Good information! I think I'll try a little of the 91% I have here since the Amazon order isn't coming until later this week. Thank you for the information!

 

Ok so to start I took Flash5's advice and used my 91% isopropyl before using the 99% that's on order.

For the piece where the (non-existent in my car) Mark Levinson sound system would meet the panel that houses the seat and steering wheeler warmer: I dabbed Q-Tips in the alcohol and then ran the wet tip around the rim of the bottle to get off a lot of excess. I didn't want them soaked. I took roughly 4 Q-Tips (using both side) and about 20 back and forth passes with light pressure under than little lip to fully remove the stickiest soda spots. The first few you could feel the pull when the Q-Tip would hit a soda splotch that had dried with a lot of syrup. Once that quit happening and it stopped leaving behind little pieces of fuzz, I moved on to dry ones to dry the area. This was also a good indication that it wasn't leaving behind Q-Tip fuzz so the syrup was gone.

For the button I used a cotton ball and got it moderately wet. I pressed the cotton ball onto the steering wheel warmer button and depressed the button. I held it down for about 5 seconds then released. I then pressed the button in again and held it for a couple of seconds and released about 3-4 times. One note here: on the first release with the cotton ball pressed to it, when the button came back up it pulled some pieces of the cotton ball off and I had a couple pieces of cotton ball fuzz sticking out of the button. I was able to depress it, rub them free and release it. I would recommend a napkin or paper towel, but the cotton ball was just a first guess try.

I waited about 30 minutes then went to go pick up some food and the button is back to working perfectly again as it did before with no stick. It has the exact same feel as it did before the soda spill and the heated steering wheel works.

Biggest lesson learned: even if it's just water...LIDS! Always lids. Or better yet, minimize drinks as much as possible. Tons of small places for liquid to drip into and I'm sure none of the liquids we are drinking are meant to be in those little crevices. On the whole, 91% isopropyl alcohol and Q-Tips and a napkin will fix the problem. We're just going to avoid drinks in the car as much as possible.

Thanks everyone for the advice and input. I'm pretty picky about the inside of my car and this has been driving me crazy. Problem solved!

 

When I was very young I bought my first NEW car, a 1962 Mercury Meteor S33. White with a Red Vinyl interior. While out with my GF, we stopped at a Drive-In. She put a paper container of Ketchup on top off the dash, and it spilled and went down into the defroster outlets. I had to take the dash apart to clean up the mess. Since that day, NO ONE eats in my car EVER

Lou

 

Right on, all fixed. Didn't have to take anything apart.

Yup, no food or drinks! Even the smell of food I want to stay out of the car. When I pickup food from a restaurant I goes in the trunk sometimes, and I try to air it out before locking it back up haha.

Now return that 99% Isopropyl Alcohol If you need some in the future you can get a bottle for about $3 on a First Aid supplies site.

 

Awesome! Glad it worked for you!

 

Awesome glad to hear it all worked out. I don't let anybody eat or drink inside my car even my wife. I occasionally let my wife get away with it if it's a drink that has a cap lol.

 

Yea this was a commemorative cup from the damn Thunder game she wanted and it was a bit too big for the cup holder. In hindsight I should have washed in the bathroom in the arena lol

 

I know, I would hate from my wife to "eat" something in my car that could cause a "sticky spill" but I do make an exception (wink wink)

OP - Seriously, thanks for reporting back and providing great tips and advice for others - I am super happy it all worked out!!