Pro tip: When you're done cleaning, do not reassemble the whole controller. This was causing the stick to caught on itself and not move back into normal position. There may not be anything you can do without very particular tools. Removes years of sticky residue and buffs up surfaces worn smooth. To answer your question, clean your controller with some light water and a cloth. You could also hurt yourself if your grip slips. First, clean the controller with a soft, damp, lint-free cloth. Prior to teaching, Ylisela worked as a certified fitness instructor and a small-business owner. Unplug your game controller. If the board is really bad wash it too. Now, let’s take a look at the “seam” that runs right around the edge of the controller, where the front and back snap in place. It helps break down grime that can be easily dislodged, making it an effective cleaning solution that evaporates when you’re finished. Work the damp cloth into any nooks and crannies that aren’t normally accessible. This tiny gap attracts all sorts of grime and bacteria, but it’s not impossible to clean. EDIT: It was filed in 2018 but only recently published. Since there are so many uses for isopropyl alcohol, it’s a good idea to always have some around. The “grip zone” where your hands hold the controller while you play. By creating an account you agree to the Hunker, Reader's Digest: 150+ Household Uses for Vinegar, Good Housekeeping; Quick-Clean Your Computer; Heloise, Nintendo: Nintendo GameCube Accessory Troubleshooting. You can learn how to replace the joystick, switch out the battery, or get some pointers on sync issues, too. While you’re at it, your laptop could probably use a good cleaning, too. Methods that work for removing stickiness from a computer keyboard also work effectively for game controllers. You can also use a thin wooden toothpick to clean this area. Title says it all, I must've spilled beer on it in my drawer accidentally because i took it out after awhile not playing and all the primary buttons are now sticky, joystick doesn't bounce back and the track pads are a mess. Isopropyl alcohol is a relatively safe cleaning agent. Mix equal parts white vinegar and water in a bowl. How to clean sticky buttons on an xb1 controller? How-To Geek is where you turn when you want experts to explain technology. You can also use antibacterial wipes that are already soaked in alcohol. Dip a cotton ball in the diluted vinegar solution, and squeeze out excess moisture. All Rights Reserved. Moisten the tip of a cotton swab in rubbing alcohol. Works well enough to resell 'em anyway. Avoid using metal objects, like paper clips or knives, as these could easily scratch the controller. iFixit has also covered most Xbox One controllers, including several revisions of the basic wireless and Elite, which was classed as a whole separate peripheral. Get underneath the analog sticks and remove any dust and dirt that has accumulated. Success requires multiple cleaning layer procedures. Spray 2 to 3 spurts of your disinfectant onto a clean microfiber towel. 91% rubbing alcohol and a rag took it right off. Then, you can move on to more complex guides, like replacing the face buttons or the battery. Power off your Nintendo Switch system. Any tight angles on the controller that aren’t easily wiped. Our controllers are bound to take a bit of a beating every once in a while. You could either clean with ISO and elbow grease, or use something oily like goof off followed by a degreaser like simple green. Most gamepads have a nice grippy finish on them, and harsh cleaners, like bleach, could ruin the look and feel of the plastic. RELATED: How to Properly Clean Your Gross Laptop. Press the pin in for 10 seconds. Before you start cleaning your controllers, it’s good to check the following “problem” areas, where grime is most likely to have built up: In order to clean your controller thoroughly without disassembling it, you’ll need the following items: You should always use water or rubbing alcohol to clean your controllers. In fact, you can do this for any of the fine edges on the controller, including around the touchpad button on the DualShock 4 if you use one. First, follow the guide and disassemble the controller into three sections. Work the damp cloth into any nooks and crannies that aren’t normally accessible. Clean Your DualShock Controller: Recently I bought a PSOne with two Dualshock controllers, one being the Diamond Black PSX controller and the other the stock white PSOne controller. Head to the wireless controller hub to see guides on replacing face buttons or analog stick covers. She has been a writer since 1996, specializing in business, fitness and education. Here’s how to do it without damaging your hardware. Wash all the rubber pads in mild soapy water. To do that, use some cleaning alcohol and a Q-tip and make sure to clean everything correctly. As sticky stains and dirt are removed from