NES games cleaning method

[camarothunder]

Hello, I am new to this gaming community. I just started collecting old Nintendo NES games and got my old console a brand new 72 pin installed. Now I have started cleaning my NES games. I have used polishing paste and finished them off with little bit of alcohol. I know cleaning by hand is time consuming and probably the safest way to clean them. So I have tried another method of cleaning them. I have tried buffing them with dremel in low rpm setting. It appear to be effective and of course, the quickest way to clean game chip. But the question is, does using dremel affect the quality of game play? Is this method a wise idea? I am curious what is your cleaning method, especially quickest way to do it? I have ton of games to clean and cleaning them by hand isn't gonna be fun.

[TheDomesticInstitution]

I have a dremel but haven't used it for cleaning my games. I use a non-abrasive metal cleaner safe for all metals and an old rag. It only takes me 20 or so seconds to clean a cartridge. When the metal is nice and shiny I consider it clean. As long as you use a soft buffing wheel I don't see a problem. I wouldn't use sandpaper or a metal wheel.

[walrusmonger]

qtips and 90% rubbing alcohol

[allyourbase]

I am unsure of your particular method, but after an initial cleaning or for a game with some serious crud on it- I personally would just clean the games there-after with rubbing alcohol with a high alcohol content (90% as previously mentioned would get the job done) and q-tips which seems like a good maintenance cleaning method beyond any initial deep-cleaning that needs to be done. I am curious as to what a dremel does to the pins over time. These little guys are over 20 years old now and longevity is definitely a concern for me and my collection. Qtips are gentle, safe and get the job done.
But of course.... "Only use the officially licensed NES Cleaner Kit located at any fine retailer near you."

[BetaWolf47]

Hmm, that seems like something that would work, but I personally would use something a lot less abrasive. Eraser works fine.

[megasdkirby]

Hmm, that seems like something that would work, but I personally would use something a lot less abrasive. Eraser works fine.

&

qtips and 90% rubbing alcohol

I use these two combined. Works great.

[retroman]

I too use qtips, and rubbing alcohol

[allyourblood]

For especially ugly cartridges, I'll use DeOxit. For light duty (or to clean the left-over DeOxit), I use the ol' iso alcohol and cotton swabs.

[darkslime]

I just blow it off and if it doesn't work Q tip and rubbing alcohol.

[pseudonym]

Rubber gloves, metal tongs, barrel of acid. Problem solved.

[buzz_n64]

Glass cleaner, q-tips, compressed air

[Orion Pimpdaddy]

I use q-tips and copper polish. It makes the dull copper shine, which helps with the connection. For tough jobs, I will also do a second stage with alcohol. Servicing the inside of the NES is equally as important (pin connection problems, etc.)