How to fix electronic stuff

: Electronic gadgets are harder to fix than mechanical ones because it's hard to see what's wrong. But simple repairs are often easier than you might think. Take a TV remote control. The buttons you use most often will probably stop working sooner or later. How come? There are no moving parts and there's almost nothing inside that can fail. A remote uses a rubber membrane keypad sitting directly on top of the circuit board. The keys press conducting rubber down onto the circuit and act as switches. Over time, the keypad deposits a greasy film onto the circuit that stops the keys making contact. Open up your remote (carefully - you may need to prize the case apart with a screwdriver), wipe the top contacts of the circuit board with a damp cloth and some detergent, dry it out, and you may find it works again as good as new!