blue slime coming out of socket???

[smithereens]

There seems to be blue ink or something coming out of the holes where the pins go into the socket in my son's bedroom - help. It now seems to be happening in one of the sockets in the kitchen which isn't an outside wall, so my origianl theory of damp maybe doesn't stack up.

 

[JohnD]

"bue ink"..."son"...

is he of an age to play with gen pens and so on?

 

[sparkybird]

Is it greeney/blue? If your cables are quite old (1970's) then I;ve seen this in ceiling roses - I think it;s something to do with the copper and pvc reacting. I've not got a clue if it;s dangerous - anyone?

 

[arctic]

Could be a problem with the pvc cable reacting with expanded polystyrene which leaches the plasticiser out of the cable.

Can be a problem and may need further inspection.

Have you had you cavities filled with expanded poly at any stage or have any of the other people that lived there?

Kev

 

[Dellsmp]

Its a product of cable construction from mid to late 1960's, something to do with the solvents used in the manufacturing process. it gets its colour from the copper cores (blue/green copper oxide) and as far as I have heard it is a harmless if annoying sticky goo.
I have seen it several times, mainly in 1960's semis and have tried to clean it off using solvent cleaner with some success, but the best way to deal with it is to rewire the cable drops from under floorboards to the sockets where it occurs. Dont forget to use proper connector blocks where access permits or to crimp the cable joints where access is difficult.
Just replacing the socket fronts will eliminate it for a couple of years. untill it creeps out again.