So how do I clean out a console?

[Hobie-wan]

WINDEX

No.

You mean the cart slots Noise?

[noiseredux]

WINDEX

No.

You mean the cart slots Noise?

yessir, on a NES and on a SNES.

[Hobie-wan]

Contact cleaner is best, but rubbing alcohol is better than most things you may already have, obviously just needs proper drying. The NES will need to be opened up, but it has regular screws. You'll probably want to do this to the cart connector in the NES since I assume you're not going to be putting a new on in there.

Then to actually clean the cart slots, take some clean cardboard, say from a cereal box and double it over brown/grey side out, maybe adding a third layer in the middle depending and cut it to fit snugly in the slot. Dampen the cardboard with the contact cleaner or alcohol and 'plug/unplug' the cardboard several times. If the slot is particularly dirty you might need to use new cardboard a few times. Some people recommend an old T-shirt wrapped around a plastic card, but I'd be worried about that snagging or depositing lint in the slot.

Someone send me some dirty cart consoles so I can make a guide with pictures.

[ChuChu Flamingo]

The way to clean console contacts is just how Hobie said. As far as the outside, dish soap+soft bristled brush does wonders for me. Windex can work but some special colored consoles will have their paint taken up by it.

[Hobie-wan]

As far as the outside, dish soap+soft bristled brush does wonders for me.

Yup, I disassemble completely and go at it with some warm dish soap water and an old toothbrush.

[CRTGAMER]

Complete dismantle and clean that Hobie posted looks to be the best thorough way. Lack of a Gamebit and risk of dismantle on some consoles a concern for some.

Great idea with the cleaner dampened cardboard to clean troublesome contacts! I'll have to try that on my N64. Can of air or low heat hair dryer will help in a quick dry.

This won't work in the deep crevices, but for an easy non invasive surface clean I have pretty good luck with Lift-Off and paper towels. Spraying on the paper towel lessens the chance of fluid getting inside.

[slowslow325]

WINDEX

No.

I've always used windex and it does the job great. It works, and it couldn't possibly do any harm to the console

[Hobie-wan]

WINDEX

No.

I've always used windex and it does the job great. It works, and it couldn't possibly do any harm to the console

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windex#Product_history

Notice the water softener, dye, and perfume. Those are all going to leave deposits behind so you're not actually leaving the contacts as clean as you could.

[KDub]

I agree with Hobie and the cardboard. I did this with a Genesis I got from a resale shop for a couple bucks and it is about the easiest way to clean those contacts. When the connector is attached to a base (like the genesis or SNES) if you kind of tilt the cardboard you will pull out some dust too. I pulled some nasty stuff out of that Genesis connector.

[retrogamecraze]

I wrote a guide specifically for cleaning the SNES console. You can see it here:

http://retrogamecraze.com/snes_cleaning.html

I hope this helps!