Did you know that the condition of your video games can significantly impact their resale value? In fact, well-maintained discs and cartridges can fetch you up to 40% more at trade-in!
Whether you’re a collector, casual gamer, or planning to sell old games, knowing how to clean video games safely is essential. This Quick Tip guide will walk you through cleaning methods that help your games look great and work reliably again.
Before you start, check out our Game Condition Requirements to see how we evaluate your trade-ins.
The Table of Contents
This guide will show you how to clean and care for your games the right way. You’ll learn:
- ✅ How to safely clean game discs without scratching them
- ✅ The best way to clean and preserve retro cartridges (NES, SNES, N64, GBA)
- ✅ Tips for removing stickers, dirt, and marker from game cases
- ✅ How to clean battery acid from handheld consoles and accessories
- ✅ Why condition matters and how it affects your trade-in value
Let's dive in and discover the best techniques to keep your gaming collection in pristine condition!
Disc-Based Games (PS1, PS2, GameCube, etc.)
If your disc games include the original artwork, manual, disc, and case, they’ll be much easier to
sell. Loose discs, meaning disc only, are very hard to move. In fact, we no longer purchase disc-only games.
Cartridge Games (NES, SNES, N64, GBA, etc.)
Retro cartridges that come with their original box, manual, and inserts can be worth up to 40% more than just the loose cartridges.
We’re serious about condition, those cardboard boxes matter!
Preparing Games for Sale
Once you've evaluated the market, it's time to clean and prep your games. Presentation plays a huge role in the price you’ll get.
Nobody wants a sticky, dusty cartridge from 1993. Cleaning your games properly can make them stand out, especially when trading in a stack of similar titles.
Pro Tip: The cleaner your games look, the more money you’ll likely earn. Even small touches like removing old stickers or wiping down plastic cases can pay off—especially for games made before the year 2000.
💿 How to Clean Disc Games
To be honest, we'd prefer you don't clean the discs unless you know what you're doing. Disc surfaces are delicate, and using the wrong products can do more harm than good.
What we use for game disc cleaning:
✅ Super-soft Charmin toilet paper
✅ A light mist of glass cleaner
To clean your disc games, we suggest using super-soft Charmin toilet paper and a basic glass cleaner. Spray a little bit of the glass cleaner lightly on the disc; a small amount goes a long way. Then gently wipe it off using a small section of the soft toilet paper.
Important: We are using as gentle of a product as possible on the disc surface. Using paper towels can scratch the disc surface. This is something we want to avoid.
🧾 According to Nintendo’s official cleaning guide, discs should always be wiped from the center outward using a soft, lint-free cloth.
📀 How to Clean Game Cases
Use standard household cleaner and a paper towel to clean the cases effectively.
Removing stickers?
- Dab rubbing alcohol onto the sticker until it’s saturated
- Wait a couple of minutes for the alcohol to penetrate and loosen the adhesive.
- After a few minutes have elapsed, use your fingernail or a paper towel to peel the sticker away gently. The sticker should start to break apart, making it easier to remove without damaging the case.
🕹 How to Clean Cartridge Games
Be careful—labels can be damaged easily.
- Shell: Use standard cleaner and a little scrub brush to clean the cartridge shell first. Make sure the edges of the brush don't touch the label, as this can easily damage it.
- Label: If you must clean the cartridge label, lightly spray a standard cleaner onto a paper towel, then gently wipe the front label. Quickly wipe off the cleaner with a dry paper towel to avoid any residue.
- Sticker removal: A Mr. Clean Magic Eraser works well for removing markers or stickers from the cartridge shell. Just be cautious—don't rub too hard in the same spot, as this can cause visible wear on the cartridge shell.
Pro Tip: Armor All Cleaning Wipes are fantastic for removing stickers, dirt, and writing from cartridges. Use them for a quick and effective clean-up, especially for retro game cartridges.
👉 For more tips on what condition we accept and how labels affect value, check out our Game Cartridge Selling FAQ
Learn how to safely remove old rental stickers from your NES and SNES cartridges—without damaging the original game label. Perfect for ex-Blockbuster games!
Cleaning Cartridge Pins
Best for experienced collectors, but here’s a simple breakdown:
- 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 back and forth
This method is likely best for experts. It requires opening the cartridge and carefully cleaning and polishing 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 standard cleaner and a small brush (or old toothbrush) for most consoles. Just be gentle with consoles that have screens, as the screens can scratch easily.
For screens or LCDs (like Game Boy Advance SP or DS), be extra cautious:
✅ 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, using standard glass cleaner works best for a streak-free finish!
How to Clean Battery Acid in Electronic Video Games
Battery corrosion is a common issue in older handheld consoles, controllers, and accessories. While a major battery acid explosion can sometimes be beyond repair, this simple method works great for minor to moderate corrosion.
What You’ll need:
- Old toothbrush
- Rubbing alcohol (preferably 91% or higher)
- Paper towels
- Optional: Cotton swabs
Step-by-Step: Cleaning Battery Corrosion
Step 1: Remove Old Batteries
If the batteries are still inside the device, carefully remove them. Avoid direct contact with any leaking acid.
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: You can also use a Q-tip dipped in alcohol for tighter spots.
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 thoroughly until the metal looks clean and shiny again. Be patient—removing all the acid is crucial for proper contact.
Step 4: Dry and Test
Wipe the area clean with a paper towel, then let the device air dry for several minutes.
Once dry, insert fresh batteries and test the item.
✅ In our experience, this method works to restore functionality about 80% of the time. However, if the corrosion was very bad, there may be internal damage that you cannot see from the outside.
Pro Tip: To help prevent future corrosion, remove batteries from devices you don’t use regularly, especially if they’re older AA or AAA cells.
Final Thought: Clean Games = More Cash
Taking just a few minutes to clean and prep your games can add $5–$20 more per title, especially for retro gems. Gather your manuals, dust off those carts, and treat your collection like a collector would.
👉 After cleaning your games, visit the Sell Video Games hub at The Old School Game Vault to get an instant quote and start your trade-in. Clean games can be worth $5–$20 more—don’t leave value on the table.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Does cleaning video games increase their resale value?
- Yes. Clean, well-maintained games can fetch up to 40% more in trade-in value, especially if they include original packaging and inserts.
How to the clean video game disc, safely?
- Use a soft material like Charmin toilet paper and a small amount of glass cleaner.
- Gently wipe from center to edge. Avoid paper towels to prevent scratches.
Can I remove battery acid from old game consoles?
- Yes, using rubbing alcohol and a toothbrush can remove minor corrosion.
- For severe cases, battery acid may have caused internal damage.
