I hate a machine beating me, so I'd rather break it than not try to beat it.
I have successfully restored many (not all) remotes by taking them apart, giving all the parts a bath with a brush and alcohol, blow dry with compressor (or canned air), let thoroughly dry, back together ... peanut butter removed, hair, dust, oxidation.
back of the flexible sheets with buttons, the face of the circuit board(s). I've never had or tried to use the conductive paint mentioned above, the backs of the buttons have always looked good, but it's nice to know about it.
sometimes it doesn't work, but no worse off than before. If I scratch it cracking it apart, it's better than giving up, or not trying. even if you break a tab or two, they usually hold themselves together well enough.
Steve at VAS was able to fix my Cayin amp's remote, some functions worked, others didn't, cleaning didn't help.