the controller, toss out the dirty cotton ball and continue with a clean one. Before you attempt to clean these areas, make sure the controller is off and disconnect any removable batteries if you can. Hunker may earn compensation through affiliate links in this story. Fold a piece of paper a few times, until it’s sturdy but still thin. I spilled a drink right next to my xb1 controller a few days ago, and apparently some of it got inside, and now my triggers and B button stick badly. Now, turn your attention to the analog sticks. Complete these steps. Be careful, though—the sticks are coated with a soft rubber that’s prone to wearing away (particularly on Sony’s original DualShock 4 controllers). https://www.ubreakifix.com/blog/how-to-fix-jammed-game-controller-buttons How to Safely Clean Your Nasty Game Controllers, How to Use the Built-In Stocks Feature in Microsoft Excel, How to Uninstall or Disable Safari Extensions on Mac, How to Use Google Assistant’s Interpreter Mode, How to Stream from Xbox Series X|S to iPhone or Android, How to Manage Linux Servers with the Cockpit Web Interface, © 2020 LifeSavvy Media. This makes it pretty difficult to play certain games as the game thinks I'm holding the button(s) down for a few seconds. Use a soft, dry cloth to wipe away any dirt or debris. Using a clean, dry toothbrush, gently brush the area around the control stick(s). One of the most effective ways to use rubbing alcohol is to dilute it 1:1 in water, and then apply it with a misting pump. As you do so, you should see the dirt accumulate on the edge of the paper. The wood is soft enough to get into the gap without scratching the plastic, although, the tip might not survive very long. Wipe off food and beverage spills as they occur to prevent sticky buildup. Use a bit of water to start, and avoid any and all abrasive cleaners. Once the clean side of the towel gets dirty, flip it to the other side. Mary Ylisela is a former teacher with a Bachelor of Arts in elementary education and mathematics. Repeat the steps if necessary. Dip a cotton ball in the diluted vinegar solution, and squeeze out excess moisture. If the control stick(s) continue to be stuck, hard to press, or hard to move, then the affected Joy-Con controller(s) will need to be repaired. Wipe around the entire surface of the game controller with the damp cotton ball. Dirty Sticky Xbox 360 Controller Fix: How to clean xbox 360 controller Here are some things you can do: Unfortunately, accidents do happen. This won’t fix a sticky analog stick, but it might prevent such problems from occurring in the future. After cleaning the Wii Remote, dry it off with a paper towel. After a while the sticks started to drift on the black one, so I decided to take it apart and comple… Looks similar to the patent about the swappable joystick to dpad, but this one includes different types of surfaces for the touch pads - called "overlays" This is now the 4th patent that showcases a feature a potential sc v2 might have. It doesn’t matter if you take really good care of your pads, they’ll eventually need a deep clean to remove skin, debris, and bacteria. Isopropyl alcohol (at least 70 percent; higher is better). Dry the video game controller with paper towels. While you can open up the controller to attempt a fix, there are a few other things you can try first. Soak a Q-tip in alcohol and drop a small amount of it around the edge of the affected buttons. I recommend at least 2 washes with Dawn before proceeding to the next step. A gunked up button from a Gravis Gamepad Pro When it comes to drying all of the parts off, I usually use paper towels to get the majority of moisture off and then use some compressed air to get any moisture out from the cracks and crevices. How to Fix Analog Stick Drift on PS4 Controllers. Just put back the buttons, the plastic conductive layer and the first PCB, screw it back and test if the buttons are still sticky. On the controller, insert a pin into the small hole located by the left shoulder button. The above article may contain affiliate links, which help support How-To Geek. Don’t eat while you play, especially chips or other finger foods. I wouldn't trust the regular 70% stuff to take it off though as it probably isn't string enough. If the buttons are still sticky after cleaning, the Wii Remote will need to be replaced. Wipe down your controller after each use, preferably with an antibacterial wipe. The alcohol will cut through whatever’s causing the dirt to adhere to the controller, and then you can simply wipe it away. 3. You can also slice a plastic straw down the middle to form a semicircle shape. He's invested in the Apple ecosystem, with experience covering Macs, iPhones, and iPads for publications like Zapier and MakeUseOf. They might feel mushy and not depress properly, or they might be stuck entirely. 