Do you clean every used game cartridge that you acquire?

[stargate]

I was just wondering what the general consensus is among the collectors on this forum. When you all buy used game cartridges (ATARI, INTV, NES, SNES, TG16, GENESIS, ETC) do you take the time to clean the contacts with alcohol on every game before using it? I guess I should, but it takes so damn long, especially if I pick up a bunch of games at once. Am I just too lazy or is it not that big of a deal?

[kainemaxwell]

I've started doing that just to be safe after all the NES problems I had.

[IntvGene]

I don't care about the contacts or the insides, but I care about the outsides of things, like the plastic and the exterior.

Eww...

I thoroughly clean all joysticks, systems and carts that I get... in some ways it feels like buying used porn. I don't want to know what the last guy did with it. All I know is.... get out the heavy-duty, anti-bacterial, semi-corrosive cleaner.

[Neb]

Yeah, I clean every used game I get before I play them. It's a long and painful process, especially if I get a bunch at a time, but I think it is worth it in the end. Sometimes you spend just as much time trying to get a dirty game to work in your system by blowing in it as it would take to just clean it.

[IGotTheDot]

Yes. I watch TV while I clean the contacts and then the outside. I would never trade a dirty cart. Clean carts = clean systems.

[stargate]

ok, I'm cleaning right now. I have about 50 to go!!

[Neb]

Good luck!

[klimatron8]

Ditto what "igotthedot" said. Here's one --what are you all using to clean your games? The old cloth nes/snes cleaners seem to be disappearing. I got tons of fluid, but hardly any cloths left.

[Gunstarhero]

Hell yes I always clean those contacts. I'm always satisfied that I took the time to do it too especially after you clean a game and that one cart turns both ends of the q-tip completely black. Nasty. Cleaning games prior to play is a good investment of your time.

[Neb]

I just use Q-Tips (with the cardboard sticks, not the plastic-they bend too much) and water...
If you use the cleaning fluids or alcohol, does the dirt on the contacts come off faster?

[Gunstarhero]

Ditto what "igotthedot" said. Here's one --what are you all using to clean your games? The old cloth nes/snes cleaners seem to be disappearing. I got tons of fluid, but hardly any cloths left.

I just use what I thought everyone else uses, Q-Tips and rubbing alcohol. Works fine for me. I always wondered why NES and other carts always had warning labels warning against using alcohol as a cleaner. Why is that? Liability reasons perhaps?

[Bratwurst]

An electronics acid brush, with alcohol. Busts up dirt and doesn't leave strands like cotton swabs will.

EDIT: Oh, I should also mention that I open my cartridges to get to the contacts unobscured.

[klimatron8]

Q-TIPS!!! Eexxeelleent!

[Chunky]

Q-Tips and rubbing alcohol, alwaysw good. most of the dirt and crap is from fingers and stuff, oil, the alcohol cuts it pretty good. Contact trace and eletronics cleaner is the best, but it's expensive. It will take all the dirt up into a foam, and after it dries it leaves a layer of dust you can blow off easily.


i always wanted to know, whats with you guys i trade with. Don't you people clean anything. sheesh. Carts I get in are dirty as hell.

[stargate]

yeah, I use Q-tips and alcohol. I guess 91% is better than 70%, at least that's what I've heard..........no idea why..........

[IGotTheDot]

Qtips or Wtips (whatever are on sale at the swapmeet that day) and denatured alcohol. On the outside I just paper towels and goofoff or liftoff or denatured alcohol and then Novus to shine em up good.

Denatured alcohol is important because it leaves no residue like other alcohols.

[maxlords]

I clean about 60% of my games. When I do, rubbing alcohol and Q-tips on the contacts. When I trade games, I try to remember to clean the contacts, but sometimes I forget. I've also been known to use WD40 afterward on the contacts...coats and protects them for a while...works quite well.

[josekortez]

I wipe off everything but the sticker.

[Dobie]

I clean my carts completely--contacts, casing, and I remove all rental stickers. I get off as much of the permanent marker off as I can too. There's just some level of fun I get out of taking what looks to be a totally trashed cart, and making it shine again!!

[Dahne]

Where do you guys get all these games at once? All the places I've found are pretty dang expensive.