the issue again. My best guess would be that there was coating of some kind put on the back plastic shell of the remote during the manufacturing process that deteriorates over time and then can be easily cleaned off.

Now I am wondering if it only affects certain build dates. I have 5 or 6 MX900s here that NEVER get used. They sit in a drawer basically ready to throw in as loaners if need be. None of them display this issue.

I noticed it mostly in the MX-700/800/850 series of remotes. its the satin finish they used on the backside that seems to goop up th emost, but I've seen the faces fet sticky as well.

regardless, a ammonia based cleaner seems to clear it up.. Just dont get it on the silkscreening.

I've found a solution. Spray Way glass cleaner. Costco has it.

I usually disassemble the remote, spary the gooey parts with Spray Way, let it simmer for a few minutes (but don't let it dry) then scrub with a toothbrush also coated in spray way. Rinse the plastic parts in water, dry and viola.

I'm sure this process can be done without disassembly but you risk killing the remote with the melted goo and spray way. You also can't rinse the plastics with water.

Pretty much anyone in this business should know how to disassemble a urc remote.

Also note that this pretty much removes the rubbery coating from the plastic. It isn't as pretty as it was before the cleaning, but it isn't sticky... I've gone as far as to put a light coating of spray paint on the plastics to pretty them up a little. Not really necessary though.

Two out of my 3 MX900s have the goo. They were low use trade ins from a house I did a few years ago. I also have a 980 that has this issue as well as a trade in Harmony that has done nothing but sit in my desk drawer for the last 5 years. I also have an MX850 that has been in constant use for almost a decade. The back of the remote is shiny and black, never had the goo issue.

A few weeks ago I fired up a pair of MX850s for a client that had been sitting in a box for a few years. Both have this problem.

It almost seems like lack of use causes it. All of the above remotes had periods of disuse, all were stored inside climate controlled spaces.

Make sure it's not laying on vinyl- even after years of use, vinyl can still off-gas compounds that affect other materials. Lacquer and rubber are two that can be damaged by it.

I've recently had to paint a flexible wire management product ([Link: officedepot.com]) made of soft PVC and it took at least four days for the paint to stop being sticky. This seems to be the case any time I paint something made of plastic.

I use Rustoleum spray paint; I don't know what particular variety, if there are varieties of it. What did you use?

Whatever the cause, these different cleaning methods have REALLY helped. I'm going to give GooGone a try first.

Thanks for all the help, guys! With all these examples and ready information, I'm a bit amazed that nobody has brought this up for almost ten years!