Classic Game Cartridge Care Tips
March 16, 2009 - 11:19 pm - Posted by Sean
First off, congratulations on owning a piece of gaming history. I’ve put together some tips to help you care for your classic game cartridges.
Keep in mind that these classic game cartridges have been around for a while. Some are more than a quarter century old! Some might even be older then you 
Over time, humidity, dirt, and improper storage practices can lead to oxidization of the contacts and prevent the game from working.
In most cases, the ravages of time can be reversed and a game can be restored to working condition through a simple cleaning procedure.
Something to note, even if you are not experiencing problems it is a good idea to clean your games occasionally, as preventative maintenance.
When to clean your retro game cartridges:
- You are experiencing blank screens
- Game won’t start
- Game crashes or freezes in the middle of play
- Scrambled game graphics
- Flashing screen or power light
What you’ll need:
- A cup or bowl
- Windex or an equivalent mild glass cleaner
- Q-Tips
What to do:
- Pour some of your Windex into a bowl and dip a Q-Tip into it.
- Rub the wet Q-Tip firmly across the contacts inside the cartridge. Be sure to get both sides!
- The Q-Tip will become dirty very quickly. When this happens, wet another Q-tip in the Windex and repeat.
- Keep scrubbing with fresh Q-Tips until no more dirt comes off.
- Use a dry Q-tip to wipe off any excess cleaning solution.
- Let the game cartridge sit for about 10 minutes to dry thoroughly.
- Test the game in your system.
Proper storage:
- Always store your classic game cartridge in a cool, dry place.
- Never store them in close proximity to a heat source.
- Never let the cartridge become immersed in water.
- Humidity will oxidize the contacts, do not store classic games in humid places.
Only use mild cleaning products such as Windex to clean the contacts. Never use benzene, paint thinner, acetone or other harsh solvents on the game cartridge.
You can also use rubbing alcohol, but only a very mild solution if your game connectors are really dirty. Better safe than sorry, so try class cleaner first.
Disclaimer: I’m not responsible for any damages, monetary or otherwise, incurred by the use of these procedures. Do so at your own risk!