kolijahc

It is not due to handling (well, maybe partially). Whatever rubber saitek uses degrades over time, and it will break down whether handled, left out unused or in a box. The first 2 are a little worse because the sticky rubber attracts dust. You could either clean with ISO and elbow grease, or use something oily like goof off followed by a degreaser like simple green. You will have to do it more and more frequently as the stick gets older, but eventually you will rub all of the sticky rubberized plastic away, and you will be left with the slick hard plastic underneath. You could accelerate the process by using scrub pads or the like, steel wool, emery cloths, but I wouldn't advise trying to remove it all in one shot. I have an old x45 that I did this with and there is hope.. (until the pots start going out, but that's another story.) I used 91% ISO from a local drugstore (strongest I could find) and used the green side of a green and yellow scrub pad. I did that about 4 times and on the last one I followed with the goof off/simple green. I think i used full strength or maybe half dilution.