How to clean your NES cartridges - CHEAP!

[JohnG647]

ive always used rubbing alcohol to clean my games cost 1 dollar at the dollar store...never had any issues with the games been doing it since the 90's

[KD0NVX]

As well as cleaning corrosion off the pins, Brasso is also taking the plating off. 90% isopropyl and q-tips works best,

[SuperTestfreak]

windex/glass cleaner worked for me

[martinsuper73]

How about alcohol swabs?

[ljd1980]

What tool did you use to open the case?

[zerorisers1]

So I have 90% alcohol can I make it 1/3 of alchohol 2/3 water?

[ampNirvana10]

why wouldn't condensed air work?

[anassgame]

I use Medical Alcohol for cleaning my cartridge is that dangereous ?

[bigun89]

@anassgame

I believe that *is* isopropyl alcohol, you should be fine.

[blackwingmaster48]

Thumbs up if you saw that cat.

[Draknfyre]

Alcohol works similiar, and is much cheaper. That and some Q-tips are standard for cart cleaning.

The idea of using Brasso, which I think is an abrasive, makes me freak out a little about the contacts being scraped.

The ArctiClean, the stuff you were referring to in the beginning, I never thought about that. That stuff would work great, and a set would last you for many cartridges.

[MrJR0986]

75+ games cleaned using this method. Absolutely the best way to clean older video games.

[claudiahern]

You can buy Brasso at Walmart.

[OniHakai]

you mixed 50% of 70% alcohol with 50%water? that made an 35% alcohol right?

[Draknfyre]

@OniHakai

The $1 store usually sells 50% alcohol (which is absolutely freaking useless for sterilization) but would work perfect for game cleaning without having to dilute it.

[finalcountdown3210]

Did anyone else notice the Metalman Music in the background?

[Luminous72]

I know about this method and have used it for quite a while now. As for those cleaning kits that can be bought on e bay I used them when i began cleaning carts but shortly after found out that the cleaning agents were nothing more than expensive grades of name brand polishers and cleaners. Yeah, once I found that out I just stuck to doing it like this by buying my own stuff that works just as well at a fraction of the price.

[joenewman1981]

Hey guys, what's the name of the piece to open the video game cartridges?

[Captain8Bit]

Nice I never thought about using metal polish....good idea

[CollectorGeorge]

@bigun89 I just cleaned my whole cartridge collection and damn does brasso do the job.

[CollectorGeorge]

@dsireme Where will your store be located? Can u ship

[CollectorGeorge]

@bigun89 Does Target sell Brasso. Or as I like to call it Cartridge Restoration Paste.

[mortalkombat190]

2:05 Street fighter 2 turbo edition starts, hahaha. sorry for spamming your vids with the bg noises in comments

[joelcr250]

Hey guys,.... you go to all this care to clean the game with specific techniques and solutions, but what about handling the circuit board without static protection ?! (i.e. a static strap). Just wondering.

[john0698]

Hi!!, It is true that brasso can take off the metal in the connectors?, I already have brasso and the solution ready I'm just waiting for the bit. Can I use alcohol to clean the outside of the cartridge?, thanks, great video!!

[MacNDocTKO]

Excellent video. I've cleaned more than 700 games using this method and everything is fine!

The only thing that I do different is I mix 70% distilled water with 30% alcohol in a spray bottle just to be on the safe side.

If there happens to be a game that is being difficult to open, this method works great with q tips.

In severe situations, a eraser will do the job...but I've only came across one or two games that I would consider to be severe.

[bigun89]

@MacNDocTKO

Umm... can I have your collection?

[MacNDocTKO]

@bigun89

ask me again when I'm high on brasso! lol

[RsTheJuice401]

@bigun89 no but u can have minez

[TheMike894ftw]

Now about that slightly warped cartridge contact board. It is kinda tricky prying it from my 72 pin. I need to wiggle it left to right.

[madrobo]

To my recollection I have bent game contacts using the eraser method. It is not advised.

[kdoggismaxemus]

We used erasers in the factory I worked at. when the boards came out of the gold plating line, they had a dingy look to them. Erasers cleaned them up quickly and made them shine. I cleaned up an Intellivision Utopia cart last night in 2-3 mins with an eraser. I would try the eraser method first. If that didn't work, I would try the Brasso method next...

