Prevent disused brakes getting stuck I tend to brake almost exclusively with my right hand. This usually means that the V-brakes for my left hand (rear) build up grime over time. Then when I come to use the brakes when I do need to stop more abruptly, it works fine, but it doesn't release properly afterwards, and I'll need to reach behind me and adjust the brakes again to get them out of their jammed or half jammed position. Getting them unjammed is sometimes more easily achieved by buying a whole new brake rather than working them into a 'released' state. This does not happen on the front so I can only assume it's due to the relative disuse of my rear brake. 

What strategies can I use to prevent this from happening? I know it's not an issue with the brakes being balanced, and it's happened on more than one bike.
Adding to the first part of mattnz's comment


  You should check they are working and adjusted properly by applying them a few times at the start of each ride, this should be enough to stop them sticking from lack of use. 


That, of course, applies to both brakes.

I would recommend using your rear brake more, since it's adequate for most braking tasks. I generally use both brakes in most situations. This gives me a good feel for how each is working, so when I really need them I have a good idea for what will happen. In emergency situations, though, remember that your front brake is 50% more powerful than the rear brake.

Another reason for ambidextrous braking is so that you can signal with either hand while braking. It has to be said that for most people this is a higher level skill, but you can begin to do it by braking gently.

But for completeness, I should mention that some people say the rear brake is almost useless. You can form your own opinion after reading what Sheldon Brown says here.