The Dreaded "Green Goo" leaking out of you electrical accessories!

FACT: When you get a new TV or Xbox… why is your electrical cable and plug wrapped up in a plastic bag? It’s because the polystyrene protecting your new TV causes a breakdown in the plasticiser within the cable!!!  It’s an incredibly slow process of course… but that’s why!

That “green goo” you’ve found in your socket is something I see fairly often in older properties — and it usually catches people off guard. Eventually it will lead to problems and you’ll need to decide when you want to address it because eventually it will cause your circuit breakers to trip as the plasticiser is conductive (i.e. it will create a link between the live/earth and this is what causes a circuit breaker to overload and trip). However, there was a time when these cables were produced… 60s/70s when they got it more wrong than ever before… 

What it is:

So what is the Dreaded Green Goo? It’s caused by the insulation on older electrical cables (typically PVC from the 60s-70s) breaking down over time. That insulation contains chemicals called plasticisers, which slowly leak out as the cable ages.

Those chemicals react with the copper inside the wire, and that’s what creates the green, oily residue.

Why it shows up in sockets:

• Ageing wiring (usually 40+ years old)

• Warmth from electrical load over time

• Connections that have been undisturbed for years

Is it dangerous?

Not immediately — but it’s not something to ignore either.

It can:

• Affect how well the terminals grip the cable

• Lead to poor connections and tripping circuit breakers

• Cause heat build-up over time

What to do next:

If you’ve opened a socket and seen it:

• Don’t touch it if you’re unsure — isolate the circuit if possible

• It’s worth getting it checked properly

• In many cases, the connection can be cleaned and remade safely

• But if it’s widespread, it might be a sign the wiring is getting towards replacement age

If you want, tell me roughly how old the house is and where you’ve found it (just one socket or a few places), and I can give you a better idea of what you’re dealing with 👍