Stiff reel seats

hey everyone any tips on a sticky reel seat, i usually shower the rods off after a session in warm water but unsure if i can put anythn on it that wont attract sand or destroy the material, any help much appreciated

If its a standard screw winch reel seat its best,as you have done,to clean off with unsalty water then apply a little wd40 and wipe off excess with a cloth.Son of a gun car vinyl cleaner is good also.Don't use vaseline or highly viscous lubricants as they will,as you say,attract sand on your next session.Apply anything you use sparingly and wipe off excess.Just check that the bottom of the seat hasn't slipped sideways and check that the long guide line that runs up the back of the reel seat isn't contaminated with chips of plastic or mud.