What do you use to clean your controllers? (help my DualSense is already filthy)

[Nugnip]

It was bound to happen with a white controller: this thing is already dirty as fuck. And no, my hands are not especially dirty when I use my controller. The texture on the back in particular seems to get dirty faster than I would have liked.
I imagine my other controllers are just as dirty, I just don't see it as much. I usually clean them every couple of months but this time around that won't be enough.

What do you use to clean this stuff? I don't want to damage it, or use anything that would be too aggressive to the plastic. Any recommendations?

 

[sirap]

I clean my white Xbox controllers with a damp microfibre cloth. Adding a drop or two of dishwasher liquid to warm water works really well.

A soft bristle toothbrush can be used if it's hard plastic, but don't scrub too hard.

 

[so1337]

OP's controller:

 

[AndyVirus]

My tongue. Same for the console.

 

[ghostcrew]

My tongue. Same for the console.

Click to shrink...

Yeah this is how I clean my Switch cartridges

 

[Teenage Fansub]

Get out the macro lens and give us some pics!

 

[Miniature Kaiju]

Damp microfiber cloth usually does the job. Drop or two of dish liquid soap if you've got some hardy crust.

If all else fails, isopropyl alcohol is a really good solvent for human fats and pretty safe overall when used in electronics (it's the manufacturer recommended solution for cleaning phone screens, for instance, because it won't damage the oleophobic coating).

 

[Cmc]

I had a white PS4 controller for 5 years and it never got dirty once, clean it with a cloth and then wash your hands more

 

[Soriku]

I've used light soap+water on my old Dualshocks and also lysol disinfectant wipes before with no issues. Obviously no need to be very aggressive and don't get it too wet that it'll seep into the buttons.

 

[Deleted member 14080]

Wash your hands 🙌

 

[Helix]

Yeah this is how I clean my Switch cartridges

Click to shrink...

I pity your tongue haha

 

[AnnoyingLobster]

Wash your hands.

 

[dunkzilla]

I wash my hands.

 

[nib95]

I've not needed to clean mine yet, but I'd probably just use some antibacterial wipes.

 

[Deleted member 923]

Have a shower. Wash your hands.

 

[Dr. Doom]

Alcohol wipes

My controllers, keyboard, and mouse are utterly pristine and as new despite heavy usage.

 

[Hazz3r]

I know it's dumb but just wash your hands more. My controller getting dirty so quickly revealed just how much grease was on my hands without me realising because I just can't see it. Since I did, my controller hasn't gotten into the same state since my launch weekend Miles Morales marathon.

Regardless. I use the same stuff I use for cleaning all my gaming / electronics. Alcohol Pads, like they use for injections. You can pick up a box of 200-ish for like £4-5 off of Amazon. Does the trick really well,

 

[ChemicalWorld]

Alcohol wipes

My controllers, keyboard, and mouse are utterly pristine and as new despite heavy usage.

Click to shrink...

This.

I use Dettol Antibacterial Wipes;

Dettol Antibacterial Surface Cleaning Wipes (126 Wipes): Amazon.co.uk: Health & Personal Care

Dettol Antibacterial Surface Cleaning Wipes (126 Wipes): Amazon.co.uk: Health & Personal Care

www.amazon.co.uk

Also useful for remote controls and I also use them to clean the back of my Nintendo Switch/Joy Cons.

 

[texhnolyze]

Do people seriously wash their hands before playing?

I mean, good for you but that's too much hassle for me. I never play with crumbs all over my hands, but having to make sure they're super clean is just uh. I'm gonna wait for a black DualSense.

 

[Aya]

I do, yes.

Cotton pads / buds with a lil bit of isopropyl alcohol or rubbing alcohol is what I use.

 

[Vashetti]

Do people seriously wash their hands before playing?

I mean, good for you but that's too much hassle for me. I never play with crumbs all over my hands, but having to make sure they're super clean is just uh. I'm gonna wait for a black DualSense.

Click to shrink...

Yes? I don't want grease and muck on my controller if avoidable, and no it's not OCD to do that.

 

[Stone Cold]

I embrace the filth, that's my secret recipe

 

[Deleted member 11370]

I do, yes.

Cotton pads / buds with a lil bit of isopropyl alcohol or rubbing alcohol is what I use.

Click to shrink...

Since I learned about isopropyl, I've been using it to clean every thing I come across.I modded one of my Switches recently: isopropyl on the flux and thermal paste and good as new. Dirty PS4 Nacon controller? Isopropyl. Dripped some strong adhesive on my desk? Isopropyl. The handles of a suitcase are grimmy after being in storage for a while? Boom, isopropyl.

Amazing stuff to clean all gunk and dirt.