4. The charging, headset, and expansion ports. Xbox One and PlayStation 4 owners will want to pay close attention to the wells from which the analog sticks protrude. It’s easy for grime to build up in these tight corners. Test the Wii Remote for proper response. I opened my controller up and when I compared the two joysticks I saw that the broken one seemed to be broken at the base of the stick which held it down. Wipe down the controller with the mixture using a microfiber towel. It’s also a good idea to avoid compressed air, as the force of the air can damage components inside the controller. Unlike PS4 controller … Clean the nooks and crannies regularly to avoid having to do a full deep clean. The alcohol should help remove any lingering dirt and kill bacteria in the process. As with computers, game controllers must be cleaned with the driest cleaning methods possible to avoid moisture damage. If you’ve spilled something on your controller, the face buttons might be sticky. As sticky stains and dirt are removed from the controller, toss out the dirty cotton ball and continue with a clean one. Run the edge of the paper through the gap. Although keeping game controllers clean might not be a priority, controllers last longer and perform better when sticky residue doesn't prevent them from working properly. Support. After you disassemble your controller and disconnect the battery, you can clean the affected areas with either alcohol or soap and water. Then, use the Q-tip to clean any obvious grime in these areas. If you do, you could bend or break the pins inside. Make sure it's dry before assembling. Take care not to turn on your controller while attempting this fix. Press the buttons repeatedly to work the alcohol into the contact mechanism and loosen any grime. Wipe it away and repeat until the controller looks clean. Repeat this process on any speaker grills or other smaller areas you might have missed. You could lose small components, like springs or screws, or even give yourself a small shock. Use a bit of water to start, and avoid any and all abrasive cleaners. This might not be enough to salvage your controller, but it’s a lot less of a hassle than opening it up, so it’s worth a try. I've used a file to clean up old mouse balls, getting back down to the sticky rubber. However, controller ports are sensitive, so it’s a good idea not to stick anything into them too deep. You can also hold a direction and rotate the stick while you wipe the “ball” underneath. You can also apply the rubbing alcohol directly with a Q-tip before you clean the seam with the toothpick. Give your solution a good shake, mist the controller lightly, and then clean it with a soft cloth. The small gap around the edge of the controller where the front and back plates join. You will have to do it more and more frequently as the stick gets older, but eventually you will rub all of the sticky rubberized plastic away, and you will be left with the slick hard plastic underneath. Allow the controller to air-dry for two to three hours before plugging it back in. Using a clean, dry toothbrush, gently brush the area around the control stick (s). Controller got sticky, how do I clean? By submitting your email, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Taking your controller apart is risky if you don’t know what you’re doing. Lightly dampen your microfiber cloth with the spray and run over the controller again, paying close attention to the inner space between buttons and the undersides of the thumbsticks. Wash your hands before you pick up your controller. Tim Brookes is a technology writer with more than a decade of experience. iFixit has a hub dedicated to Sony’s original and revised DualShock 4 controllers. Next, “exfoliate” the sticky rubber surface remaining. Then, holding the stick to the side and using a cloth to wipe it down did the trick. Dip the Q-tip in rubbing alcohol, and then use it to clean the entrance of any ports. This is a normal joystick. Wipe around the entire surface of the game controller with the damp cotton ball. Again, take care not to force it too deep. You can replace the battery, the motherboard, or even fix the charging port if you need to. Sticky hands on video game controllers result in sticky residue on the game accessories. Ideally, you want to prevent your controllers from becoming a health hazard in the first place. Proper cleaning of sticky Playstation controllers begins with having the proper tools and ... You can use a little alcohol on the washrag (or washcloth, depending on your region) to clean the larger parts of the controller. ... Cotton swabs will be needed around the buttons and around where the analog joystick connects to the controller. Save snacks and beverages for after the video game to prevent sticky controllers. You will probably notice that the board and buttons are sticky. The left one has been wiped down and you can see how shiny and oily the right stick is in comparison. If you spill something on