How to get those old NES,SNES and N64 games to work properly - NEVER BLOW...

A very common myth i have seen over the years even since 1992 to present day has been to blow into the cartridge will get the games to work when you insert it into the Nintendo 64 even for all the other systems that used cartridges that preceded it (NES SNES etc) I don't know how many times i have seen this ritual before. That is not how you should clean your old game system cartridges, this is what you should do to clean your electronic devices:

1.Now, what you must do instead is to get some isopropyl 70% alcohol and a q-tip.

2.Pour some of the alcohol onto the q-tip so that it is soaked.Only a bit is necessary.

3. Now clean the copper metal contacts in cartridge, with the wet q-tip clean any dirt and grime that you can find on the these contacts (the metal areas on the part that looks like a computer chip). Keep on scrubbing away at the contact till it looks clean, repeat if necessary and apply as much force to scrub away at the dirt. Make sure it looks shiny.

http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/n64-cartridge.jpg <<it is not necessary to open

4. Insert your game cartridge and enjoy!
5. You might want to try the same method of using alcohol and a q-tip for cleaning the contacts of the actual system.


If you were one of those who blew into the cartridge, all you were doing were spreading germs and bacteria and possible food onto the cartridge making it worse acting as an insulator and impurities. Electronic devices do not like impurities and must be kept clean of dirt, especially the contacts so that they can conduct electricity properly.