The wheel of my mouse becomes sticky

[palotes]

Some of you might think it's because I'm a slob, but I've noticed that many rubbers from different peripherals have become sticky over time. They are especially those that when you buy them have a surface that is like velvet, very pleasant to the touch. Why does this happen? How can I avoid it? I find it unpleasant to touch sticky things and it bothers me to have to change mice because of this nonsense.

[Sylver]

Unfortunately, it's something that happens inevitably (at least as far as I've tried to avoid it). I'm not sure if it's because of the heat or the humidity or both, but that "soft rubber" that most peripherals carry on the surface ends up degrading irreparably, creating that sticky touch so unpleasant.

The only way I've managed to avoid getting rid of the peripheral in question and being able to reuse it has been by taking a cloth dampened in alcohol and rubbing the affected surfaces hard until the degraded compound is removed, leaving only the physical material of which the casing is made visible.

I hope it serves you in some way.

Best regards!

[Yorus]

The same thing happened to me with the Logitech MX400, which has rubberized sides. In the end, with a little patience and alcohol as Sylver says, I left the plastic bare. And outside of the computer topic, the same thing happened to the Parrot wireless controller in my car.

[cobito]

I once read that this happens because they use a material called thermoplastic elastomer (TPE). The problem with this rubber is that when it comes into contact with grease (even the natural grease you might have on your hands), it breaks down. In the end, it all comes down to cost reduction in manufacturing.

@Sylver and @Yorus have given good answers on how to get rid of degraded TPE.

[Bm4n]

If the mouse is worth it, disassemble it and change the rubber

[palotes]

The mouse is not great, but I don't need a new one. I tried with alcohol and now the wheel is smooth and hard. Better than sticky, but what a disgusting bunch of cheapskates that for saving two cents put the worst of the worst.