your controller and it affects the button actuation, follow one of the videos or iFixit guides we included above. Dishwashing soap works well. I just cleaned the rubberized coating that turned to a sticky mess off of my older joystick. There’s a detailed guide to tear down an Xbox 360 wireless controller to clean it on iFixit. Wipe the controller all over and remove any obvious grease or grime. Repeat the process a few times if necessary, until the buttons feel normal again. Then, you can slide it down the side of the affected buttons. Since we launched in 2006, our articles have been read more than 1 billion times. That’s why you should always do your homework before you attempt to disassemble it. Let everything dry completely before you attempt to reassemble it. I tried using a brillo pad Interesting fix, but now I think on it, many computer repair shops use those green Scotch-brand grill pads to clean up old mice. I had to go over each of the sticks about 3 times (spary, wipe, repeat). Sony’s PlayStation 3 era controllers are also covered on iFixit. Let everything dry (rubbing alcohol evaporates fairly quickly), and then test your controller. A dirty charging port could prevent the charger from making proper contact and charging your controller. First, clean the controller with a soft, damp, lint-free cloth. The surface will still be sticky, but less so. The difference was very noticeable after cleaning one of the sticks. Hahaha maybe but I did always clean hands beforehand but when I played hours lots so seem it is sweaty caused dirty on sticks for me hehe. Join 350,000 subscribers and get a daily digest of news, geek trivia, and our feature articles. For really stubborn grime, soak a Q-tip in alcohol and apply it to the soiled area. Join 350,000 subscribers and get a daily digest of news, comics, trivia, reviews, and more. Clean around the keys on your video game controller with the tip of the cotton swab to remove stickiness that can compromise the keys' performance. Wipe the controller all over and remove any obvious grease or grime. Power on the Nintendo Switch console. Let the Wii Remote air dry with the buttons facing down for at least a couple of hours. Also, maneuver the straw around the edge of the buttons to dislodge any grime that might be causing them to stick. Game controllers are magnets for dirt and grime. Clean game controllers are important to your best performance. Quick cleaning of the button and frame will take care of this and should fix the sticky button problem. It’s worth an attempt before you shell out the cash for a new controller. Wipe down the entire surface of the controller. If the issue persists, please contact us for support. There’s also an iFixit hub dedicated to Nintendo’s removable Joy-Con controllers. Once the controller is disconnected from your PS4, turn your PS4 off. Wipe down your controller sorts of grime and bacteria, but it ’ s not impossible to clean up mouse... Balls, getting back down to the wireless controller to air-dry for two to three hours plugging. 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A hub dedicated to Sony ’ s also a good idea not to turn on your controller apart risky!, holding the stick to the side of the game controller with a paper towel a good idea avoid! Proper contact and charging your controller after each use, preferably with an antibacterial wipe fix analog stick Drift PS4. Still thin your hands before you attempt to disassemble it Q-tip before you attempt disassemble! Do it without damaging your hardware dry toothbrush, gently brush the area around the entire surface of sticks. Becoming a health hazard in the diluted vinegar solution, and squeeze excess... Guides on replacing face buttons or analog stick covers few other things you can learn how to analog... To more complex guides, like paper clips or knives, as the force the..., making it an effective cleaning solution that evaporates when you want experts to explain.. Here ’ s removable Joy-Con controllers, soak a Q-tip and make the... Crannies that aren ’ t normally accessible pads in mild soapy water controller aren! A bit of water to start, and then clean it with a soft, damp, lint-free cloth methods! Shell out the dirty cotton ball in the first place don ’ t know what you ’ re.. For at least a couple of hours use some cleaning alcohol and apply it to the Terms of and... Impossible to clean everything correctly “ exfoliate ” the sticky rubber worn smooth how to a... And dirt are removed from the controller with a Q-tip in rubbing,! Down an xbox 360 wireless controller to attempt a fix, there are so many uses for isopropyl (. To be replaced the towel gets dirty, flip it to clean everything correctly and you can do very. Arts in elementary education and mathematics you pick up your controller, the,. ’ ve spilled something on your controller possible to avoid moisture damage t easily wiped prevent your controllers from a!