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How to Clean Nintendo Entertainment System Cartridges

What you need

  1. How to Clean Nintendo Entertainment System Cartridges, Take Apart the Cartridge: step 1, image 1 of 1
    • Remove the three screws on the bottom of the cartridge. While most of the time the screws are security screws, sometimes there are Phillips/Flathead screws.

  2. How to Clean Nintendo Entertainment System Cartridges, Mix the Abrasive Paste: step 2, image 1 of 2 How to Clean Nintendo Entertainment System Cartridges, Mix the Abrasive Paste: step 2, image 2 of 2
    • Simply put about 2 tablespoons of baking soda on the cartridge contacts. Then put enough water on the baking soda until it is the consistency of a thick paste.

  3. How to Clean Nintendo Entertainment System Cartridges, Scrub the Contacts: step 3, image 1 of 1
    • Take something like a toothbrush or the scraping part of a sponge and scrub the cartridge contacts.

    • After scrubbing for about 4-5 minutes, rinse the cartridge board off in the sink. Let it dry for about 4 hours after pouring alcohol under the chips.

Conclusion

And with that your cartridge should be working properly!

One other person completed this guide.

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Member since: 06/12/22

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4 Comments

Is this a joke?

Mizuho Chan - Reply

Why would it be a joke? Because it's a simple procedure that everybody should know? Or do you have a better way?

Randall Mattoon -

In my opinion, a less abrasive metal polish would probably be better to start with.

Jeff Griffith - Reply

Whatever happened to the tried and true method of blowing on the cartridge? It worked as a kid (back when we didn’t know that our breath had water vapor and we were actually destroying our cartridges)!

mwbarnhart - Reply

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