 

[degauss]

I generally don't, but if I had to probably with isopropyl.

 

[Chaystic]

Wash your hands before you play (or anytime really), problem solved.

 

[Le Dude]

I hate the aesthetics of the dualsense just because it has all those extra unnecessary grooves for grime to get stuck in.

That being said, yeah isopropyl alcohol. I always have the little wipes on hand in my medical supplies so I just use those.

 

[Snarfington]

Some dettol wipes are just fine for me for the surface of a controller.

Now, when shit starts getting in the seams, that's when i start having nightmares. If anyone has tips there it'd be great.

 

[OrangeNova]

The Dualsense hides no crime. Honestly I use a lysol wipe on the back to get rid of finger grime, then I wash my hands.

For seams on other controllers, same idea, lysol wipe in and around the affected area and get a toothpick and run it along the seems. Toothbrush also works if you gotta scrub a bit more.

 

[Rosebud]

Do people seriously wash their hands before playing?

I mean, good for you but that's too much hassle for me. I never play with crumbs all over my hands, but having to make sure they're super clean is just uh. I'm gonna wait for a black DualSense.

Click to shrink...

If I was eating something or playing with my dog, etc., yes. Same for my mouse and keyboard.

 

[Dezzy]

I do something even better that has a bonus effect of keeping my controllers clean. I wash my hands. (including before using a controller)

 

[SirDante]

I am always afraid of wiping the thumbsticks with anything soapy.. I still have PTSD from the launch DS4s turning to goop/breaking/tearing prematurely.

 

[c0Zm1c]

In addition to wiping the controllers, I use a pastry brush (purchased specifically for the job) for cleaning any dust and gunk out of the nooks and crannies. I've done that with all my devices for many years. It can make them look like new. Compressed air can help in some dirt/debris related circumstances too. I recently had an Xbox 360 controller develop a fault where it wasn't registering inputs properly anymore. Opening the controller up and blasting the inner workings of the thumbstick got it working properly again.

I do something even better that has a bonus effect of keeping my controllers clean. I wash my hands. (including before using a controller)

Click to shrink...

For me, my hands tend to sweat a lot so even from clean it's not going to stop my controllers becoming dirty.

 

[Legacy]

Not being funny but I've spent over 100 hours on my PS5, my controller is as clean and white as day the I opened the box. What have you been doing OP?

 

[borahorza]

Not being funny but I've spent over 100 hours on my PS5, my controller is as clean and white as day the I opened the box. What have you been doing OP?

Click to shrink...

I imagine snacking whilst playing or just not washing their hands when dirty.

 

[Knight in Shining Armani]

Those damn cheeto stains.

 

[panda-zebra]

Not being funny but I've spent over 100 hours on my PS5, my controller is as clean and white as day the I opened the box. What have you been doing OP?

Click to shrink...

Not saying this is the case for the OP, but I can imagine some people can shit up a pad in no time thinking back to some of the crunchers, munchers and guzzlers I've had the displesure to suffer through Destiny with over the years. My son borrowed my 2nd dualshock and I simply don't want it back - grime from being too eager to get back to Fortnite after his evening meal or sitting eating crisps while playing - that was all on me, simply bad parenting!

I imagine snacking whilst playing or just not washing their ends when dirty.

Click to shrink...

Always keep a clean end, just don't go as far as polishing too regularly.

 

[indosmoke]

Do people seriously wash their hands before playing?

I mean, good for you but that's too much hassle for me. I never play with crumbs all over my hands, but having to make sure they're super clean is just uh. I'm gonna wait for a black DualSense.

Click to shrink...

I don't wash my hands *specifically* before playing, but I do wash them everytime it's necessary (which means many times per day, actually). So yeah they're clean when I play and I don't need to clean my controllers indeed. Never cleaned them and they look fine.
Probably not pristine condition, but definitely not filthy, greasy, etc.

edit: e.g. whenever I see people talking about "gaming food" I scratch my head. It's such a weird concept to me, playing/eating at the same time is unthinkable.

 

[Deleted member 679]

Do people seriously wash their hands before playing?

I mean, good for you but that's too much hassle for me. I never play with crumbs all over my hands, but having to make sure they're super clean is just uh. I'm gonna wait for a black DualSense.

Click to shrink...

Yes, but more due to OCD-like behavior than fear of getting controllers dirty or whatever. I also feel disgusted by the thought of putting on my headphones before a shower, even if I was just sleeping and took a shower before sleeping. Nothing happened that could possibly make my head dirty, and I still can't do it.

It's kind of weird, but it keeps my stuff clean, so I don't particularly try to unlearn these habits.