[ZippoReviews]

@kdoggismaxemus

what 'erasers' are we talking about?

[MrHihihihi222]

achool rust connecters!

[skywarp187]

in 89' after i got my nes back from nintendo repair it actually came with a paper explaining to use q-tips & 70% alcohol to clean all my games before playing with my new nes.

[ps123fan]

@shivosummoner wtf is a aduke is CALLED A HADOKEN! not bad meant but.

[shivosummoner]

@ps123fan pardon me 

[ps123fan]

@shivosummoner you said there were a aduke in the background it's called a hadoken

[Watcher3223]

The only problem with denatured alcohol is that it can leave a residue behind.

[Watcher3223]

90% or higher isopropanol will still work okay, but it may not be as effective as pure ethanol or even denatured alcohol and there is also the concern about the effects of water, especially if you use it often enough.

Denatured alcohol is ethanol but with other compounds added that can't be removed through distillation (butanone, methanol), making it permanently poisonous so it can be sold without a liquor license and tax.

[Watcher3223]

For alcohols, only a pure solution would be preferrable.

The highest concentration that you may readily find of isopropanol will be about 90%, give or take. The rest will be water.

[Nintendough]

Whatever happened to using erasers? They're much less abrasive than brasso (helps retain contact plating) & there's no gloppy paste to clean up. The only thing I've found that's gentler is alcohol & a swab (which I recommend trying first).

[bigun89]

@Nintendough You can use anything you want., I posted what I found works best.

[Nintendough]

@bigun89

I know, but for various reasons, I think the eraser method is better still.

* There's nothing to spill

* Better cleaning control

* Easier clean-up (just dust any eraser bits away)

* Less abrasive so you preserve more metal (Brasso can strip the gold plating very quickly).

* And finally, it's easier to monitor your cleaning (since the connector isn't hidden under a layer of white paste).

We can agree to disagree on what's best, but I figured this one was worth sharing.

[bigun89]

@Nintendough

The eraser method is nothing new. Tons of videos explaining it.

Don't knock brasso until you try it.

[Nintendough]

@bigun89

I *have* tried Brasso and that's *why* I knocked it. :) It's great for solid metals, but IMO a bit too abrasive & messy for use on plated contacts & circuit boards.

Eraser removes less metal, it's easier to monitor progress and because of this, it's easier to control the results. After switching, all my contacts have retained their golden plating after cleaning which is why I prefer it.

If you prefer Brasso, I'm not gonna stop ya; just explaining my reasoning. :)

[Watcher3223]

@bigun89

If you're going to use Brasso, I'd recommend using Noxon 7 instead. It's more effective but compatible with a greater number of metals than Brasso.

But the use of metal polishing compounds should only be used on particularly dirty or corroded connectors.

Otherwise, use an ammonia-based solution, such as Windex, followed by a cleaning away of any ammonia residue using a clean swab lightly dampened with water and follow by a dry polish, also with a clean swab, followed by air drying.

[kenshindono69]

do you really have to cut the alcohol down? I dont see why it would harm the contacts. It evaporates faster and better than water. I would think a mixture with a higher water content would actually be worse than straight alcohol. A lot of my carts are just a bit dusty with no major grime. Is just using 91% alcohol straight, then wiping it off, or using a straight alcohol solution to wipe the brasso off the grimier ones really gonna hurt them? If so, why?

[bigun89]

@kenshindono69 Just a precaution. Using a more potent mixture I would not see harming the cart. Try it with one and see what the outcome is in about a year.

[TheGameNook]

OK, SO lets start with you don't need any of that crap,

Ammonia & a Q-Tip works the best and no need to open the cart.

[tweirup]

how much does brasso cost and were can you get it. Never used this method.

[rod980]

Hi! I tried this method and it worked perfectly to me. Now my NES games work instantly. I even tried this on a SNES game that always had given me trouble, and now it workes every time I load it. I even move the cartridge and the game doesn't freeze. Thank you so much for this video!

[Toiletcoffee]

Works well. I used to clean the connectors of my arcade PCB with alcohol. Vinegar seems to remove the residue quite well.

[MyNameIsArmakuni]

Shaver Cleaner is the correct way.

