green & silver phone button dead?

[funperro]

Over the last few months, the green and shiny silver phone button has slowly stopped working. Gradually, I've had to push it harder each time I need to use it. Presently, I can barely get it to function unless I am squeezing it down with all the pressure I can possibly muster. My phone is out of warranty so I can't just get a quick swap and I don't have phone insurance from Sprint. My questions are:

1) is there a way to open this thing up and possibly clean the contacts for the button?

2) will Sprint help out at all if I bring it to a Sprint store? charge me a nominal fee for repairs, perhaps?

Thanks