Goofball spilled soda all over my center console...

bimmertt · 01-28-2010, 10:21 PM

So a goofball passenger knocked a can of soda out of the cupholder and it went all over my center console. I cleaned it up, but today I noticed about 4 or 5 of the buttons are now extremely sticky. There were a couple of them that would hardly even push in. Is there any way to clean up these buttons? They are the 5 6 preset buttons, AM/FM button, Mode button, and the passenger side heated seat button. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

jopa489 · 01-28-2010, 10:26 PM

You could try some isopropyl alcohol and/or APC with a brush. Use it sparingly though, don't soak it in there. Hopefully this will take care of it but no guarantees - it's tough to clean this sort of thing.

The sooner you get to it, the better.

lopealle · 01-28-2010, 11:15 PM

+1 on the alcohol or if you have a steam cleaner that could work too

Ryan323i · 01-29-2010, 11:05 AM

Sorry man that sucks! In the future, don't allow people to bring food or drinks into your car! Maybe just water but nothing else!

zaxjax · 01-29-2010, 01:21 PM

Soda in a BMW - no one drinks in my car and I only drink water!

FLA 335 · 01-29-2010, 07:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zaxjax

Soda in a BMW - no one drinks in my car and I only drink water!

I335 · 01-29-2010, 07:23 PM

Be careful with what you use and don't wipe the paint and coating off the buttons. Gentle!

Craig@SupremePower · 01-30-2010, 01:37 AM

DAMN..

bimmertt · 01-30-2010, 04:59 PM

So I tried the brush w/ rubbing alcohol and it worked great, but only temporarily. After applying it last night, the buttons were pushing in 100% normal. Checked it out this morning after it had time to dry and they are sticky again. It does seem slightly better...i'm not sure how much of that is psychological though.

I just applied some more rubbing alcohol and am hoping that if I keep it up, it will flush the left over soda out. Anyone have any other ideas I can try? Would try the steam cleaner but I don't have access to one.

lopealle · 01-30-2010, 05:23 PM

keep using the alcohol until it eventually cleanes it all up

Synergy · 01-31-2010, 05:43 AM

had the same problem. it will just get sticky again

i took out climate control and removed the face and buttons completely to clean them. it's not hard to do, just gotta make sure you put all the buttons back in the correct spot and don't break any clips

bimmertt · 01-31-2010, 11:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Synergy

had the same problem. it will just get sticky again

i took out climate control and removed the face and buttons completely to clean them. it's not hard to do, just gotta make sure you put all the buttons back in the correct spot and don't break any clips

so you can just pull on the buttons and they will come out??

I tested them this morning and they are about 95% there so I might just continue on with the rubbing alcohol treatment until it is 100%

MalM3 · 01-31-2010, 12:06 PM

wd40 and a toothbrush

GFX MIK3 · 02-01-2010, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mallard

wd40 and a toothbrush

+1 toothbrush works great

MalM3 · 02-01-2010, 01:19 PM

wd40 is top at getting glue , tar, anything sticky off of.. well anything

so id give it a go

Synergy · 03-04-2010, 05:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cgtsx07

so you can just pull on the buttons and they will come out??

I tested them this morning and they are about 95% there so I might just continue on with the rubbing alcohol treatment until it is 100%

you need to remove the entire unit and disassemble it. it's really simple to do, just a few clips around the edges and it pops off. the buttons come off when you squeeze the tabs (you'll know what i'm talking about when you see it)

trust me, there will be a bunch of sticky stuff all inside. it will always be there unless you take it apart

Envious Eric · 03-04-2010, 05:37 PM

STEAM!!!! it will emulsify the sugars and rid you of the problem, just dont stay in once spot. Move it around rather quickly and check the progress along the way!

TheRox · 03-04-2010, 06:52 PM

might be better off using windex, which is pretty harsh too with ammonia.

isopropyl alcohol is rather strong; and i don't know know if these bmw 3 series consoles have any sort of coating on the plastic; it could strip it off or damage it. benefit of alcohol is that it evaporates. on the balance, probably doesn't matter.

or...for kicks, use ether, its flammable but gets the lipid based stuff right out.

TheRox · 03-04-2010, 06:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mallard

wd40 is top at getting glue , tar, anything sticky off of.. well anything

so id give it a go

WD40 does not evaporate off as well as windex or the alcohol. In fact, given that its a lube, i doubt it evaporates off much at all.

Javier · 03-04-2010, 07:31 PM

same thing happened to me, heat up some water in the microwave and get some cotton swabs and rub the wet and warm swabs all around the buttons that ares sticky until they feel alright. you might have to do it a few times till you dissolve all the gunk but it works like a charm