[poppyopi]

I did a cleaning test on a dead game with steel wool and a drop of windex. It didn't seem to remove the copper plating and came up absolutely flawlessly. You do need to dry and air-blast the board to get rid of any 'steel dust' as that could cause a short or get into your console. Would be much safer using your brasso method, though. Thanks for sharing.

[HavocBlack]

dought it

[poppyopi]

Doubt [sic] what? That using brasso would be safer than using steel wool?

[HavocBlack]

@poppyopi yes

[thedirtys2006]

yeah. u use a soft cloth or t shirt like he said. if u ever lived on your own or made food. u would know steel wool scratches metal when u clean ur pots n pans. good luck ruining your games if u go that route.

[thedirtys2006]

steel wool scratches surfaces. it's ment to clean pots n pans. n u can see what it does to that. i would stop your method of doing that. use q tips n windex or this method shown.

[HavocBlack]

does it realy work as well/better than the cleaning kit?

[bigun89]

*I* think so

[rsidntevil]

I have used this method and the eraser method. I have found the eraser method to be much quicker, less messy and it provides consistent results. Even with heavy corrosion.

[Poketrader18]

This seems to be the best way to clean these cartridges.

[snugglenuts]

Is brasso really safe for video game cartridges? I heard from an employee at a Radio Shack that Deoxit would be better for games since it is safe for pcb boards. Any info would be greatly appreciated.

[bigun89]

First off..... it's radio shack.... :/ But I've never heard of Deoxit, your on your own there.

Second, your using it on Brass plated connectors... my whole collection is cleaned this way about a year+ ago, they're all fine.

[thebiolizard]

i just slapped on some white spirit and then scrubbed of the residue with a few q tips

[oneway2780]

There is no need to blow into the game, if you use this method here, your contacts/connectors will be clean and the game should play....similar to cleaning a cd/dvd with the difference obviously being the solutions. Obviously, if your nes system is dirty and or you don't keep your game stored in a dust cover or ziplock bag, dust and dirt can accumulate.

[Poketrader18]

Blowing is pointless, most of the time the actual "blowing"does NOTHING... it's the re-entry of the cartridge that makes it work(slightly different pin contact).

[goqwertygo]

would u still have to blow on the games afterwords?

[bigun89]

Not myself no, but I also reconditioned my NES.

[goqwertygo]

lol ya i was jk but u know how nes and snes games can be..

[oneway2780]

Finally, LOL, didn't mean to write a book here....I do hope this information helps though...have a regular eraser handy because sometimes (rare) no matter how much Brasso and Solution you use, the contacts have some kind of thick black residue. If this should happen, simply take the eraser and erase just be careful to not let the part under the eraser scratch the connectors. This method allowed me to fix 1 game that I thought for sure was done for.

I've very glad to have found this video. TY

[oneway2780]

If you are looking to clean the outside of the cartridge, get yourself a Magic Eraser!! This is the only thing that I have found yet that takes off marker, stickers, and other. Simply wet the Magic Eraser, rinse it out, rub, and dry.

[oneway2780]

A few things to keep in mind. If you take the game apart, there is a chance that you can actually break the inner plastic pieces that hold the screws in place....so get yourself some crazy glue for plastic. I have come across 1 game out of approximately 450 games that would not go back together...I had to superglue the cartridge Sometimes you simply cannot open the game, so have some q-tips handy and use the same method. Finally and most importantly, make sure that the connectors are DRY.

[oneway2780]

This works...although it can become a project ...I just got done cleaning over 450 NES games using this method. Out of all of the games, only 2 didn't work! I believe this happened when I made a new solution of the alcohol and distilled water...I don't agree with the half/half, it should be something in nature of 70% WATER 30% ALCOHOL because if the alcohol content is too strong, it can fry the circuits!!

[Fr6]

Is it possible to substitute windex for the alcohol ?

[bigun89]

I..... wouldn't...

Windex leaves a thin film behind, I would use isopropyl alcohol.

[oneway2780]

Good video, this works. No more messing with erasers, glass cleaner, vinegar, q tips, etc. This seems to be the quickest and even the easiest method to cleaning and shining up the connectors...haven't had a problem yet.

