Cleaning NES games... Your best advice?

[Jagasian]

Am I correct in assuming I can use rubbing alcohol to clean the game contacts safely? I have a lot of games and I need to clean them the right way.

Greg

WD-40

WD-40 is extremely bad to use on electronics. It is great on things made of pure metal, but printed circuit boards are combinations of things, and WD-40 will actually destroy them in the long run.

Also, store bought rubbing alcohol contains water, and hence it is bad to use on electronic equipment. There is a reason that I have suggest anhydrous alcohol, i.e., because it has no water in it. It is specifically made for cleaning electronics.

[Sanriostar]

No matter what anybody tells you...
The top rack of your dishwasher is not safe!!!
Repeat, The top rack of your dishwasher is not safe!!!

I've used a dishwasher for cases of Classic consoles, and once for the board of a Darth Vader 2600. Now, those were just the *cases*, and the one time for the 2600 board I ran the washer without soap, just water, and let it dry for 24+ hours.

As for NES carts, rubbing alchohol, Q-Tips, a Pen eraser (not a pencil, a Pen..) with an Emery board as a last resort works fine.

[Tron2005]

Also remember that any use of tissue or any other paper product generates Static Electricity and some electronic parts will fry with less that 40 volts where when you feel a static shock will be in the range of 2000 volts (remember its Amps that will kill you). when i worked in a Circuit board manufacture plant we could not use any paper around the boards.. and also we did wash the boards with a cleaner and water .. this is fine as long as the board is completely dry in a timely matter to prevent corrosion and shorting out of the circuit boards when plugged in

[Memnon]

Make sure that you always keep your NES covered when not playing it. There are official toaster covers that fit nicely.

Oh, really? I store my NES in a big, plastic sandwich bag, but an official cover would lend more class. I wonder if they sell them on eBay?

[darknut101]

Am I correct in assuming I can use rubbing alcohol to clean the game contacts safely?

DeoxIT!!! DeoxIT works wonders on games. I had games that hadn't worked for years and when I used Deoxit they worked like new. I was so happy when I found this stuff. It cleans the dirt from the contacts and removes oxidation. There is also a second solution you put on to protect the contacts on the cartridge after your clean it. It's a little pricey but well worth it. Anyone else ever use it?

Check it out here:
http://store.caig.com/s.nl/sc.2/category.188/.f

They also sell the 5% solution at Radio Shack.

[Jagasian]

Make sure that you always keep your NES covered when not playing it. There are official toaster covers that fit nicely.

Oh, really? I store my NES in a big, plastic sandwich bag, but an official cover would lend more class. I wonder if they sell them on eBay?

I got my cover from a friend. It fits the NES perfectly, and is made out of a plastic coated fabric similar to that used for car "bras" and car covers. I think it is water proof. It fits so nicely, even with cables plugged in, that I actually keep it on my NES at all times, except when I want to change the game that I am playing.