How to clean conductive rubber pads?

[Parrot of Doom]

I've been given a Roland D20, a nice but old synthesiser in faulty condition. The fault is that only around half the keys on the keyboard work.

I've stripped it down and the amount of rust inside makes it pretty obvious what's happened. At some point, someone has spilt a cup of tea over the keyboard, its drained onto the PCB, and gotten under the conductive rubber pads that sit directly underneath each key.

Just like a television remote control then. I can clean the PCB without problem, but I'm not sure how to clean the rubber pads. Does anyone know a safe or effective way to clean this material? I can probably get replacement pads for not a lot of money, but if they can be cleaned....

[captainzep]

[sighs]

I can barely be arsed.

All right then.

How big is your organ?

etc

[The Excession]

• Try warm water
• Then try warm soapy water
• Then try hot water
• Then try hot soapy water
• Then try solvent
• Then buy new pads when solvent melts the pads

HTH

[Big Rod]

Alcohol cleaner can be bought from many electrical outlets.

Failing that, I've been told that vodka can work effectively, but I was never convinced that it wouldn't be frowned upon to pull a half bottle of Smirnoff out of my toolbox while on a customer's site!!

HTH

ETA:- I've always found an ink rubber to be a good abrasive/cleaner.

Edited by Big Rod on Monday 22 December 17:19

[jeff m]

Initially I thought of Meguires black for tyres and rubber but I beleive that is silicon based and therefore not awefully conductive

What about a can of electrical cleaner (spray) the type used for dicky turn signals. Contact cleaner.

[GTIR]

WTF sort of question is that this time of the night!

Try vineger.

[AngryS3Owner]

Get some of the foam cleaner from somewhere like maplin etc it'll be safe on almost anything.

[Adrian W]

IPA or Switchclean, if you have the right cleaning plant then safewash 2000J

[Plotloss]

Adrian W said:

IPA

Possibly a mild. Dark and stout right out.

[steve.c]

Spray some WD40 on it and wipe it off!

[V8A*ndy]

AngryS3Owner said:

Get some of the foam cleaner from somewhere like maplin etc it'll be safe on almost anything.

Use this first. The Maplin own brand is a bit fierce mind and the servisol is a quid dearer but milder. I'd be tempted to use the maplin one incase it's beer in there.

Nice piece of kit BTW hope you get it going.

[Zad]

Get the Servisol foam cleaner from Maplin. The one in the pale blue can I think. It does cost a bit more, but it really works well, and I have never found anything that reacts badly with it (other than paper etc). It would be worth getting some isopropyl alcohol just to go over the contacts with. The foam cleaner is excellent at cleaning TV, DVD cabinets, as well as fridges etc. Smells nice too

[JamesM]

Fire, and lots of it.