Thanks

[pepsiturtle22]

What about black permanent marker on the exterior of the cart? Do you recommend a product that doesn't discolor the cart. So far I've tried goo gone and nail polish remover and they both ruined the color of game. Luckily it was a sports game, so no major damage was done lol. But let me know, Thanks.

[syguy47]

Probably not wanting an answer from me, but here it goes... I use good ol' WD-40. It takes a VERY thin layer off the cart. But be careful around the sticker, WD-40 will also take stickers/sticker residue off too. (Which is a pro and a con...)

[NamesROverated]

why would we use pure alcohol, when the alcohol is already 70%

[Smokethroat]

I tried this technique on a rusty Section Z cart and when I popped it in the NES it worked on the first try. Thanks for this video!

[4dfreestyle]

thanks for the info

[Xleader23]

I Use Glass Cleaner On My Games... Is That Safe?

[hankparish]

You idiot you don't put alcohol on the brass it will eventually carod and become unusable

[bigun89]

Funny, after 1 year after this video was posted, not one of my games have tarnished.

The diluted alcohol was meant to neutralize the acids in the brasso so that the brasso doesn't eat anymore than just the corrosion. And the alcohol doesn't stick around long enough to do any damage itself, it evaporates quickly.

Now he is right on this note, don't soak the games in isopropyl, it will eventually eat the connectors.

[raskafari7273]

i use polishing compound and it cleans it as good as your brasso cleaned it

and then the solution you made 50/50 alcohol and water

Personal Experience:

My Rad Racer Cartridge Was Rusty So I Tried to clean it i grabbed pure alcohol and q-tips and tried and i got the blinking red light from the Nes

so i used polishing compound and then solution [solution from bigun]

i cleaned it a lot of times that way and tried it and Some of the corrosion wore off and my cartridge worked

[InfiniteGears]

I dont clean them with a q-tip after using brasso.

I just make sure all the brasso residue is removed by the shirt.

[TimeandSpaceFilms]

In my experience you don't need to spend lots of money to clean NES games. I simply use rubbing alcohol and q-tips from the dollar store and all the games come out great. No residue at all and looking just like new. i've never needed anything else.

[bghb0]

This is by far the best advice I have seen for cleaning NES games!!!! Your video has really helped, thanks!!!

[boredtaco]

sorry if i sound retarded, but i've never even heard of brasso...

so does brasso actually remove the dirt on the connectors; ie it cleans them? or just polishes only? after i use brasso can i just play the games, or do you absolutely recommend also using rubbing alcohol afterwards?

[bigun89]

Brasso is a brass cleaner/polisher. It's formulated to clean and preserve brass.

As far as using alcohol to clean off the excess, I would, simply because I don't want my nintendo to get crudified by the stuff.

[boredtaco]

oh ok. this is really amazing, why don't more people know about this?

[InfiniteGears]

the black grime thats on your shirt is actually of your game connectors. Brasso turns oxygen on the carts black= oxidisation, brass & gold oxidises.

[Tithis]

Every game I've done this with has worked in my NES on the first try, even one game I had never gotten to work before.

[MarioMovieMan]

Thank you so much bigun89! Now all my games work becuase of your idea with the Brasso stuff.

[lolkungen94]

as new  :P

[ScrewAttackEurope]

What would you do if games have verdigris on the connectors?

I've heard you can re tin them with solder.

[bigun89]

I didn't think about that, but that would probably work with a little flux.

Just dab a little down each connector, then bleed some solder. But I would try that as a last resort.

[ScrewAttackEurope]

It was a last resort for my Punch-out cart, as someone had tried to scrape the verdigris off with a scalpel, removing most of the copper in the process.

I think there's also a tinning service too where they'll dip the contacts in acid and it'll have a layer of gold or platinum attach itself to the copper, but I think that's pretty pricey.

[nfisgreat]

yes but they will last you almost forever gold and platinum are the best things you can do.

[ScrewAttackEurope]

I heard gold is used more as it's a soft metal, so it'll form to slightly off shaped connectors better.

[cartmandude14]

straight ammonia based windex or other ammonia based glass cleaner will be a lot better than 50/50 alcohol and water in the long run

[ReptileGamer]

umm is it supposed to make it silver were the connector is because it does mine but they work fine do i have anything to worry about please respond???

