Last Updated: on January 31, 2024 by Jack
Headphone rubber cables get sticky naturally over time, and handling them in such a condition is not nice. The sticky residue doesn’t just go all over your hands and clothes; it can also end up all over equipment and furniture.
Another common way your wires will end up all sticky is by spilling juice over them, which is commonplace for many gamers with headsets lying around.
Regardless of how they become sticky, don’t continue to use or handle them in this condition.
Sometimes, a quick wipe with water can do the trick, but it might require stronger cleaning solutions. It might also be that the cable is so old that you can’t remove the stickiness or residue with a clean; it needs replacing. Here are some actionable steps to try and reduce headphone cable stickiness as best as possible with a clean:
1. Do Some Checks First
It sounds obvious but start by unplugging or disconnecting your headphones from any devices first.
Check the cable over for any damage or wires hanging out. If there are wiring issues, don’t use cleaning solutions on it.
Also, quickly browse the manufacturer’s instructions or website to see if they provide any cleaning tips or recommendations.
2. Use A Dry Cloth To Remove Any Loose Dirt or Debris
Before applying any cleaning solutions or using a camp cloth, give the cable a gentle run-over with a dry cloth or a bit of linen to clear anything loosely hanging on.
Be careful here, as with the cloth being dry, it can catch on the rubber more easily. A gentle few wipes without tugging on the cable will suffice.
3. Clean With A Mild Soap Solution and Damp Cloth
Dampen the cloth using some warm water and run it down the cable first to see if it removes anything. If water alone is not sufficient, mix a mild soapy solution.
Mix together a mild washing-up soapy liquid with some lukewarm water.
Gently wipe the sticky areas with the soapy solution, and be careful not to overdo it with too much water and wiping. Also, avoid getting any water near the drivers or jack.
Tip: Don’t overclean them, as you’re just adding to the breakdown of the outer material.
If that hasn’t done the trick, try adding some baking soda to warm water and applying that to see if it will help with any remaining tough residue.
4. Apply Isopropyl Alcohol or Try Some Goo Gone
If you’re still stuck with stubborn stickiness and gunk after using a mild soap solution, you can always try something a bit stronger, such as Isopropyl Alcohol.
Dampen a cloth with a small amount of Isopropyl Alcohol (70% or higher) and wipe the sticky areas. Be careful and use only sparingly, as it will damage the cable by eating away at the rubber with excessive use.
Another liquid solution worth trying that’s excellent at removing tough, sticky stuff is Goo Gone. It’s recommended online by many gamers for cleaning rubber gaming equipment cables on headsets, mice and other computing cables.
5. Allow The Cable To Dry After Cleaning
After cleaning, wipe the cable down completely with a dry cloth and ensure no moisture or water is left on the rubber from the cleaning process.
After that, allow the cable to air and dry briefly before plugging it in and using it again. Don’t try to speed up the process by putting your rubber cable near any heat sources; you’ll just ruin the cable completely.
Tip: Ensure you wipe and dry it properly to avoid lifting more dirt or debris when wet.
If the cable looks damaged from the cleaning steps above, don’t use the cable again. It is possible that some of the above cleaning solutions might not work and will end up breaking down the rubber further and producing even more stickiness.
Why Do They Get Sticky and How To Avoid It?
Various factors contribute to the stickiness of headphones or earphone cables. The primary reasons are often environmental or material-related. A natural accumulation over time of body oils, sweat, or dirt on the surface of the cable breaks down the material and causes stickiness.
It can also be caused by accidents such as spillages and even over-cleaning.
Material Degradation Over Time
It’s fairly common to have sticky residue on audio cables simply because of their age. As they age, the rubber or plastic coating on the cables naturally breaks down and softens, releasing a sticky or gooey substance.
Cheaper cables will break down more easily than the cords on a premium set of headphones. The key here is to invest in something decent to avoid a premature breakdown of the materials.
As the cable ages, it gets harder to clean as the molecules continue to break down.
As stated further up, It might reach a point where the cable has aged so much that the residue produced from material degradation is not cleanable and needs to be replaced entirely.
Natural Oils, Sweat and Dust
Handling headphones regularly means you’ll naturally be transferring sweat, skin oils and dead cells onto the cables and the headphones themselves.
Lying around a room on top of a computer desk, bed, or computer all day will also increase the chance that dust and debris will build on the cord.
All this builds up over time and eventually adds to the breakdown of the material.
Although it’s sometimes more practical just to leave your headphones plugged in rather than unplugging and replugging them, storing them away when not in use will protect them from dirty or dusty environments. If you choose to keep them plugged in, try at least doing a little cleaning around the room to promote a better environment for the cable.
Try to get into the habit of cleaning your hands before handling any cords, especially if you’ve just been eating, to avoid any grease getting stuck on them.
A regular cleaning routine for the cable also stops the build-up of any oils or dirt. Do be careful, though, as too much rubbing down of the cords will wear the outer cover for the wires and end up exposing them.
Spillages and Food
Carelessness, such as spilling juices and food, will result in substances clinging to your audio equipment. You’ve probably got a better chance of cleaning juices and other sticky substances you’ve spilt off than naturally occurring stickiness from material degradation and ageing.
Don’t leave any spillages on the cord; get it cleaned as soon as possible with our cleaning instructions provided further up.
Just try your best to keep drinks and food away from your headphones or headsets. This can be a bit of a challenge for gamers who sit at their computer all day whilst eating their meals.
High Humidity
Depending on the climate you live in, high humidity can pose an issue for headphone cables as moisture in the air can be absorbed by the cable’s rubber or plastic coating.
Moisture absorption over time will cause material degradation, changing the cable’s texture and causing it to feel sticky or tacky.
Store them away in a cool, dry place when not in use if you’ve got issues with the temperature in the room. Also, avoid leaving them in direct sunlight where possible.
Conclusion
Try the cleaning steps provided if you find yourself with a sticky headphone or earphone cable. If none of the cleaning steps work, then, unfortunately, it might be the case that your audio cord has aged or deteriorated so much that the stickiness or goo won’t come off. If this is the case, then you need to replace the cable completely.
There are preventative steps to take, such as keeping liquids away, cleaning on and near the cord, storing it away when not in use and buying headphones with a good quality cable in the first place.