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Posted By ClanoftheGrayWolf about 10 months, 2 weeks ago
16-Bit Gems Extra #2: Cleaning Your Retro Video Games, 
Roo shows you some tips and tricks to make your neglected video game cartridges look like new… -ish. Clean your retro games and keep history alive in the latest 16-Bit Gems Extra!
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Rubbing alcohol works on marker, too. I had friends mark their pokemon red/blue games with sharpies when we were young-ish, because for some strange reasons, siblings of friends would get the same color game as their siblings!
So in order to sell those to the local used game stores, they used rubbing alcohol to get their names off the games while I watched. Totally works.
I find it a nightmare to clean NES games,but gameboy games are another matter,when i had a copy of Kirby’s dreamland that was really grimy i used a little bit of toothpste and it worked wonders
toothpaste? Really? Thats odd.. must be the grittiness of it. Honestly the hardest part of GBA carts and stuff is how tiny they are =P
While I dont have much experience cleaning cardboard boxes for cleaning labels off game cases I use a spay can of Isopropyl Alcohol. Cheap as hell and great for cleaning gunk off things. Good thing it evaporates quite quickly so there is less mess. I use it mostly when cleaning electronics, but it works wonders on annoying label residue. It’s basically the active ingredient in Goo Gone et al, but cheaper, and getting it in a spray can makes it more versatile in my experience.
on dvd cases i actually like to just replace unless they have some kind of special thing to them and even then i would never use goo gone on them. i found useing super fine dust(like coal) on the sticky parts would make them super easy to clean with some soap and water since all of the stickyness would be gone
This is precisely why I only usually grab hard copies of Genesis games these days, even though I grew up primarily a SNES girl. Not only are not massively overpriced from all the Nintendo fanatics jacking up the price, rather you can get really good games for $5-15 and with the Real boxes Sega used, not that paper crap. Still cool video, certainly can still use allot of the tips.
I truly do love my SNES games, but you gotta hand it to Sega for pushing those hard cases for the Genesis titles – great for collectors.
yes but remember near the end of the genesis cycle they switched to those terrible cardboard boxes that were even worse than the SNES ones? A few, like Castlevania came in both forms but some of the later ones were cardboard only =(
Whoa… rub goo gone directly onto labels and cardboard cases? You may want to be careful with that. Goo gone is a weaker version of goof off so its not quite as powerful, but it can still strip the image and color off of those cases and old NES labels and the like. I screwed up a cart before i realized that. It also eats through wrapping on sealed games so if its a mint new game with a sticker thats tough to get off, do NOT use it on that. I ruined a sealed copy of front mission with that >_<
Heres a better way to get the residual residue off cardboard boxes without damaging them.. the fabric softener that you used for the smell? Put one in the dryer for a while then use it on the remaining residue. It lifts it off and doesn't damage the artwork at all
I also note you dont actually open and clean the carts… yuck, thats the most important part! Those pins are probably filthy as hell. I would never put that in my system. Why just make the outside look pretty if you let the important part damage your system? I also wouldn't recommend using a hair dryer on the cart itself without removing the board. Honestly theres a lot of stuff on this video that has me concerned. But then again im an anal collector and like my stuff to be very nice
in summation
1) do not use a hair dryer on a cart without removing the board
2) clean those pins!! I use a high quality art staedtler mars plastic eraser (do NOT use a pencil or cheap pink eraser!) and vigorously rub the pins. Takes some elbow work, and time, but it doesn't damage the pins at all. Then i usually wipe it up with a q-tip, cloth, and a bit of alcohol just to polish it up. If the pins are really screwed up and corroded you can use Weiman Glass Cook Top cleaner. Some people use Braso but thats more abrasive. These should only be used if the pins are corroded and regular cleaning doesn't work
3)I would only recommend goof off/goo gone on plastic or the cart part. I wouldn't use it on a cardboard case or artwork. Try the fabric softener instead
Im a collector that has stuff from the NES era and up and this is what works for me. Im pretty anal about my stuff too. My main concerns are you using goo gone on the cases and artwork, and the dryer heat right on the cart. I wouldn't recommend anyone do that
To tell the truth, this is just supposed to cover the cosmetic cleaning of cartridges. I want to do a follow up for the care and feeding of the electronics (including pin cleaning, battery replacement, etc.)
The fabric softener tip is pretty neat. I hadn’t heard that before and will try it later.
Goo Gone is a petroleum-based solvent cleaner, and as such, can eat away at plastics if left in contact for a long while. But, if you use only a small amount dabbed on a paper towel, and are sure to wipe it away with a water-dampened towel within a minute after that, I really doubt you’ll have any problems. I’ve done this with dozens of plastic and cardboard game box surfaces and never once had an issue.
Same with using a hair dryer on the game carts. As long as you keep the heat moving and don’t let it sit there, you should be fine. Again, I’ve never had a cart stop working that had its circuit board inside while cleaning. But, if you want to be super careful, do take it out. (Especially for games like EarthBound or EVO!) Better safe than sorry.
I can totally appreciate being an anal collector and not wanting to risk anything, but you just need to be careful, is all.
Ah, well in that case its not so bad. But cosmetic is only one aspect of it. You would be surprised how filthy those pins are most of the time, and putting them in your system is just gunking it up with every use. It really should be one of the top priorities. Id honestly rather have clean pins than a clean cart if i had to pick one. But like i said im super anal. I do both, including the case.
THe only thing i havent found a really good method for cleaning is game manuals. You cant really use alcohol or anything really wet or it messes them up.
As for Goo Gone, that stuff is weaker than what i use: Goof off. Maybe that is a little safer on labels, and for carefull people like you and I its probably fine, but it still makes me leery. Actually I usually use a microfiber cloth because paper towels can actually scratch labels and stuff if you rub too hard.
For the hair dryer thing its just a word of warning. That heat on an old NES cart with resistors that old isn’t a good idea. Since its gotta be cleaned anyway, why not just take it out. Better safe than sorry. Like you said it would suck to fry your Earthbound or Little Samson cart o_O
Being careful is good advice, but remember this is the internet. Not exactly filled with the most careful, patient people on the planet ;P
Id like to see your more advanced dismantle/cleaning video if you make it. Outa curiosity what do you use for your vintage carts? Eraser method or some kinda abrasive?
I won’t be using these tips on games & boxes, but I will be using them on books, CD cases, & DVD cases. Luckily I already have the stuff I’ll need.
Great tips!
Ah, Goo-Gone. Any veteran of used stores/libraries will tell you that there is no problem it cannot solve. But is it really safe to use a hair-dryer on a game cartridge?
not really. Especially on old NES carts and stuff where the resistors might be boarderline on going out. Take the board out first
If you want to be absolutely safe, take out the circuit board. But as long as you don’t sit the hair dryer on exactly one spot for 5 minutes (note in the sped up footage how I kept it moving), you’ll likely not have a problem. I’ve never come across any problems after using a hair dryer on a cart with the innards intact.
Be methodical!
Cool tip with the fabric softener. My brother smokes inside and my games always come back from his place stinking. I’ll have to try that.
Learned something new with the hairdryer and fabric softener sheets; good ideas which I will try. I noticed you didn’t go over how to clean the exposed chip (windex on a q-tip for me), but the cosmetic stuff was plenty helpful. And for anyone who is interested in game cleaning, I would stress be very careful with goo-gone; it’s great for removing sticker and marker, but it can damage labels if you soak them in it, and you can even make scratches on the cartridge if you rub it in too hard.