Sony TV Remote Not Working? How to Clean and Fix It Properly (DIY Guide)

If your Sony TV remote suddenly starts acting strange – some buttons respond only after hard pressing, others work randomly, or nothing happens at all – don’t rush to buy a replacement.
In most homes, the problem is not electronics. It’s dirt.

A TV remote lives a hard life. It’s always nearby: on the couch, in bed, on the kitchen table. We use it after meals, with oily fingers, during late-night movies. Over months and years, all that invisible grime slowly moves inside the remote – right to the contacts that make buttons work.

The good news?
In many cases, a proper cleaning restores the remote completely. No soldering. No spare parts. Just careful DIY maintenance.

This Lifekaki guide explains how to clean a Sony TV remote safely, without damaging the rubber buttons or the circuit board.

Why Sony Remote Buttons Stop Responding

When people open a remote for the first time, they’re often surprised by what they see inside.

The most common reasons for failure are:

Buttons feel sticky or too soft
A button works only if you press very hard
Some keys respond, others don’t
The remote works again after shaking it – then fails

Inside the remote, dust mixes with skin oils and grease. This creates a thin, sticky film that covers:

the rubber button contacts
the circuit board contact points

That film blocks the electrical signal. The button is pressed, but the signal never reaches the board properly. Cleaning removes this invisible barrier.

What You’ll Need (No Special Tools)

You don’t need a repair kit or expensive chemicals. Everything is usually at home!

A plastic card (bank card, loyalty card)
Warm water
Dish soap
A soft toothbrush
Paper towels or a lint-free cloth

That’s it.

Step-by-Step: How to Clean a Sony TV Remote Correctly

1. Open the Remote Safely

First, remove the batteries. Always.

Work on a clean table with good lighting. Sony remotes are held together by plastic clips — no screws in most models.

Use a plastic card, not metal. Gently slide it into the seam between the front and back covers. Move slowly around the edges, releasing the clips one by one.

Inside you’ll find:

the rubber button membrane
the circuit board
the plastic housing

Important: Never use a knife or screwdriver. One broken clip — and the remote won’t close properly again.

2. Wash the Rubber Buttons (This Part Matters Most)

Wash the Rubber Buttons the Remote Sony TV.

The rubber membrane is where most problems come from.

Remove it completely.
Prepare warm water with a small amount of dish soap.

Place the rubber pad in the water and gently clean it with a toothbrush.

Pay attention to:

spaces between buttons
the black conductive pads on the back

These pads must be clean — but not damaged!

⚠️ Do NOT use alcohol on rubber buttons!
Alcohol dries rubber and can destroy the conductive coating. Once that layer is gone, the button will never work again. Soap and water only. Rinse thoroughly.
Dry with paper towels, then leave it to air-dry for at least 12 hours. No shortcuts.