The tacky rubbers are hard to maintain. The tacky rubbers, also called sticky rubbers absorb dust particles faster than grippy or non-tacky rubbers. A good example of tacky rubber is TSP Summit. This is a very tacky rubber I have used in a long time. Although XIOM ZETA is a rubber having the same feeling, it is not tacky as some of the Chinese made tacky rubbers like TSP Summit. Both XIOM ZETA and TSP Summit absorb dust, but the TSP Summit absorbs the dust faster, accumulates it faster and make a thin harder dust layer on the rubber.
Is cleaning the rubber necessary?
It is necessary to clean the rubber and the keep the dust off. The ball spins less at spots where is accumulation of dust. Without our notice, some balls can land up on the floor or at the net because of this reason. Those spots on the rubber can become hard after accumulation of a lot of dust, and that can spoil the rubber.
Step #1 to maintain a tacky rubber
Clean, Clean, Clean. That is the first step. Use water if you can’t afford some water based cleaning solution like XIOM I-Clean. I personally use XIOM I-Clean. It is very handy and I can use a bottle for at least 3 to 4 months. Clean as many times as possible to keep the dust off regularly. Once the dust is accumulated for some days, it is hard to remove. Large deposits of dust can be cleaned with a little drop of soap and water also.
There are cleaning solutions available from manufactures. Some of them are not water based. It is okay to use them as long as it is not in a tournament. The players like to clean the rubber with sweat. That is not a good idea.
Don’t use spin increasing solutions like spinmax or wd-40 unless necessary. Once this kind of solution is used on a rubber once, it needs to be used regularly. Using such solution is also against the ITTF rules.
Whatever cleaning solution you use, it is very important to remove the solution from the rubber with a cleaning sponge.
Step #2 to maintain a tacky rubber
Keep the moisture off the rubber. Keep the rubber away from Sunlight and high temperature. Florida, Oregon or Hong Kong are humid. Use the cleaning sponge to clean the rubber as many times as possible in such places. Water is an enemy to a sticky rubber. The top spin players will notice fluttery balls at the contact if the rubber has water content.
There are spray available to keep the rubber dry. The TSP Dry is such a solution. The TSP Dry is inflammable, and needs to be used in a high ventilated area.
Step #3 to maintain a tacky rubber
The rubber in long term can get oxidized. Keep the racket in a racket case all the time when not being used. This not only protects the racket from damages, as well as keep the rubber away from its enemies - dust and water. Keeping silica gel packets in the racket case is good. It can keep the moisture from the case.
Step #4 to maintain a tacky rubber
The surface layer of a tacky rubber is sensitive to atmosphere. Not just dust and water, some chemicals in the atmosphere can spoil the rubber. In addition to putting the racket in a racket case, keeping a protective foil on the rubber is good. Remember to wipe the rubber before putting the protective sheet on. This will keep the rubber from the air contact.
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FYI: Oregon is NOT humid at all.