Zoom H4N clean up. How to clean sticky plastic on h4n

I show you how to clean the sticky residue that forms on things like the Zoom H4N. This is a common fault of these and this is how you can get it back to good as new.
Things I used;
Isopropyl alcohol
All-purpose cloth
Microfibre cloth

[@landonbrands]

Windex Advanced worked for me on the H4n as well as my 2016 CR-V volume knob

[@midwesterngeekincali]

I just tried this with mine. I left the back battery cover on. It cleaned the battery cover as well, but after watching your video, I made sure to dry the battery cover immediately after wiping with alcohol. I also was using some clean old white cotton socks. (When they get holes in them, I wash them and throw them in a rag bag out in the garage just for this type of stuff)

[@WesternPromise5831]

Thanks Scouse that worked really well. I reached out to Zoom but they just offered me a discounted new recorder. This is a much better and cheaper option.

[@LuisVPazmino]

@@BlondieHappyGuy How did it go? What did you do in the end?

[@lhd7105]

Hey this lil youtube is a life saver. Thank you so much :) I was so confused as to why my H4 was so sticky all over. Kekekeke.. Very unique issue, never seen an consumer electronic be like this..
Thank you very much about the warning to go gentle on the battery door..

[@muzwack]

You’re very welcome. Glad it helped you.

[@skyeditor1740]

That worked like a champ! Thanks

[@muzwack]

@@skyeditor1740 No problem, glad it helped 👍🏻

[@AJLucasLuthier]

I have the same issue and will try alcohol. Mine has a plastic case that it's been in for some time. I wonder if this contributes to it 'sweating'. If this is caused by the rubber 'gassing off' maybe the plastic case is retaining those gasses next to the unit instead of them disappearing into the ether.

[@muzwack]

@@AJLucasLuthier That may contribute, but I had mine stored freely and it turned out like this, so not sure if the storage would effect it either way. Hope the alcohol clears it up for you.

[@NatureSoundsandSights]

same thing - door would not clean properly, I just ended up putting gaffers tape on it. The rest worked great though! Thanks for the vid

[@janisyoung3725]

Thanks so much for this as I was really upset when I found mine had gone sticky. I'll use ipa on the main body but will see if I can find someone to make me a new battery cover on a 3d printer

[@muzwack]

You’re welcome, glad it helped. The 3d printed battery cover would likely work much better.

[@janisyoung3725]

Ah further news. The ipa worked a treat and then leaving the battery cover in place, I used cellulose thinners to clean that! No longer sticky and the dull surface appears to be just texture to help with sliding it open. Hope that helps you too xx

[@muzwack]

Oh, nice. Cellulose thinners. Thanks for letting me know, others will be happy to know that too I’m sure.

[@bergier1]

I have the same problem and I wanted to ask you if you passed the damp cloth over the letters of the brand or in general over the texts printed in white? Because I think they would be erased by the effect of isopropyl alcohol. Surprisingly, I see that they were not erased.

[@pixpusher]

Life saver!!! Thanks.

[@suzanneconyers]

Just a heads up. Zoom is replacing all of these for no charge. Just reach out to them. You just have to pay to ship it to them.

[@VRLANDNL]

The charged me €180 for it :O ?

[@suzanneconyers]

@@VRLANDNL - oh man! I'm in the US and they replaced with a brand new design for free!

[@VRLANDNL]

@@suzanneconyers how old was your device when it was replaced?

[@conyersfamily]

@@VRLANDNL - about 5-6 years old. They didn’t even ask though.

[@SMAAAASHTV]

Looks like they're not honoring the warranty outside of 3 years from date of purchase anymore. Just got an email back from them stating "This issue is covered under warranty within 3 years of the date of purchase. If the unit is outside of this period, we can offer a new replacement unit for $110.00 (plus $10.00 shipping)." So they want people to pay $110 because their product is defective.

[@janisyoung3725]

I used ipa on the body and cellulose thinners cleaned the battery cover.

[@singedudestin]

thank you!

[@asoloda]

I never saw it before with other devices except Harmony a universal remote control. I recently sent H6 that I bought 2016 and they charged me $149.00 to send me new one.

[@asoloda]

@@BlondieHappyGuy it is really bad. They claimed the new one they sent me won’t have the same problem and I hope so.

[@stevehardy7584]

I thought maybe I'd poured honey on my Zoom H4n in some drunken stupor. Disgustingly sticky.