Cartridge Cleaning

Over time, pins on cartridges and connectors can oxidize or receive dirt buildup and can prevent them from booting. It's also good practice to clean any games before trying them in your console, as this grime buildup can scrape off inside of your console and build up on the connector. This page details how to clean cartridges and connectors.

Cartridge Cleaning Directions

 * Items needed:
 * Cotton swabs
 * 90% or greater isopropyl alcohol (IPA)
 * (Optional) Metal contact cleaner, such as CRC QD Contact Cleaner
 * (Highly encouraged) Eraser
 * (Optional) Appropriate tool for opening cartridge: 3.8 mm and 4.5 mm gamebits, tri-wing, Phillips head


 * 1) If the cartridge can be opened and the PCB removed from the shell, the cleaning process will be much easier. Note that some games are more difficult to disassemble without damaging the shell (such as Atari 2600 and DS games).
 * 2) Take the alcohol and wet one end of the cotton swab. Apply moderate pressure with the wet end on the exposed pins and move it quickly from side to side, then like a toothbrush back and forth quickly on the pins. Flip the cart over and do the same with the pins on the other side. Once done, take the dry end of the cotton swab and do a once over to quickly dry and soak up any excess alcohol on the pins. Then proceed to the next step.
 * 3) Test the cartridge. Make sure to test the following factors. If any issues are present, repeat the cleaning process. If repeating the process does not work, proceed to the next step.
 * 4) * The game boots right away.
 * 5) * The video is present and not glitching.
 * 6) * The sound is present and not glitching.
 * 7) (Optional) Spray the pins with metal contact cleaner and scrub them with a cotton swab. Allow it to fully dry before testing.
 * 8) (Highly encouraged) Slice half of an eraser sandwich style so you have a flat eraser nub on one end. Place the flat end between the pins and the cartridge case while applying moderate pressure on the pins. Move the eraser back and forth and up and down quickly on the pins on each side, then take a cotton swab dipped in IPA and make sure all debris is wiped clean from the cartridge. Test the cartridge again.

Connector Cleaning Directions

 * Items needed:
 * Cotton swabs or soft-bristle toothbrush
 * (Optional) Metal Contact Cleaner, such as CRC QD Contact Cleaner
 * (Optional) Eraser


 * 1) Spray the pins with metal contact cleaner. If the pins are accessible, gently scrub them with a cotton swab or soft-bristle toothbrush.

Blowing in your games PSA
The common practice of blowing into games only works because the constant reseating of pulling the game out and replacing it eventually creates a solid connection. The side effect of this is if saliva gets onto the connectors, it can cause corrosion and worsen the problem. This all being said, please don't blow in your games.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Gf9mtXnJfM&t=296s

Atari 2600
Atari 2600 cartridges come in many shapes and sizes. Atari had no way of locking out third party developers and thus each publisher had their own cartridge shell. That should not be an issue as they can all be cleaned the same way.

Check to see if the cart has exposed pins. If they are exposed, proceed to the cartridge cleaning directions. Most Atari and Sears published games have a spring-loaded dust shield that hides the pins until they are inserted into the console. To open it, put slight pressure on the bottom dust protector and wedge a toothpick or paper clip into one of the two slit like holes on either side of the dust protector. If done while slight pressure is applied, it should depress the dust protector. Repeat for the other side until you can push the dust protector all the way back. Then hold it there and proceed to the cartridge cleaning directions.