Start with the least aggressive option: wipe the area with a clean cloth slightly dampened with an alcohol-based cleaner. Alcohol can cut skin oils better than ordinary soap or screen cleaner and is generally a safer first step than harsher solvents.

If that still doesn’t remove the residue, a citrus oil cleaner such as Goo Gone may work, but use it very sparingly and test cautiously. Avoid stronger solvents like Goof Off, which can soften plastics and damage the camera’s finish. Acetone is also much riskier and can harm painted or plastic surfaces, so it’s not a good first choice for camera bodies.

Why it seems to disappear and come back: the cleaner may temporarily wet the surface and change how light reflects off it, making the spot less visible. Once it dries, any remaining oil film can become visible again.

Best practice: use a small amount of alcohol-based cleaner on a cloth, not directly on the camera, and gently wipe until the residue is gone.