 

[Seijuro]

I not actively wash my hands before playing, but I wash my hands regularly, and always after eating. When your hands are always clean you can't yuck up your controller.
I use a damp microfibre cloth every few weeks/months. Sometimes I will use a bit of LCD cleaner of there's some dirt gathered on the controller.

 

[Chinner]

Picture please.

 

[robinium7]

Wait, people DON'T make sure their hands are clean before handling their controllers? This is news to me... the thought of handling my controllers after eating or preparing food or cleaning without washing my hands first is disgusting. Even if I'm snacking while playing, I'll keep a wipe next to me for a quick rub of my fingers to get rid of the grease. The controller will also get wiped when I'm finished.

 

[miserable]

Alcohol wipes

My controllers, keyboard, and mouse are utterly pristine and as new despite heavy usage.

Click to shrink...

I don't know how this works for people. My Xbox One X controller have gotten kind of sticky (not dirty) over the last 2 years and I don't know how to get rid of the stickyness.

I tried alcohol wipes, various cleaning soaps and they don't work.

I always wash my hands, I don't eat Cheetos or other junk food while I'm playing and my hands don't sweat. Only I use the controller.

 

[Kuosi]

alcohol

 

[rudeboyoslo]

Not being funny but I've spent over 100 hours on my PS5, my controller is as clean and white as day the I opened the box. What have you been doing OP?

Click to shrink...

I mean I have a launch DS4 laying around here and it's as clean as it was in 2013. All my stuff is pristine, I just don't understand how hard is it to keep stuff clean? Just wipe your controllers, your keyboards or whatever. It's that simple

 

[Headman Rum]

I make my kid wash his hands throughly before he picks up a dualsense! But yeah, alcohol wipes do the trick.
I'm more worried about the thumb stick grips peeling off like on the ds4.

 

[allintospace]

 

[Nugnip]

I mean I have a launch DS4 laying around here and it's as clean as it was in 2013. All my stuff is pristine, I just don't understand how hard is it to keep stuff clean? Just wipe your controllers, your keyboards or whatever. It's that simple

Click to shrink...

I'm not talking about a DS4. I'm not talking about a keyboard, or any "smooth" controller, really. I'm talking about the dualsense, and specifically the grip texture. This thing:

It's an amazing detail, but it does get grimy because dirt can get stuck in the little details.

And yes, you are all cute and hilarious, but I DO wash my hands, thank you very much. And people thinking their 2013 electronics they've never cleaned is still pristine, well, I've got news for you, you sweet innocent child.

 

[texhnolyze]

Yes? I don't want grease and muck on my controller if avoidable, and no it's not OCD to do that.

Click to shrink...

If I was eating something or playing with my dog, etc., yes. Same for my mouse and keyboard.

Click to shrink...

I don't wash my hands *specifically* before playing, but I do wash them everytime it's necessary (which means many times per day, actually). So yeah they're clean when I play and I don't need to clean my controllers indeed. Never cleaned them and they look fine.
Probably not pristine condition, but definitely not filthy, greasy, etc.

edit: e.g. whenever I see people talking about "gaming food" I scratch my head. It's such a weird concept to me, playing/eating at the same time is unthinkable.

Click to shrink...

Yes, but more due to OCD-like behavior than fear of getting controllers dirty or whatever. I also feel disgusted by the thought of putting on my headphones before a shower, even if I was just sleeping and took a shower before sleeping. Nothing happened that could possibly make my head dirty, and I still can't do it.

It's kind of weird, but it keeps my stuff clean, so I don't particularly try to unlearn these habits.

Click to shrink...

Yeah, it depends on what I was doing before started playing.

After eating so my hands are all greasy or after just come home from outside? Of course I'll wash my hands first.

But most of the time, I'm just chilling on the sofa watching something while holding my remote control and/or phone which are probably dirty. I also work at home so I use my keyboard a lot. Do I go to the kitchen to wash my hands instead of just reaching my controller besides me when I'm going to play? Of course not. That'd happen too many times within the day.

 

[Damien1928]

Yeah let's all dog pile OP because his white controller has imperfections...

I groaned when I seen the pad was white because in time it will discolour

Seriously OP I regularly use a baby wipe to clean my controller, keeps it nice and shiny

Hopefully we're not to far away from different colour variations

 

[dunkzilla]

Do people seriously wash their hands before playing?

I mean, good for you but that's too much hassle for me. I never play with crumbs all over my hands, but having to make sure they're super clean is just uh. I'm gonna wait for a black DualSense.

Click to shrink...

nah, I just wash my hands when they're dirty or after food, going to the toilet whatever. seems to have kept my white xbox controller clean enough for the last few years. I would assume it'll be the same for the dualsense.