Nail polish remover was the first thing I tried back in '04 - didn't
work at all.  I now understand how the stuff got goopy in my case.
The PO had put the dish drainer lid down with a burner on as evidenced
by a darkened ring on the bottom of the dish drainer.  Too hot for the
rubbery blobs.  I always thought they were non-native blobs, something
alien to the original Westy.  Mr. Squirrel brings forth yet another
mystery for Vanagon minds to solve.  At least it wasn't gnarlie.