<p>When I was a a corporate photo/video shooter I found the "desk and office cleaner" everyone had worked pretty well with paper towels. Now that I shoot in the third world, it is Lysol wipes when i get back to the studio. And it is terrifying how many it takes until they come out clean...</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-02-15T02:25:40.730Z
2012-02-15T02:25:40.730Z
Bryce Alan Flurie
<p><a href="http://www.googone.com/" rel="nofollow">Goo Gone</a>. Put it on a cloth, rub it on the sticky part of the cable. Let it sit for a minute, then rub off with a dry cloth. Repeat if necessary. For this or any of the other suggested procedures, it would be a good idea to test on a small non-critical part of the cable. I've never had a problem with it though.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-02-14T17:23:24.330Z
can you elaberate? how do you apply the product
mjrider
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-02-19T05:14:07.857Z
Put it on a cloth, rub it on the sticky part of the cable. Let it sit for a minute, then rub off with a dry cloth.  Repeat if necessary. For this or any of the other suggested procedures, it would be a good idea to test on a small part of a non-critical cable. I've never had a problem with it though.
gauss256
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-02-25T23:05:39.310Z
The information from your comment is great, so I edited it into the answer itself.
Warrior Bob
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-02-14T16:45:07.343Z
2012-02-25T23:04:49.233Z
2012-02-25T23:04:49.233Z
gauss256
<p>goo-gone or butane lighter fluid will remove just about any gunk that has built up on your cables.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-10-14T12:24:35.020Z
How is this different from @gauss256's answer?
JoshP
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-10-12T02:18:01.577Z
2013-10-12T02:18:01.577Z
stu.h
<p>For delicate cables use dish washing soap and warm water with a clean rag. Do not tug or squeeze on the cable too hard and be extra gentle with anything that has twisted pair.</p>

<p>For not so delicate cables rubbing alcohol on a clean rag then applied should do the trick.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-02-14T20:17:03.467Z
2012-02-14T20:17:03.467Z
filzilla
<p>What is the best way to clean a cable that has gotten sticky. I know the best thing to do is to not get them sticky in the first place, but after time they get dirty/sticky all by themselves.</p>

<p>Lets assume that there are no breaks or cuts in the outside of the cable.</p>

<p><strong>How would one best clean the outside of a cable of stickiness without damaging it more.</strong></p>

<cable><cleaning>
What is the best way to clean the outside of audio/video cables
mjrider
# What is the best way to clean the outside of audio/video cables

(Asked by: username_0 on 2012-02-14)

What is the best way to clean a cable that has gotten sticky. I know the best thing to do is to not get them sticky in the first place, but after time they get dirty/sticky all by themselves.

Lets assume that there are no breaks or cuts in the outside of the cable.

**How would one best clean the outside of a cable of stickiness without damaging it more.**

**Tags:** cable, cleaning


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## 4 answers

### Answer by username_6 on 2012-02-14. Score: 4 | Accepted answer

For delicate cables use dish washing soap and warm water with a clean rag. Do not tug or squeeze on the cable too hard and be extra gentle with anything that has twisted pair.

For not so delicate cables rubbing alcohol on a clean rag then applied should do the trick.


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### Answer by username_1 on 2012-02-15. Score: 3

When I was a a corporate photo/video shooter I found the "desk and office cleaner" everyone had worked pretty well with paper towels. Now that I shoot in the third world, it is Lysol wipes when i get back to the studio. And it is terrifying how many it takes until they come out clean...


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### Answer by username_2 on 2012-02-14. Score: 1

[Goo Gone](http://www.googone.com/). Put it on a cloth, rub it on the sticky part of the cable. Let it sit for a minute, then rub off with a dry cloth. Repeat if necessary. For this or any of the other suggested procedures, it would be a good idea to test on a small non-critical part of the cable. I've never had a problem with it though.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: can you elaberate? how do you apply the product  
> **username_2**: Put it on a cloth, rub it on the sticky part of the cable. Let it sit for a minute, then rub off with a dry cloth.  Repeat if necessary. For this or any of the other suggested procedures, it would be a good idea to test on a small part of a non-critical cable. I've never had a problem with it though.  
> **username_3**: The information from your comment is great, so I edited it into the answer itself.  

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### Answer by username_4 on 2013-10-12. Score: -1

goo-gone or butane lighter fluid will remove just about any gunk that has built up on your cables.

> **Comments:**
> **username_5**: How is this different from @username_2's answer?  

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