how to remove annoying dust specks on rubber ring of lenses?

if you go to your local hardware store you'll find silicone based spray lubricants that are safe for use on rubber. They are recommended for use on window seals, etc. and can often be found in the automotive section. They are great for cleaning up those rubber rings, removing built up dirt and grease and making them nice and black again.

Armor-All applied lightly with a Q-tip.

I'd just use a q-tip with a bit of water, if that doesn't work maybe a bit of gentle soap. If I'd care about that. If you use soap or something else, I'd suggest to use plain water to clean residue off afterwards. I don't usually trust things that say 'safe for...' all that much.

Just get a small hobby paint brush and brush them away if it's just dust. Now if it's getting little white from sweat over time. I just pull the ring off and wash it in the sink with dish detergent. Then all my gear gets coated with Ultima interior guard+

I would be concerned about using any kind of lubricant or petroleum-based product on the lens that might picked-up on your hands and inadvertently transferred to the lens surface. I once had a filter stuck to one of my lenses and tried using silicon spray to lubricate the threads. While that helped get the filter off, some of the silicon got onto the surface of the filter and destroyed the coating. I was very happy that none got on the lens itself.

Personally I would go with the sink

bumpintheroad wrote in post #17532880
I would be concerned about using any kind of lubricant or petroleum-based product on the lens that might picked-up on your hands and inadvertently transferred to the lens surface. I once had a filter stuck to one of my lenses and tried using silicon spray to lubricate the threads. While that helped get the filter off, some of the silicon got onto the surface of the filter and destroyed the coating. I was very happy that none got on the lens itself.

That's why armor all should not be used it's an oily junk product that gets all your hands. Use a high quality product like Ultima, 303 aerospace, carpro PERL. They dry clean and no oil left behind just proper protection. I do professional detailing as a hobby so always have high end stuff for cleaning and protecting.

A toothbrush and a dampened terrycloth microfiber cloth, no more, and that should do the job. Getting OCD about cleaning photo gear is likely to do more harm than good over time.

I have used a toothbrush and some Isopropyl Alcohol with good results.

I wipe down my lens bodies and camera bodies with a rag (old T-shirt) lightly dampened with distilled water. For grooves in the lens's rubber rings I use a soft tooth brush if I can't get the damp rag in there.

John_T wrote in post #17533092
A toothbrush and a dampened terrycloth microfiber cloth, no more, and that should do the job. Getting OCD about cleaning photo gear is likely to do more harm than good over time.

Second this.

A very light application of 3M's Vinyl Protector will go a long way with any butyl rubber. A very small bit (and I mean barely enough) on a microfiber cloth and rub in. It'll keep gunk and oxidative process away for years.

For more stubborn white stains, use a soft eraser and slowly rub on affected areas. It'll put a smile on your face and it works on rubberized surfaces on the camera body too.

The only thing is, you can spend time to remove it, but they'll just come right back.