How to Clean Video Games: Discs, Cartridges, Cases & More

Whether you are a collector or an everyday player, it is important to know how to clean your games safely. Read on to learn tricks we use every day to clean our games, from cleaning game discs and cartridge games, tips on removing stickers, and how to clean up battery acid corrosion.

If you plan to sell old video games online, clean copies can earn up to 40% more at trade-in. For example, a complete, clean copy of 'Super Mario Kart' may sell for $85, while a loose one sells for $50. Ensuring all parts are in good condition can significantly increase your payout.

The Table of Contents

This guide will show you how to properly clean and maintain your games.

Let’s get started and learn how to keep your game collection in excellent condition.

Disc-Based Games (PS1, PS2, GameCube, etc.)

• Disc games that include the artwork, manual, disc, and case are much easier to sell. Without these extras, they are more difficult to sell. We no longer purchase disc-only games.

Cartridge Games (NES, SNES, N64, GBA, etc.)

• Retro cartridges with their original box, manual, and inserts can be worth up to 40% more than loose cartridges.
• Condition is important; original cardboard boxes add significant value.

Preparing Games for Sale

• After researching the market, take time to clean and prepare your games. Their appearance can affect the price you receive.
• Nobody wants to buy a sticky, dusty cartridge from 1993. Cleaning your games helps them stand out, especially if you’re trading in several at once.

Pro Tip: The better your games look, the more you can earn. Simple actions such as removing old stickers or wiping down cases can help, especially for games made before 2000.

How to Clean Disc Games

• We recommend only cleaning discs if you know how, since their surfaces are delicate and the wrong products can cause damage.

What we use for game disc cleaning:

• Super-soft Charmin toilet paper
• A light mist of glass cleaner

To clean disc games, use super-soft Charmin toilet paper and a basic glass cleaner. Spray a small amount of cleaner on the disc, then gently wipe it with the toilet paper.

Important: Always use gentle products on disc surfaces. Do not use paper towels, as they can scratch the disc.

How to Clean Game Cases

Clean the cases with household cleaner and a paper towel.

Need to remove stickers?

• Dab rubbing alcohol onto the sticker until it’s saturated.
• Wait a couple of minutes for the alcohol to loosen the adhesive.
• After a few minutes, gently peel the sticker away with your fingernail or a paper towel. It should come apart, making removal easier without damaging the case.

How to Clean Cartridge Games

Be careful, labels can be damaged easily.

• Shell: Use a regular cleaner and a small scrub brush to clean the cartridge shell. Be sure the brush doesn’t touch the label, as it can easily damage it.
• Label: If you need to clean the cartridge label, spray a little cleaner onto a paper towel and gently wipe the label. Quickly dry it with another paper towel to avoid leaving any residue.
• Sticker removal: A Mr. Clean Magic Eraser is great for taking off markers or stickers from the cartridge shell. Don’t rub too hard in one spot, or you might cause visible wear.
• For more tips on what conditions we accept and how labels affect value, check out our Cartridge Quality Requirements

Pro Tip: Armor All Cleaning Wipes are effective for removing stickers, dirt, and writing from cartridges. They’re great for a quick and easy clean, especially on retro games.

Watch our How to Video to Remove Rental Stickers from Cartridge Games

To Learn how to safely remove old rental stickers from your NES and SNES cartridges, without damaging the authentic game label. Perfect for ex-Blockbuster games!

Cleaning Cartridge Pins

This method is best for experienced collectors, but here’s a simple way to do it:

• Open the cartridge using a game bit (available on eBay)
• Use a cleaning wipe and a pair of pliers to hold it.
• Gently wipe the gold pins from side to side.

This approach is best for experts. You’ll need to open the cartridge and carefully clean and polish the pins by hand.

Pro Tip: You can use an Armor All Cleaning Wipe for this process. Just use a pair of pliers to hold onto the cleaning wipe and gently wipe back and forth on the cartridge pins.

Cleaning Consoles and Handhelds

Use a regular cleaner and a small brush or old toothbrush to clean most consoles. Be gentle with consoles that have screens, as they can scratch easily.

For screens or LCDs, such as on the Game Boy Advance SP or DS, be extra careful:

• Use glass cleaner
• Wipe with a soft piece of toilet paper or a microfiber cloth.

According to HowStuffWorks, most manuals recommend soft, dry cloths, and using the wrong cleaning agents or motions could cause permanent damage.

Pro Tip: For portable consoles or devices with an LCD screen, use regular glass cleaner for a streak-free finish.

How to Clean Battery Acid in Electronic Video Games

Battery corrosion is common in older handheld consoles, controllers, and accessories. If the damage is minor or moderate, this simple method can help. A major battery acid explosion may be beyond repair.

Tools Needed:

• An Old toothbrush
• Rubbing alcohol
• Paper towels
• Optional: Cue Tips

Step-by-Step: Cleaning Battery Corrosion

Step 1: Remove Old Batteries

• If the batteries are still inside the console, carefully remove them.

Step 2: Apply Rubbing Alcohol

• Dip your toothbrush into rubbing alcohol and scrub the affected areas; they’ll usually appear white, powdery, or crusty.
• Gently work the area with the toothbrush until the corrosion breaks up.

Tip: For tight spots, you can use a Q-tip dipped in alcohol.

Step 3: Clean the Battery Terminals

• Focus on the + and – terminals inside the battery compartment. You might see white corrosion on the metal contacts.
• Scrub until the metal looks clean and shiny again. Take your time because removing all the acid is important for good contact.

Step 4: Dry and Test

• Wipe the area with a paper towel, then let the device air dry for a few minutes.
• Once dry, insert fresh batteries and test the item.
• From our experience, this method works about 80% of the time. If the corrosion is severe, there could be hidden damage inside.

Pro Tip: To prevent future corrosion, remove the batteries from devices you don’t use often, especially if they’re older AA or AAA batteries.

Final Thought: Clean Games = More Cash

Taking a few minutes to clean and prepare your games can add $5 to $20 per title, especially for retro titles. Gather your manuals, clean your cartridges, and maintain your collection.

Once your games are clean, visit the site to get an instant quote and start your trade-in. Clean games can be worth $5 to $20 more, so don’t miss out on extra value.

Frequently Asked Questions