The remote control from the TV is one of the most popular things in the family. Every day, all family members take it in their hands dozens of times, and sometimes they drop it on a dusty carpet. The panel, like all electrical appliances, is exposed to dust, dirt, moisture and some types of bacteria, which often penetrate and contaminate contact elements, which makes them oxidized and the panel starts to junk.
The question arises - what to do? Many who are not tech savvy buy a new remote. However, this is a premature solution, since in most cases, to restore operability, simple cleaning, and the ability to solder the boards and make electrical wiring, is not necessary here. Just follow the simple instructions.
The remote control works poorly - reasons
There are several most common causes of poor device performance due to contamination:
- Batteries flowed - the battery compartment contacts are oxidized.
- Oxidation of the contacts of the button board.
- The buttons get stuck due to contamination of the openings for the buttons in the case.
- Contaminated contacts on the keypad.
Some of the above problems can often be eliminated without disassembling the remote control (sticking buttons, leaking batteries), but this does not always help, since with external cleaning without disassembling, there is no guarantee that the main cause of pollution has been eliminated. To find out if the remote control is dirty inside, you have to disassemble it.
TIP. Before disassembling and cleaning the remote control, try changing the batteries. When the batteries run out, the signal strength drops and it seems that the device does not work well and the buttons do not work.
How and with what to thoroughly and thoroughly clean the remote control inside
For these purposes, at home, vodka or medical alcohol (sold in pharmacies) is best suited. Cologne or wife’s perfume is best not to use, as they contain impurities and after drying can leave a coating that prevents the conductivity of the contacts. Also, most liquids stores have various liquids on sale, to clean contacts - just ask the seller.
IMPORTANT. Never clean the contacts with water. Water oxidizes them and a plaque forms, which often can no longer be removed, even with the help of special fluids. In this case, you have to buy a new device.
Now, having figured out what to clean, we proceed to cleaning. Spray the cleaning fluid (moisten with a cotton swab) onto the contacts on the button board or battery compartment. Wait 5-10 seconds and gently wipe with a cotton swab or cotton swab. Repeat several times if necessary. Try not to press hard so that you do not inadvertently scratch or damage the board. Carefully watch that there are no cotton wool fibers on the board. If they are not removed, then they can subsequently partially overlap the contacts and lower their conductivity. When cleaning the contacts in the battery compartment, do the same, only because of its small size you will have to wipe the contacts very carefully. In some remotes, the contacts in the battery compartment are removable. This simplifies the matter, they can be removed and wiped thoroughly, and then inserted back.
After cleaning, do not worry about drying, alcohol and vodka evaporate very quickly. The buttons on the remote control can be washed in warm water with the addition of soap. Rinse, rub where you need with an old toothbrush, and then dry on a piece of paper or a towel.
We disassemble the device
First, we remove the batteries, since almost always there is one fastening screw in the battery compartment. Then, using a screwdriver, unscrew the remaining screws. Next, disconnect the remote control housing. If it is firmly rubbed and you can’t open it with your hands, pick it up on the edge of the case with something flat and hard (a flat screwdriver, knife, plastic card). Remove the upper part of the case, remove the buttons and remove the board.
Usually, the boards are not fixed with screws, but simply installed in the grooves. If the board is screwed on, then do not immediately remove it, since the contact elements are on top and they can be wiped without loosening the screws.
TIP. Before disassembling the device, lay a piece of cloth or a towel on the table, so that the unscrewed screws and other parts will not move around the table and you will not lose them.
Assembly process
Everything is simple here:
- Install the buttons on the board.
- We insert the board with the buttons into the case and close it.
- We screw in all the screws.
- Insert the batteries.
Do not be afraid to forget where and what kind of screw it was, as a rule, they are all the same, and if not, it will not screw in or hang out, you just pick the right one.
REFERENCE. Many do not want to disassemble the remote control, as they think that they will lose the buttons or they will be mixed up when assembling them. In fact, at the dawn of the era of remotes, it happened that all the buttons were separate. But this has long since moved away and in devices the buttons are a solid plate, without removable elements.
How to clean the remote control outside - quickly and efficiently
To do this, we again need vodka or alcohol, a cotton swab and a toothpick. First, remove the batteries. When cleaning with the batteries inserted, the remote control will operate all the time and you can inadvertently set such settings on your TV that you will have to call the wizard for the settings. Then with a toothpick we clean all the grooves and openings from the buttons from dirt. Next, wipe the swab with alcohol. So until there are no visible traces of dirt.
TIP. Do not use wet wipes or a cloth dampened with water for cleaning - moisture can get inside and cause oxidation of the board contacts.
Pollution prevention
Keeping the remote control clean all the time will not succeed, as this is a thing of frequent use. However, it is possible to significantly extend the time of its stable operation, which does not require disassembling it for cleaning. It is enough once a couple of weeks, it is better to wipe it once a week with an alcohol solution, vodka and gently clean the grooves of the buttons with a toothpick from dirt.
Also, for lovers of not aesthetics, but pragmatism, there is a reliable option to wrap the remote control in a film and stick it with adhesive tape from below, cleaning will be needed less often, and the buttons on the remote control are also pressed well, work fine. Although this is ugly, the remote control will last without cleaning, probably until the purchase of a new TV. And the film itself can be changed as it deteriorates and becomes dirty.
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