Pro tip: Fix sticky shoulder buttons without taking the whole controller apart

I was playing Halo last Saturday and my right bumper started sticking halfway through a match. Instead of unscrewing the whole shell like I usually do, I tried dripping a tiny bit of 91% isopropyl alcohol right into the gap near the button. Let it sit for 2 minutes while I mashed the button a few times, then blew it out with canned air. Worked perfectly and saved me like 15 minutes of disassembly. Has anyone else tried this trick or got a better method for cleaning those stubborn buttons?

2 comments

2 Comments

fionagibson9d agoMost Upvoted

Hold up - I'd actually be pretty careful with this trick. In my experience, that alcohol can seep deeper than you think and mess with the rubber membrane underneath if it pools up. I've seen more than a few controllers end up with mushy buttons after people try the quick alcohol drip method.

blair6309d ago

Oh man, thanks for the warning after I already went and did it. Guess I'll just have to deal with my buttons going all mushy while I'm trying to clutch a match in Halo. At least now my controller will match my brain. But seriously, the alcohol drip is a gamble for sure. I've gotten lucky a few times but I've also had a buddy ruin his Elite controller doing exactly what you described.