To clean the games you will need some q-tips, rubbing alcohol, and a razor blade.

1. Use the razor blade to get off all the big chunks of gunk.

2. Peel off any stickers on the game.

3. Now get dip the q-tip into some rubbing alcohol so it is slightly damp. Then use the q-tip to clean up any left over gunk. Be sure NOT to touch the label with the rubbing alcohol as it will eat the paint and make the label fade.

4. The only think left on the game at this point should be sticker residue. To clean this rub the q-tip over it.  (be sure it has some rubbing alcohol on it) Now use your thumb and rub it off. You will have to press firmly to remove the gunk. It should come right off. If not use the q-tip again and try to rub it off again.

After you complete these steps your game should be perfectly clean.

Cartridges these techniques cane be used for:

Nintendo 64

Super Nintendo

Game Boy Advance

Game Boy Color

Original Game Boy

Nintendo DS (Only the windex method, and be sure that the q-tip is damp and not soaked!)

Sega Cartridge Games As Well

If you have a game cartridge from a different system and you are unsure whether or not to clean it, send me an email and I will be sure and help you out. More than likely you can clean it with the techniques listed here at 72 Pin Connectors!

Rubbing Alcohol Question

I have had several people contact me asking whether or not they can use rubbing alcohol to clean their games. The answer is yes. Prior to finding out how effective Windex was I used rubbing alcohol on all my games. Some people say that rubbing alcohol is corrosive and it damages the contacts. However, I have used it for several years and never had a problem. Windex does clean games better and usually requires fewer q-tips, but is more expensive. So if you don’t have Windex, rubbing alcohol is a good alternative.

The same steps are used when cleaning games with rubbing alcohol as when you are cleaning them with Windex. The major difference with rubbing alcohol is getting the tip wet. You obviously can not spray rubbing alcohol and you do not want the q-tip soaking wet.

Here’s what to do: Dip a q-tip into the rubbing alcohol, but not the entire head of the q-tip. Than take another dry q-tip and rub the wet and dry head together. The dry head will soak up some of the alcohol from the wetter tip. The q-tips should now be equally damp. Use either one and clean the game.

To clean the game follow the directions below:
1.Take the damp q-tip and rub it across the contacts of the game. This will clean them. In doing so the q-tip should become black with the dirt, grime, etc.
2. Take a new clean q-tip and rub it across the same contacts to pick up any excess grime.
3. Continue steps 1 and 2 until the q-tips are no longer black.
4. You now have a clean game. Plug it in and start playing.

If your games still don’t work you may need a new 72 pin connector.

Tools Needed: Pink Eraser, Q-tips, Windex, 3.8mm Game Cart Tool, Rag

1.Take your favorite Nintendo Nes game and flip it over so you see three holes. Use your 3.8mm game cart tool and unscrew these three screws. Be sure to not lose these.

2.Open up the cartridge and notice the circuit board. (this is the actual game) Remove this board and lay it carefully onto a clean surface. Be careful when removing as you do not want to break it.

3.Take a rag and clean the inside of the cartridge. Be sure to focus on the are where the contacts are exposed. This will be where the most amount of dirt and grime will be.

4.Now you will want to get the circuit board and your pink eraser. Take the eraser and “erase” away the dirt and grime on the contacts. (erase just as you would pencil marks from some paper) You will notice that they are pretty dirty. “Erase” until these contacts appear to be clean. Make sure you clean each side. Than remove any eraser fragments you see. Simply blowing them away usually does the trick.

5.Once these are clean take a q-tip and spray some Windex on it. Be sure the q-tip is damp and not soaking wet. Rub the q-tip across the contacts cleaning any other grime and picking up all the eraser fragments that you did not previously get. Flip the q-tip over and use the dry end to pick up any residue left.

6.Place the circuit board back into the half of the cartridge that you took it out of. It will fit perfectly, so if it doesn’t try the other half.

7.Now put the other side of the cartridge back on. It can sometimes be stubborn, but it will go. Be sure that the seams of the two cartridges fit together snugly. There shouldn’t be a gap.

8.Screw the three screws back in and you have a perfectly clean game. Put it into your console and have fun playing! However, if it still does not play, you may need a new 72 pin connector.