My Xbox controller went from squeaky to silent in 15 minutes with just a q-tip

2 comments

2 Comments

@stone.simon That sandpaper feeling is the worst. What nobody's talking about is how this trick works because the q-tip is actually absorbing the gunk that's trapped under the stick cap. Compressed air just pushes it deeper while contact cleaner evaporates too fast to break it down. I've had luck using the same method on the shoulder buttons after they get that sticky click, just gotta be gentle and not shove the cotton too far down. It's crazy how much grime comes off a controller you thought was clean.

stone.simon7d agoMost Upvoted

Always wrote that off as one of those internet tricks that sounds too good to be true. Tried it on my old controller after a soda spill left the thumbstick grinding like sandpaper. Not only did the sticky feeling go away but the squeak was gone in maybe ten minutes. Still can't believe a cotton swab did what compressed air and contact cleaner couldn't. Have you tried this on any other sticky buttons besides the sticks?