[bigun89]

If the game in question had massive corrosion, the brass plating was already gone to begin with. Your still better off now because at least the console doesn't have to fight through gunk to work.

[ReptileGamer]

thanks i was a bit worried but not now has this ever hap pend to you and instead of the solution you made i use windex is that ok???

[bigun89]

Windex should be fine, just let it dry.

Just keep in mind there is nothing in Windex to help preserve the brass finish on the contact plates.

[ReptileGamer]

i know that why i use it to wipe off the brasso this works for ever cartridge right???

[bigun89]

I... really don't know, I've always used Alcohol because that is what most console repairmen used to use.

[makedaevilmage]

nice vid, faved !! 5 starz

Btw, i like ur cat ^^

[ReptileGamer]

umm i clean my games with Windex and they look just as shinny but thats my method nice instructional videos nice work...

[atermelodius]

Hello again, I continue to use your techniques/suggestions with great success on 99% of my games.

However, I had great trouble with one cartridge, a copy of R.C. Pro Am. I cleaned it perhaps 15-20 times and the graphics would still become garbled every so often.

I found a tip elsewhere on the net---namely to rub lengthwise on the connectors OFF the cartridge. I tried this on R.C. Pro Am several more times, and now it (apparently) never has problems.

[atermelodius]

Just wanted to stress, I didn't change the technique/materials at all, it was just this addition of the "lengthwise and off" technique which appeared to fix R.C. Pro Am.

Thanks also for the 72 pin connector vid, I recently used it to replace it in my own NES.

[bigun89]

I may try that on a game I bought that has never worked. If it does, I may remake the video.

[evilstitch626]

how do you get it open? the Screws are not normal.

[maedie1]

You need to buy a special screw driver bit for about 4 dollars. Private Message me if you need the link.

cheers

[panchopantera50]

this is an awesome video and the method works great but you wouldnt happen to know how to clean a super nintendo would you?

[maedie1]

To clean the cartridge, I'd say it's the same method. They are both brass connectors. So, if you would look to clean a Snes game, you need the bit to open the screws.

[atermelodius]

I tried your method on some old NES games and it works great! I notice that Brasso turns black no matter what you rub it on, not all that black is coming from the connectors on your cartridge so keep that in mind. Maybe you should add this to your video because it was frustrating to me finally realizing that brasso turns black even if your metal is clean.

[bigun89]

I actually noticed this in the next video set I made on how to clean an and recondition an NES.

[wolffangalchemist]

i don't even buy the game bit i use a bent pair of tweezers and once the screws are out i replace them with fillips head screws.

[D3MAK]

i use scouring cream and an old towel and that works great 2 XD

[NESJohnny]

Man, Brasso is some caustic stuff. I use it to clean NES games sometimes too but only if the game is almost beyond hope.

[NESJohnny]

(wish you could edit) -- but, I meant to add, it looks pretty effective!

I just uploaded a video on my method. More abrasive than a t-shirt but less chemically caustic than Brasso. See what you think!

[bigun89]

Very impressive, and it doesn't seem to use any chemicals, so it would be cheaper.

The only thing is that I think brasso contains an additive to prevent tarnish. Maybe a combination of the two?

[NESJohnny]

I've used Brasso with the scouring pad on a couple games that seemed beyond repair. It worked wonders, but took off a lot of metal from the pins. The game just seemed to slip in and out of the connector (I use a top loader). But hey, the games went from not working to working every time, and that's what matters!

[l0w0batteries]

VERY Helpful videos!

Quick question - is there a specific reason why you shouldn't use straight alcohol on the games? Does it damage them or something like that?

[bigun89]

I've just always heard that using straight (or close to straight) alcohol has always been bad for copper contacts. I may be wrong, but I figure better safe than sorry.

[Drea343]

ya i opened by forced an n64 game an just relized i just needed to clean the conncetor by using rubbing achoel but it still works but i had to tape it back togethor by the way first!!!!!

[bigun89]

Yup, you will need that bit... unless you don't mind taping your games back together. ;)

Just keep your eyes out for a crap game somewhere, buy it, and use the case to swap the chipset from your current game and scrap the crap one.