[emeritus]

Where the affected parts can be removed well away from anything sensitive, I have used dry earth to absorb the bulk of the goo. Using something like a cocktail stick, the earth and goo can be worked into a stiff paste that is easier to deal with and doesn't stick to other things. Not appropriate for treating stuff in situ where there are things that might be damaged by the powdered earth. The soil here is a very fine loess-type brick earth that makes a very fine powder when dry. Bentonite (as used in home brewing for finings) is a highly absorbent mineral and should be effective.