I have a MIDI controller keyboard that I have cleaned in the past with disinfectant alcohol wipes, which I know is a bad idea because it degrades the rubber over time.

Well, the rubber on the pitch bend and modulation wheels has indeed degraded, and the surfaces texture is awful, uneven and sticky now. My fault... I know.

So does anyone know of any way to fix, or even improve, this kind of nasty rubber surface degradation once it occurs? Sanding? Applying oils? Is there any way I can even slightly restore these controls back to their original soft-touch rubbery glory?

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[–] 4 points 2 hours ago

Not sure if it's feasible with tiny textured things, but I covered my degrading bicycle handles with gaffing tape. Been good for almost three years now.

But yeah I always clean things with soap and water or all purpose spray from local bulk store. Alcohol is often to stronk for most things in the normal house. Also as others have said, it might not even be the alcohol, "rubber" surfaces often deglade like that no matter what you do.

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