My first has been brilliant, and I have tried many times to kill it. I have dropped it, thrown it, drowned it, lost it down in a boat's bilge.... It did get a bit sticky (I mean really gross), so I washed it.... I asked for advice in Melb. It was still a bit gummed up... BUT... mine still lives, and now I have a spare which is being eyed off by "she" who is "supposedly" obeyed.. I like them - they work well for me...