UKC

Bit of a bizarre one... I foolishly stored my compass in a ziplock bag with some emergency boiled sweets. Over time these sweets disintegrated, turning my compass into a hideous, sticky mess. I have tried scrubbing, soaking overnight in Fairy liquid and repeated washes, but the compass plastic remains very sticky and translucent rather than transparent, and the string is very rigid.

String can be replaced, but does anyone have any suggestions for salvaging the main part of the compass without stripping any of the markings/glow in the dark stuff from it?

In reply to Pink Marshmallow:

Freeze it off or Melt it off?

Also try a solvent like nail varnish remover?

In reply to Pink Marshmallow: Buy a new compass.

In reply to Pink Marshmallow: Lakeland sell something called 'Sticky Stuff Remover', might be worth a go.

In reply to Pink Marshmallow: you could try dissolving it in an ethereal solution such as a strong whisky, vodka or methaol if you have any. glucose is known to have good solubility in these solvents.

In reply to Pink Marshmallow: Stupid question maybe, but before you try any nasty chemicals, did you use really hot water?

In reply to Pink Marshmallow:
Hot water may do it. Don't use nail polish remover, acetone will melt the plastic.

In reply to Pink Marshmallow:

I was thinking of a strong solution of dishwasher chemicals, but that may well have an effect on the softer parts of the compass.

In reply to Pink Marshmallow: Suck/lick it?

In reply to Pink Marshmallow: Put it in a box with some hungry ants.

How do you tell if an ant is hungry though?

Thank you all for the ideas! Now to try (some of) them out...

Moral of the story is definitely to eat any sweets left over from a day in the mountains.