Best Way To Clean Famicom Carts

[HeatSeeker]

Hey

What's the best way to clean Famicom carts? Not just the connectors but the shell of the carts also.

[zmaster18]

Here's my 3 step process:

1. Clean the outside using a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser that's wet with water. If there's permanent marker on the plastic, use alcohol with the Magic Eraser.
2. Clean the outside again with a paper towel and glass cleaner. This gets rid of the streaks left from the Magic Eraser. It also makes the plastic smell good.
3. Clean the pins with a Q-tip dipped in alcohol.

[Arkanix38]

Grab a spray bottle of Isopropanol from Bunnings (in the paint solvents section) and a box of cotton tip ear cleaners from Woolies and go to town on everything except the labels. Go over the pins with the soaked cotton tip with an 'in out' motion rather than sweeping across them for a better clean.

Ark

PS: I don't think we get Mr Clean products here in Aus, will have to check

[HeatSeeker]

Grab a spray bottle of Isopropanol from Bunnings (in the paint solvents section) and a box of cotton tip ear cleaners from Woolies and go to town on everything except the labels. Go over the pins with the soaked cotton tip with an 'in out' motion rather than sweeping across them for a better clean.

Ark

PS: I don't think we get Mr Clean products here in Aus, will have to check

I don't think we do, but I have seen magic erasers somewhere. Maybe in Woolworths or Bunnings.

[Arkanix38]

Maybe we do, i'm too set in my isopropyl/cotton tip ways though haha

[zmaster18]

You can get some kind of white micro foam sponge, it doesn't have to be the Mr Clean brand. Don't be afraid of cleaning the labels, as long as you're only using water. Don't use alcohol on labels or the ink will come off.

[xIceMan]

I usually get a very small flat screwdriver within both sides of the case and gently pull up the back side of the cart so the cart opens. If I notice the resistance is too high or the cart is in too bad condition (breaking tabs) I won't do this and just clean the pins with a Q-Tip and silver polish cotton. Works well, too.

Otherwise a more safely tutorial how to open games:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LgCiAOmgeFc

[2A03]

You can get some kind of white micro foam sponge, it doesn't have to be the Mr Clean brand. Don't be afraid of cleaning the labels, as long as you're only using water. Don't use alcohol on labels or the ink will come off.

With the melamine erasers you have to be very careful as you scrub, because if you're too vigorous you can actually take the texture on the plastic off.

[zmaster18]

I've scrubbed hard and never 'sanded' the plastic, so maybe the ones I use aren't that powerful, though I do use the extra strength ones. My favourite thing about using the Magic Eraser is that you don't even have to press hard to get the dirt off. Always be gentle and only scrub hard on those really tough stains.