All About Cleanning!!!

[Retro_player]

Hello...

I was browsing the forums, looking for cleaning solutions for several things, when I came up with this idea to create this topic, so we can all, based on our experiences, place all about videogame cleaning in the same topic,. Things like products, methods, precautions, and so on... :D

We can discuss cleaning in the various areas, like:
- Consoles (exterior).
- Consoles (connectors, electronics, etc)
- Control pads (exterior and interior)
- Carts (exterior)
- Carts (connectors)
- CD's / DVD
- Cd jewel boxes (like PSX, DC, 3DO, etc)
- DVD jewel cases (PS2, Gcube, Xbox, etc)
- Light guns
- Stiker removal
- Ink removal
- etc... :D

I think this would be a good idea, because in my case, I'm always looking for new ideas on how to maintain my collection in a like new condition :D , so I guess it would be nice to have all this info on one topic.

I'm gonna start with a few pointers from my own experience... :D
Removing Stikers:
I just warm them up a bit with a hairdryer, then i gently peel it of, warming up the zone I'm peeling. If any glue remains, I get a bit of ducit tape, glue it on the remaining glue, and rapid pull and it's all of! :D (be carefull with the duct tape over labels...)

Hope I can learn some new procedures with this thread... :D

Regards!

[Nez]

I'm pretty shure theres plenty of this stuff in the restoring forum.

But for the heck of it I use none alcoholic whipes for my systems and controllers, and first party cleaning kits for my carts.

[digitalpress]

An excellent topic indeed! One in which the Restoration Society no doubt has many answers. I'm forwarding this thread to that forum now for their attention.

>> shuffle <<

[FantasiaWHT]

Goo gone is really good for getting "stickies" off of plastic cases. Doesnt' work well at all on cardboard tho..

[whoisKeel]

hmmm...blow dryer? i'll have to try that on some boxes. paint thinner works wonders for stickies and permanent marker on carts. DO NOT use paint thinner on your cardboard...wipes the color right off.

for carts i just take them apart and clean them with q-tips and some alcohol/water mix. i find that i realy dont' get any better of a clean by using the liquid, it's the fierce dry rub that gets them clean. so your choice. for cds, i use a sunglasses case that is lint free, also have one of the cd-scratch removers that sometimes works/sometimes doesn't, and lastly i can get cds professionally resurfaced (not game doctored) for about $3-4 a piece at a local game shop.

[mizarkgram]

Consoles (exterior): Dishwasher (take all electronic components out)
Consoles (connectors, electronics, etc): Electric Contact Cleaner, Q-tips, and Cans of compressed air
Control pads (exterior): Dishwasher (take out the electronics)
Control Pads (interior): Electric Contact Cleaner, Q-tips, and Cans of compressed air
Carts (exterior): Mr. Clean Magic Eraser (for marker/ink), Alcohol & Q-Tips, Goo Gone
Carts (connectors): White Eraser and/or Q-tip/Alcohol
CD's / DVD: Wipe em off with these wipes I swipe from work
Cd jewel boxes (like PSX, DC, 3DO, etc): Goo Gone, Alcohol & Q-tips
DVD jewel cases (PS2, Gcube, Xbox, etc): Goo Gone, Alcohol & Q-tips
Light guns: Dishwasher (take all electronic components out), Goo Gone, Alcohol & Q-tips, clean interior with Electric Contact Cleaner, Q-tips, and Cans of compressed air and the lens is cleaned with those handy wipes from work
Stiker removal: Goo Gone
Ink removal: Mr. Clean Magic Eraser

Etc:
Flattenening Dog-Eared manuals: I got a pile of heavy encyclopedias

[Joelius]

Wouldn't dishwashering the shells of you're consoles just melt them, since dishwashers use heat as well as as soap and water?

[Push Upstairs]

For the plastic parts of consoles (not the electroincs) I have a removeable showerhead that i wash them off with in the bathtub.


Or you could take the plastic shells in with you when you take a shower LOL

It does save water 8-)


All controllers get a stripdown and a good scrubbing with hot water and a toothbrush (plastic parts only)

[DStriemer]

I have found that "Vim!"(a household/bathroom cleaner, that doesn't leave an aftersmell) does a good job of removing "stained-on dirt" on grey, white or light colored systems. It does still require you to use some elbow grease, but it does get that gross discoloration off. Best of all, it is not too runny if you just want to do the outside of a console and there aren't any abrasives or anything in it.

[SkiDragon]

Ajax powdered bleach stuff works well on grimy consoles, controllers, etc. I tried it on the label on the back of a Dreamcast controller, and it seemed to whiten it, but very soon after started to take the ink off.

Goo gone works fine on most labels, but I have had problems with it removing ink on certain N64 labels, specifically Wave Race, Body Harvest, and Snowboard Kids 2. They must use a different kind of ink or something.

[classic gamer]

There's a product called Oops! I use for ink/marker removal. It works great for taking kid's names of carts. It should be located near the Goo Gone in the video game restoration aisle of your local supermarket.

[FantasiaWHT]

Wouldn't dishwashering the shells of you're consoles just melt them, since dishwashers use heat as well as as soap and water?

Probably not with the heavy grade of plastic used in consoles... keep it on top would be my suggestion. Also a lot of dishwashers have "no heat" options or at least "no heat dry" options

[AlanD]

I use the dishwasher to clean arcade PCBs :) Just drop them in there for a cycle - no detergent - then stand them on edge in the garage with a fan on them. 2 days later they are ready to power up again and spotless. Have never had a major problem doing this. Once had to reseat a chip but that was it.
Alan

[VACRMH]

There's a product called Oops! I use for ink/marker removal. It works great for taking kid's names of carts. It should be located near the Goo Gone in the video game restoration aisle of your local supermarket.

Yep, I have some of that myself, but becareful... it's strong as hell @_@

[Retro_player]

Thanks for all the replies! :D
Glad to see the topic is having sucess... :D
What about scratched discs?
My PS2 pro evolution soccer freezes on the intro (but the rest of the game plays whell), and my saturn fighters megamix has the music jumping on some tracks... Is there something I can do about this? Are those cd cleaning whipes any good?

regards!

[hobbes13]

I use Windex or other glass cleaners for the inside of my NES carts (not only does it clean, but it also leaves a fresh scent) and Xerox film remover for the outside (that stuff cant be bought in stores). The film remover works alot like Goo-Gone, and it also takes of permenant ink. Hooray for idustrail-strength chemicals! LOL

[SkiDragon]

Here's a good question. How do you take permanent marker off of the top of a CD without damaging it?

I can make the marker a lot lighter with only goo gone, but it never comes all the way off unless the marker wasnt really permanent.

[jonjandran]

Here's a good question. How do you take permanent marker off of the top of a CD without damaging it?

I can make the marker a lot lighter with only goo gone, but it never comes all the way off unless the marker wasnt really permanent.

I use de-natured alcohol. Rub lightly and it will get the mark off without hurting the CD. Regular rubbing alcohol works also but it takes a lot longer and sometimes doesn't get it all off.

[EricRyan34]

These are some good ideas, I was just wondering about how to clean the outside of my carts. Make them squeeky clean 8-)

[Avatard]

Here's a tip, do NOT use dry erase markers on jewel cases, that stuff doesn't come off, hehe.