Cleaning a remote control should be second nature.  While most people know a sponge is the dirtiest household item, remote controls are right up there with it.  The different between a remote control and a sponge is simple: When your sponge has had enough, you throw it away and buy a new one.  Most people do not have that luxury with a remote control.  Instead, the remote is taken for granted, left to fester dirt, germs and more and the buildup eventually becomes ground into the control.

In order to clean a remote, you need the following cleaning supplies: Rubbing alcohol, Windex or other glass-based cleaning product, a soft cloth and Q-Tips. Make sure to take the batteries out of the remote and set them aside before cleaning. First, use some Windex on the soft cloth and wipe down the remote control. This will help loosen build up, clean down some of the grime and make things a bit easier.

If you have to wipe down the remote control multiple times, do so. If you have never cleaned your remote before, the buildup may be disgusting. Wiping the remote down in this fashion helps loosen dirt similar to how you would soak a countertop to remove large spills or stains. From there, you would use Q-Tips dipped slightly in rubbing alcohol to get in between buttons and really work the rest of the build up off the remote controls surface. Once you are satisfied with how clean the remote controlis, you can wipe it down one more time with Windex and then wipe it dry with another soft cloth.

If you are truly hygiene-conscious, you should clean your remote control at least every two weeks.  The more you use your television, and the more others use it, the more buildup occurs.  Just think about where you put your hands during the day and then think about how that transfer to your remote control.  Ideally, you should not go more than a month without cleaning your remote control.  Otherwise, you keep accumulating build up which makes the task of cleaning your remote control even harder down the line.