01-28-2010, 10:21 PM	#1
bimmertt Lieutenant Colonel 102 Rep 1,815 Posts Drives: 2007 e92 335i Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Earth iTrader: (7)	Goofball spilled soda all over my center console... So a goofball passenger knocked a can of soda out of the cupholder and it went all over my center console. I cleaned it up, but today I noticed about 4 or 5 of the buttons are now extremely sticky. There were a couple of them that would hardly even push in. Is there any way to clean up these buttons? They are the 5 6 preset buttons, AM/FM button, Mode button, and the passenger side heated seat button. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
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01-28-2010, 10:26 PM	#2
jopa489 Major General 127 Rep 6,594 Posts Drives: Anything with Wheels Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: USA iTrader: (9)	You could try some isopropyl alcohol and/or APC with a brush. Use it sparingly though, don't soak it in there. Hopefully this will take care of it but no guarantees - it's tough to clean this sort of thing. The sooner you get to it, the better. __________________ X7 LCI // Incoming C7 ZR1 ZTK // Sebring + TRX // Hydro + Raptor Gen1 Roush // Tuxedo
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01-28-2010, 11:15 PM	#3
lopealle Resident Black Guy 280 Rep 2,302 Posts Drives: Lion Join Date: May 2009 Location: Federal Way, WA iTrader: (2) Garage List 2006 M5 [10.00]	+1 on the alcohol or if you have a steam cleaner that could work too
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01-29-2010, 11:05 AM	#4
Ryan323i Captain 22 Rep 844 Posts Drives: 2015 320i xDrive Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Columbus, OH iTrader: (0)	Sorry man that sucks! In the future, don't allow people to bring food or drinks into your car! Maybe just water but nothing else! __________________ 2015 320i xDrive \| Imperial Blue Metallic/Black SensaTec \| Sport Package \| Lighting Package \| Moonroof \| Heated front seats Past BMWs: 2006 330i, 2000 323i
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01-29-2010, 01:21 PM	#5
zaxjax Major 44 Rep 1,210 Posts Drives: 2008 Crimson Red 335i Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Annapolis iTrader: (2) Garage List 2008 335i [9.00]	Soda in a BMW - no one drinks in my car and I only drink water! __________________ Detailed Image
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01-29-2010, 07:23 PM	#7
I335 Brigadier General 129 Rep 4,248 Posts Drives: '08 335i Coupe Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: New England iTrader: (11)	Be careful with what you use and don't wipe the paint and coating off the buttons. Gentle!
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01-30-2010, 01:37 AM	#8
Craig@SupremePower G.O.A.T.! 1026 Rep 74,992 Posts Drives: '18 GMC Yukon XL Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: New Jersey iTrader: (14)	DAMN..
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01-30-2010, 04:59 PM	#9
bimmertt Lieutenant Colonel 102 Rep 1,815 Posts Drives: 2007 e92 335i Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Earth iTrader: (7)	So I tried the brush w/ rubbing alcohol and it worked great, but only temporarily. After applying it last night, the buttons were pushing in 100% normal. Checked it out this morning after it had time to dry and they are sticky again. It does seem slightly better...i'm not sure how much of that is psychological though. I just applied some more rubbing alcohol and am hoping that if I keep it up, it will flush the left over soda out. Anyone have any other ideas I can try? Would try the steam cleaner but I don't have access to one.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-30-2010, 05:23 PM	#10
lopealle Resident Black Guy 280 Rep 2,302 Posts Drives: Lion Join Date: May 2009 Location: Federal Way, WA iTrader: (2) Garage List 2006 M5 [10.00]	keep using the alcohol until it eventually cleanes it all up
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01-31-2010, 05:43 AM	#11
Synergy Captain 69 Rep 723 Posts Drives: Jet Black E92 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: San Jose, CA iTrader: (8)	had the same problem. it will just get sticky again i took out climate control and removed the face and buttons completely to clean them. it's not hard to do, just gotta make sure you put all the buttons back in the correct spot and don't break any clips
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01-31-2010, 12:06 PM	#13
MalM3 4 pot warrior 38 Rep 1,307 Posts Drives: E90 318I Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: DENMARK iTrader: (1) Garage List 2006 e90 [10.00]	wd40 and a toothbrush __________________ Been there, done that, wanna do it again
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02-01-2010, 01:19 PM	#15
MalM3 4 pot warrior 38 Rep 1,307 Posts Drives: E90 318I Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: DENMARK iTrader: (1) Garage List 2006 e90 [10.00]	wd40 is top at getting glue , tar, anything sticky off of.. well anything so id give it a go __________________ Been there, done that, wanna do it again
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03-04-2010, 05:37 PM	#17
Envious Eric Banned 39 Rep 1,168 Posts Drives: nissan xterra, 335 soon Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: orange county, ca iTrader: (1)	STEAM!!!! it will emulsify the sugars and rid you of the problem, just dont stay in once spot. Move it around rather quickly and check the progress along the way!
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03-04-2010, 06:52 PM	#18
TheRox Colonel 127 Rep 2,312 Posts Drives: 6mt Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Here and there iTrader: (2)	might be better off using windex, which is pretty harsh too with ammonia. isopropyl alcohol is rather strong; and i don't know know if these bmw 3 series consoles have any sort of coating on the plastic; it could strip it off or damage it. benefit of alcohol is that it evaporates. on the balance, probably doesn't matter. or...for kicks, use ether, its flammable but gets the lipid based stuff right out.
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03-04-2010, 07:31 PM	#20
Javier Major 90 Rep 1,109 Posts Drives: 335i E92 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Puerto Rico iTrader: (0)	same thing happened to me, heat up some water in the microwave and get some cotton swabs and rub the wet and warm swabs all around the buttons that ares sticky until they feel alright. you might have to do it a few times till you dissolve all the gunk but it works like a charm __________________ 2007 328i Crimson Red SOLD 2010 335i MSport AW E92
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