Video Game Knowledge – Cleaning Game Cartridges

Posted by Retroware Admin on Friday, July 1, 2011 · 6 Comments

Ashura

Brasso (a metal cleaner) works wonders for cleaning NES, SNES and Genesis games
TheAstroCreep

Alcohol is too abrasive. I’d recommend Windex since it’s scratch free. Brasso is great for corrosion. I have a copy of Street Fighter Alpha 2 for SNES that looked like it was ready to kick the bucket. Lo and behold I brought it back to life by using a pencil eraser, then some windex on a q-tip.

http://www.retrowaretv.com Kevin Willingham

Incorrect. Windex can do more damage actually. Windex uses ammonia which is ok for cleaning but not as good as rubbing Alcohol for metal contacts and Windex also uses fragrances and other things which leaves a residue on the contacts. You don’t want any residue left over on the contacts. A rubbing alcohol with a less concentration of water is even better as it evaporates even faster then both Windex and the standard rubbing alcohol. Brasso is good but again not prime as it leaves a residue because it is made to polish metal. The thin metal on electronic contacts is not the same as the candle sticks you polish. It won’t damage it really but it is not optimal. A lot of people swear by high concentrate rubbing alcohol or contact cleaner and an eraser.

http://thepunkeffect.com Pat

Rubbing alcohol is all you need for 99% of games. For extremely dirty/corroded contacts, try the eraser trick and/or Brasso. However, if you use Brasso, make sure to wipe that garbage off the game pins very well.
Toto

I’ve never cleaned a game cartridge, like, ever, if it works fine you gotta have OCD to break it open just to clean it and ruin the contacts and shit.
John

I use 409 All Purpose cleaner rather than alcohol or metal cleaners. Alcohol and metal cleaners by nature are abrasives. They actually begin a reaction with the metal that will over time further the corrosion on the pins. In the short run this isn’t a huge deal, but over the years it can become a problem.

From Pixels to Plastic: Ep. 28 – Street Fighter Figures Part 3 of 3