How to effectively remove silicone?

[amostay2004]

I've had my Type A 3rd model for about a year now and I really love it. But the thing is the silicone that's built up over the year on the plastic has been making my cube slower nowadays. I know because I have another white 3rd model that I don't really use and it's much smoother than my black one that I use as my main cube.

I frequently wash my cube by disassembling it and soaking the cubies in soap water for a period of time and then I will lube it. But it seems that soap water alone cannot effectively remove all the silicone from the cube and the white residue will still be seen no matter how hard I scrub and wash.

Are there any chemicals that will remove silicone 100% from the plastic? I spent some time scratching off as much white residue as I can from each cubie and it does turn smoother...but I can't get all of them out...

 

[Muesli]

I would have thought that bunging your dis-assembled cube (Minus screws/springs) in a dishwasher on rinse would get the job done. It does the trick for Vaseline and that funky V-cube oil.

 

[Daniel Wu]

I second the washing in the dishwasher idea. But then again, I've never had silicon build up like that to the point where it becomes a problem. The dishwasher works well though.

 

[amostay2004]

The soap I use is hand wash. Would dishwashing liquid work better? I don't have a dishwasher unfortunately...here in Malaysia we wash with our hands

 

[Muesli]

If you plug up a sink, fill it with LUKEWARM water, put your pieces in and swill the water and bits around it should take most of the stuff off. Dont, for the love of god, use hot water. That will most likely take your stickers off with great efficiency.

 

[IamWEB]

I'm going to take the time to ask (rather than go look it up): What IS LUKEWARM?

Yes, you're probably facepalming right now, but I've never had is explained to me before. I've also never seen it used before except online... I could just use context clues to get a general idea but I want to know how it's typically defined.

 

[thelurch1986]

moderately warm; "he hates lukewarm coffee"; "tepid bath water"

A temperature of about 105 degrees F. that feels neither hot nor cold.

 

[miniGOINGS]

I just use sand. It works great, it also makes the cube suck for a while, but it takes out the silicone. No, actually I just wash it out.

 

[amostay2004]

I just use sand. It works great, it also makes the cube suck for a while, but it takes out the silicone. No, actually I just wash it out.

Wash it out with...? They're just really so stubborn! But maybe you have not used your cube long enough to notice that silicone still remains after washing and they do build up in the cube after some time...

 

[rachmaninovian]

are u sure it is the silicone making the plastic less smooth? white cubes are known to be smoother anyway..

 

[amostay2004]

Pretty sure. I scratched some of the white residue off and the cube is noticeable smoother so if I can get all of them off it should be much better.

 

[tribaleps]

Removing silicon

My 2 cents: Use lighter fluid.

I found this very effective in ensuring the surfaces have a squeeky clean feel...

 

[piemaster]

Use Vaseline. You know how to takes off plastic if left a while? Then if the silicone is covering it, maybe it will take it off. Seems to work for me.

 

[daniel0731ex]

ohhh, i think i remember something about "lukewarm water" in the bible....couldn't remember it

 

[rjohnson_8ball]

I only wash my cubies in water and dishwashing liquid if they are oily or greasy. If it is just cubie dust or the white gunk from silicone and propellant interacting with the plastic, then I clean them without water. I use a very sturdy paper towel to get most of the gunk off. I guess a cloth towel might work real well. Don't forget to wipe the centers and clear them of hair. Then I lay out all the pieces, spray the internal surfaces, let them dry for a while, then reassemble. The pieces go like lightning then. I found CRC silicone spray works better for me than ACE hardware silicone spray.

 

[miniGOINGS]

ohhh, i think i remember something about "lukewarm water" in the bible....couldn't remember it

Revelation 3:16 "So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth."

 

[adfoote]

ive got a similar kind of problem. the other day i was making a friends storebought better, and i decided to put more silicone on my cube for no real reason. the thing is that i have 100% pure silicone, which is awesome in moderate amounts, but, in large quantities, it sucks.
so, anyway, some silicone got onto the outside of the cube and now i keep getting bad times because i cant hold onto the cube. any suggestions?

 

[no1337cube]

Just clean it or keep solving till the silicone wears off.

 

[Inf3rn0]

Just clean it or keep solving till the silicone wears off.

He wants to know HOW to clean it.
I just use lukewarm water in a basin as mentioned before and try rub off anything thats on there, it seems to be good enough for me.