What's the best way to clean cartridge contacts?

[fiatbravodriver]

Hi Everyone,

Just wanted to ask what you guys n girls use to clean Cartridge contacts.

I was thinking cotton buds and Rubbing Alcohol but I just cant find it on the UK high street.

Any ideas?

James

[Seraph Man]

You can't find some cotton swabs/Q-Tips and Rubbing Alcohol in the UK (or am I too American to know what a High Street is)?

But yeah, that's what most places recommend, and what I've used before on my SNES carts. Just don't overdo it on the alcohol, and give it ample time to dry. As for alternatives to that though... I know Nintendo once had an official cleaning kit that brought a solution to use. If you can find out what that solution consisted of, you can probably make your own.

[amarthar]

I you can't find any rubbing alcohol then try a window washing liquid. It worked for me, and now my cartridges smell like green apples

[fiatbravodriver]

Thanks for the quick reply Seraph Man.

Amazing the big DIY stores just dont sell it. I have found some on ebay.

I remember the Official cleaning kit.

I'm trying to Save a NHL 99 N64 cart from the trash.

J.

[fiatbravodriver]

Thanks for the tip amarthar.

I'm off to raid the kitchen cleaning cupboard.

J

[Mick Dundee]

Local game shop near me recommends Ammonia.  It cleans the contacts extremely well.  He has been in business for quite a while.

[irvgotti452]

Amonia? I dont trust it. If the game has rust buy a "brass" cleaner and use a solution of 50% water 50%alcohol afterwards.

[Harp00nX]

I open the carts and use steel wool to clean the contacts works great and removes the dullness from oxidisation. I have rubbing alcohol as well but have never used it to clean cart contacts, I wouldn't dream of putting a bought cart into any of my systems before they'd had the steel wool over them.

[Mert]

Check the pharmacy for rubbing alcohol.

[tiktektak]

I use 601 precision cleaner. This is a specially designed cleaning fluid for electrical components (pcbs, contacts, etc.).

[satoshi_matrix]

I wrote a tutorial for this a while back. http://satoshimatrix.wordpress.com/2010/11/27/how-to-clean-cartridge-contacts/

[Seraph Man]

I would never have thought to use an eraser.