I tried both teflon gel lubricant and Vaseline on mine, which was
doing the same thing. I rubbed in a coat of the teflon stuff on half,
and Vaseline on the other. When I wiped the excess off, it took the
layer of decomposed rubber mixed with crud and left nothing but soft,
glowing rubber. It stays sticky and collects dust for a couple weeks
while the stuff soaks in, but after that it seems to settle down and
act like normal rubber. I didn't notice much difference between the
teflon gel and the Vaseline, other than that the Vaseline has a
distinct petroleum smell while the teflon stuff smells like nothing.
Vaseline is significantly cheaper and easier to find, though.

> Well anyway, my question (below) wasn't about removal of the chrome
> strips, it was about cleaning the rubber so it does not come off on my
> fingers and anything else that touches it and make them totally black. I
> could use some advice there.