**Goal:** Restore reliable boots and inputs by removing oxide/film **without scratching the contacts**.
**Time:** 2–3 minutes per cart
**Tools:** Cotton swabs, low-lint lab wipes (or lint-free cloth), 99% isopropyl alcohol (IPA) or plastic-safe contact cleaner (tiny amounts), **soft** brush (ESD/camera/makeup), **white vinyl eraser** (optional), small flashlight
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## Safety first
- **Power off & unplug.** Remove the cart/disc and accessories.
- **No flooding.** Put a **tiny** amount of liquid on the swab/wipe; do **not** pour liquid into the slot.
- **Ventilate & dry.** Let solvents flash off for **2–3 min** before power.
- **Flammable:** keep solvents away from heat or open flame.
- **If unsure about slot work, skip it and contact us.**
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## Quick steps (cartridge side)
1) **Inspect** — Look for dull streaks or oxide lines on the edge contacts.
2) **Dry pass** — Roll a **dry** swab **in one direction** along the pads.
3) **Wet pass** — Add a **tiny** drop of IPA/contact cleaner to the swab or a wipe corner → one-direction wipe.
4) **Optional polish** — For light oxidation only: a **white vinyl eraser**, 2–3 **very light** strokes → repeat a wet pass to remove residue.
5) **Final dry** — Dry swab/clean wipe → **air-dry 2–3 min** → test boot.
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## Slot cleaning (console) — safety note
For beginners we recommend **not inserting tools** into the slot.
If boots are intermittent and pins look straight, try **light air/soft brush on the surface only**, then test.
For deeper cleaning or pin issues, **contact us for service**.
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## Do / Don’t
| ✅ Do | ❌ Don’t |
| --- | --- |
| One-direction swabs/wipes | Back-and-forth scrubbing |
| Tiny liquid on swab/wipe | Flood liquid into the slot |
| Vinyl eraser **lightly**, then re-wipe | Abrasive erasers / fiberglass pens |
| Dry fully before power | Oil products, acetone, thick silicone/grease |
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## Liquids quick table
| Use | Notes |
| --- | --- |
| **99% IPA** | Safe on metal; keep off labels; use **tiny** amount |
| **Plastic-safe contact cleaner** | Good for oxide film; must be **plastic-safe** |
| **✖ Oils / acetone / thick silicone** | Residue attracts dust / may damage plastics / raises contact resistance |
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## Common symptoms solved
- Boots only after several inserts → oxide on contacts
- Random resets / no inputs → film or grime
- “No cart” message → point contact instead of full pad contact
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## Optional “conditioning” (advanced users)
Daily care doesn’t need coatings. In rare high-humidity cases, a **very thin** contact-conditioning film on the **cartridge pads only** may help.
Rules: **no spraying into slots**, apply a **rice-grain or less** on a swab, spread **one direction**, then **wipe off excess** with a fresh low-lint wipe and let it near-dry before testing.
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**Performed by:** Shopkeeper
**Last updated:** 2025-09-06