Our TV remote started playing up about 6 months ago, with one or two buttons intermittently either producing no response from the TV or else the wrong response. We had tolerated it and managed to find workarounds with alternate button sequences, until recently when the problem got worse. So a replacement remote was bought.
I attributed the old remote's demise to wear of the button switch contacts, but on doing an autopsy, this is what I found :-

The shiny stuff on some of the button pads and switch electrodes has an oily texture and a rubbery smell. It shows no signs of evaporating despite hours of exposure to fresh air, so I don't think it's water-based. What can it be? No one in our household admits to spilling drink on the old remote, and I can't believe a spillage would still be mainly liquid after all this time.
Is leaching of plasticiser from the rubber of the button matrix a possible cause, or could oil from fingers have permeated through the rubber (the goo is mainly around the most frequently used buttons of the remote)?
Any ideas?

 

My guess is it's rubber turning to goo. Is it sticky, and difficult to clean off even with alcohol or contact cleaner? This happens to lots of things that I leave in our garage. In particular, my motocross boots ($$$), wakeboard bindings, anything else with plastic or rubber. The garage is air conditioned, so my only guess is gasoline fumes in the air from the motors in there must contribute to it? In any event, was this your inside TV remote, or out in the garage or other work area?

 

hi alec,
That is the same as my SKY remote, also same failure mode.
I cleaned mine with alcohol and a piece of cloth.
You wife's nail polish remover will do a fair job, try just a couple of key buttons to confirm.
E

BTW: I believe the goo is the pressing rubber degrading with age.

 

Is it sticky, and difficult to clean off

Yup. It's an indoor TV/box.

That is the same as my SKY remote, also same failure mode.

Interesting. Actually it is a SKY remote (I wasn't sure if that term meant anything outside the UK).
Thanks guys. I've cleaned off the worst of the goo with tissues. Haven't tried any solvent yet. Some buttons work for the SKY box, but can't get the remote to accept a code for TV operation. If all efforts fail, at last we've got a shiny new working remote and a sort-of backup .

Edit: Used some meths on a cotton bud to get the last traces of the goo off. Remote is now fully functional again.
Edit 2:
Seems like this goo is indeed silicone oil from the rubber.