Hi. 

I hope I'm posting in the right place, it seems to me that the topic is of concern..
About a year ago, while in traffic, wifey opened a bottle of Sprite, which started pouring out like a geyser.  (i)logically, in order to protect her purse, she kept the bottle closer to the center console... and the entire climate control panel was spilled...
Cleaned as much as possible and all seemed to be ok. And it's ok, everything is working very well... only in summer. In the winter, when it's cold, some buttons, including the heating for the passenger seat (karma ) seem to be blocked and only after the car warms up a bit, they "recover" but are a little harder to press... plus some buttons they seem to "stick" to each other.
The sticky juice is probably behind them and that's causing this problem.
So, if I try to use some contact cleaner between the buttons (using the straw from the bottle), can I damage something?
I understood that it is quite difficult to disassemble that panel and it is probably even more painstaking have it disassembled and cleaned so I'll first try some simpler solutions, if possible and if I'm not damaging things..
 
I would appreciate some ideas/advice. Thank you!

Well in the old days of electronics you just merrily sprayed contact cleaner into duff connections but that probably more to do with variable resistors not making contact than key press things. Wouldn't think it would damage it but probably not fix it. Probably a Google on spill Sprite on keyboards might be more useful.

 

Might be useful

 

https://www.howtogeek.com/674486/what-to-do-if-you-spilled-water-or-coffee-on-your-laptop/

 

Under

 

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Spray or drop some isopropyl alcohol on the affected keys, and then press each key repeatedly to work the alcohol into the mechanism. The more you press it, the looser the key should become. Don't use too much alcohol, though, or you might wash the gunk farther into your laptop.

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I had to fix this very same issue on my coffeemaker tonight, it has buttons that press on a tactile membrane which make contacts on the circuit board below, much like the keyboard I am typing on and typical of many modern devices including I'm sure your centre console.

 

It was sticky schmoo gumming up the fine clearance between the button and the surrounding plastic bezel, I cleaned mine with what I had to hand, very little in the caravan, I used Sanytol a disinfectant type kitchen cleaner and paper towel folded fine to get in the gap, it has done the job.

 

I'm sure  you will be able to do something similar, maybe even using a silicone polish like Mr Sheen which would add some lubrication, I dont think its switch cleaner that you need although it may well do the job, your problem is mechanical and not dirty switch contacts which are most likely protected against spills.

Alcohol maybe if you've some hand sanitiser still. Not the gel stuff that, the liquid with a high alcohol content. 

Ok, thanks all. I thought that some contact cleaner would be safer to use than just Sanytol or Ajax for windows. And wanted something to dissolve the goo/Sprite. And I also don't want to damage the plastic buttons or the markings on them so that's why I thought contact cleaner could do the job - also it comes with that straw that could spray the stuff somewhat behind the buttons.

This weekend will definitely try and hope I don't come back crying for help  

You could read the contact pleaser label and see what is in it. The key jabbing. It will be the membrane type of switch as JR I would guess. I use to use contact cleaner on something or other, Volume knob on things in the old days. Too long ago,