How and what to clean the TV remote control at home
The remote control is one of the most demanded household items. Devices of this type are constantly in contact with various media, which leads to contamination and oxidation of the internal boards. This eventually becomes the cause of the failure. The solution to the question of how to clean the TV remote yourself largely depends on the type of contamination.
Quick cleaning outside at home
TV remote box is leaking. This means that with regular contact, particles of dust and dirt get inside, which prevents the buttons from working. However, not only these problems are caused by the lack of cleaning.Due to contact with the hands, grease gets into the remote control, which, accumulating on the surface of the board, causes the latter to oxidize. As a result, it damages the device.
To avoid such consequences, it is recommended to clean the remote control at regular intervals using:
- cleaning agent;
- cotton swabs and sticks;
- toothpick;
- microfiber towels.
It is recommended to disconnect the TV from the power supply before the procedure. To clean the remote, simply wipe the plastic surface with a cotton ball with cleaning agent applied, then with microfiber cloths. Hard-to-reach places should be treated with toothpicks.
Any product containing alcohol
To clean the exterior of the appliance, use:
- pure alcohol;
- cologne;
- Vodka.
Liquids containing alcohol are considered the best cleaning agent for remote controls. To avoid breakage, it is recommended not to press the cotton too hard during the procedure.
Soap solution
The soapy solution is not recommended for cleaning TV remote controls. This is explained by the fact that water, in contact with the microcircuits, causes an oxidation process. Therefore, this composition can be used if there are no alcohol-containing liquids at hand. To make a soapy solution, you will need to rub some soap in and mix with water.
Wet wipes
For cleaning, wipes for office equipment are also used, impregnated with a special composition that corrodes fats and other contaminants.
How to disassemble the remote control?
For thorough cleaning, you will need to disassemble the device. The algorithm for performing this procedure depends on the brand of the TV manufacturer.
With bolts
A number of manufacturers (LG, Samsung and others) produce bolt-on remotes.Therefore, in order to disassemble the remote control, you will first need to unscrew the fasteners located in the battery compartment and remove the panels.
With press studs
Unlike Samsung, cheaper TVs are often complemented by remote controls whose panels are secured with latches. To release the latter, it is necessary with a slight effort to pull the two parts of the remote control in different directions, by levering the latter. After disconnecting the panels, you need to remove the rubberized panel with buttons and the electrical panel.
How and what to wash inside
The general procedure for cleaning the electrical panel is as follows:
- A cleaning agent is sprayed on the board or applied with a cotton swab.
- After 5-10 seconds, the board is wiped with a cotton swab. At this stage, it is strongly advised not to press hard.
- At the end, the board is cleaned of cotton remnants.
Proceed in the same way for the contacts located in the battery compartment. After the procedure, you do not need to wipe the board with a clean cloth: the cleaning agents evaporate on their own after a few minutes.
Do not use soapy water or other compounds containing water to remove dirt inside the remote control.
Ethanol
Ethyl alcohol is the most common product used to remove dirt from the board. This liquid can be used to clean the inside of the remote that has any type of dirt.
PARITY defined
The PARITY kit contains a cleaning spray and a microfiber cloth. This kit is mainly used to remove dirt from keyboards or monitors, but is also suitable for treating remote control devices. The spray contains substances that can quickly corrode grease and other stains.
Clean luxury digital set
The composition of this cleaning kit does not differ from the previous one. The difference between Deluxe Digital and PARITY lies only in the brand of the manufacturer.
WD-40 SPECIALIST
WD-40 is considered a more effective cleaning agent because:
- removes dirt, carbon deposits, condensation, flux residue and dust;
- increases the reliability of the electrical panel;
- removes traces of grease.
WD-40 comes in a convenient package that lets you spray even in hard-to-reach places. After treatment, the product evaporates quickly, leaving no residue and not affecting the performance of the electrical panel.
clear buttons
The buttons get dirty faster than the rest of the remote. Therefore, it is recommended to clean this element more often. To remove contaminants, a soap solution and alcohol or vinegar compositions are used. Dry the pimples after cleaning.
