

Then, use the Q-tip to clean any obvious grime in these areas.

Soak a Q-tip in alcohol and drop a small amount of it around the edge of the affected buttons. Take care not to turn on your controller while attempting this fix. The alcohol should help remove any lingering dirt and kill bacteria in the process.īefore you attempt to clean these areas, make sure the controller is off and disconnect any removable batteries if you can.

Give your solution a good shake, mist the controller lightly, and then clean it with a soft cloth. 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. It helps break down grime that can be easily dislodged, making it an effective cleaning solution that evaporates when you’re finished. Isopropyl alcohol is a relatively safe cleaning agent. Use Isopropyl Alcohol to Dislodge Stubborn Grime This won’t fix a sticky analog stick, but it might prevent such problems from occurring in the future. You can also hold a direction and rotate the stick while you wipe the “ball” underneath. Get underneath the analog sticks and remove any dust and dirt that has accumulated. 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). Now, turn your attention to the analog sticks.

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. Game controllers are magnets for dirt and grime.
