How To Clean Rubberized Laptop Case

Dyre Straits 10 Grandkids -2 Great-grandsons

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It appears that this is going to involve a lot of elbow grease! Fortunately, the coating is only on the detachable front bezel. But, it's degraded to the point that I can stick regular paper notes to it. (No need for Sticky Notes paper.)
I need to clean this off down to the plastic. Has anyone here had to do this and, if so, what method/s were tried and, mostly important, which one worked best?
Trusteft HH's Asteroids' Dominator

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I have tried cleaning similar (I guess) material on mice etc.
Short answer, I am not buying a mouse again with a rubberized coating.
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Dyre Straits 10 Grandkids -2 Great-grandsons

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I'm reading that most people had good luck with Isopropyl Alcohol.
stevevnicks Member

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I have to agree with trustleft ... surely the company that makes this rubber coating know it degrades along with the company that sells these devices which ie anything from a mouse to computer case, but hay they also must know, that people will replace them more often and that's probs just business. win win for them. I hate that type of coating I must add lol.
Tyrsonswood HH's curmudgeon

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Judas Obvious Closet Brony Pony

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rubber can be cleaned by wd-40 but it'll also deteriorate it... as well as eat into it too up to a certain point that it's cleaning chemicals eventually dilute.
There are numerous rubber restoring and clean products that work perfectly fine, I've even used the armorall tireshine spray stuff on some rubber parts, so long as they aren't intended for traction/grip, and just need to look clean and supple, it's not bad.
stevevnicks Member

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lol ok you chaps are joking right? .... I would say warm soapy water would be the safest thing to clean rubber coating .. uhmm if you use any oil/solvent based products on soft rubber coating lol chances are/don't be surprised if it degrades wtf ?
Dyre Straits 10 Grandkids -2 Great-grandsons

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I'm not wanting to clean it and keep it; I want to remove it. Warm soapy water does nothing to help once it becomes sticky.
Judas Obvious Closet Brony Pony

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if it's rubber just peel it off with a hot knife or something?
Dyre Straits 10 Grandkids -2 Great-grandsons

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It's not that kind and, if I did try a knife, it would most likely scar the plastic beneath it. So far, I used some Goop Handcleaner with some very good results and no scarring of the plastic.
stevevnicks Member

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would it not be easier to just buy a new case?
Dyre Straits 10 Grandkids -2 Great-grandsons

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No. Why would I want to do that? The case I have does an excellent job and has all the other features I need and want.
Plus, the only part of the case affected is the front bezel. The rest of the case has no rubberized coating whatsoever.
Takaharu Unus offa, unus iuguolo

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I would have assumed that something like Sticky Stuff Remover would work, without damaging the case. That, or the aforementioned alcohol.
Dyre Straits 10 Grandkids -2 Great-grandsons

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I did get this case cleaned up very nicely. It did take a bit of work, but, without any scarring of the plastic beneath the rubberized coating.
I used some GOOP hand cleaner. I simply applied the hand cleaner to the surface and let it sit for few moments. Then, using only my fingernail, I began to "scratch" off the rubberized coating. It actually came off very easily. Once I got most of the coating removed, I then used a heavy cloth rag, like auto mechanics use, and dipped it in the hand cleaner and continued to rub the surface until all the coating was evenly removed. I just did three of the 5 1/4 drive bay covers and it took about 30 minutes to do them all.
I do have a few more spots beneath the case door to do at another time.

One of the positive things about using the GOOP is that it's water soluble...which means it won't eat into the plastic like a flammable compound would.