Soap solution
To prepare this solution, just grate a small amount of soap and mix with water in a separate container. Then the buttons removed from the remote control should be placed in the resulting composition and held for 20 minutes. During this time, the soap will eat away dirt and grease. If necessary, pimples can be wiped with a damp cloth after the procedure. This will help remove stubborn dirt.
Vodka
Cleaning with vodka is more effective than soaking in an aqueous solution. The alcohol-based liquid dissolves dirt and grease faster, thus shortening the procedure. The only drawback of this method is that the vodka has a pungent, unpleasant smell. During cleaning, contact of the liquid with the mucous membranes should be avoided.
9% table vinegar
Vinegar eats away dirt quickly. This tool should also be first applied to a cotton swab, with which you then need to treat the pimples. As in the previous case, vinegar gives off a pungent odor.
A solution of citric acid in water
Citric acid is aggressive. Therefore, before use, it is recommended to mix this liquid with water in equal proportions. The resulting composition can then remove dirt or grease accumulated on pimples.
What to do in the event of a liquid spill?
As mentioned earlier, contact with liquid leads to oxidation of the board and, consequently, to the failure of the remote control device.To avoid such problems, it is recommended to keep the remote control away from liquids.
But if water has gotten into the board, then you will need to perform a number of mandatory actions.
The clear water
The first contact with water usually does not cause significant damage and the device continues to operate. But even in this case, it is necessary to immediately disassemble the device after filling and dry it for 24 hours, removing the batteries. The last condition is required. Batteries oxidize faster after contact with water.
A soda
If the remote control is filled with soda, you will need to disassemble the device again and rinse the board under running water. After this procedure, the part should be wiped with a cloth and dried within 24 hours.
Coffee or tea
The procedure in this case does not differ from the previous one. When washing the electrical panel under water after filling it with a sugary drink, make sure that there are no traces of sugar on the parts. The latter will disturb the transmission of the electrical signal.
battery electrolyte
Electrolyte leakage is possible if old or poor quality batteries are used. In such cases, it is also recommended to rinse the board under water and dry it.
Build rules
After cleaning and drying, you need to perform several steps in the following order:
- Place the buttons on the board.
- Insert the buttons with the card into the top panel.
- Connect the top and bottom panels. Depending on the design, you then have to tighten the bolts or snap the clamps.
At the end, the batteries are inserted and the operation of the device is checked. If after cleaning the device does not work, the remote control will need to be replaced. But before buying a new device, it is recommended to install different batteries or check the condition of the contacts.
It is possible that soap particles remained on the latter.
Prophylaxis
Contamination of the remote control cannot be avoided. But at the same time there are a number of rules, observing which you can avoid damage to the device. Thus, it is recommended:
- do not touch the device with dirty or wet hands;
- do not place the appliance next to containers containing water;
- hide the device out of the reach of children and pets;
- do not drop or throw.
It is also recommended to clean regularly following the rules described. The frequency of the procedure depends on the operating conditions.
Case
The special housing, which can be purchased separately, does not offer 100% protection against contamination. This product is mainly used to protect the remote control from contact with water.
Shrink bag
This option is considered more effective than the previous one.The heat-shrinkable bag adapts perfectly to the body, so the material not only provides protection against dust and dirt, but also does not interfere with access to buttons. This effect is achieved due to the characteristics of the material. According to the instructions, the remote control must be placed in a shrink bag and then heated with a hair dryer. Due to the effect of heat, the material will shrink and stretch more tightly.
Rules of operation of the remote control
During active operation, pathogenic microorganisms accumulate on the remote control. Therefore, before using the device, it is recommended to wash your hands with soap and periodically clean the exterior of the device with specialized products or alcohol.
To avoid problems in the future, it is necessary to avoid mechanical damage and contact of the remote control with water. After filling, you should immediately disassemble the device and let it dry. It is also recommended to monitor the condition of the batteries, avoiding electrolyte leakage.