≪ View Page

Differences

This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.

Link to this comparison view

Both sides previous revisionPrevious revision
Next revision		Previous revision
cleaning:do-not-use [2025/01/02 02:27] – eldougcleaning:do-not-use [2025/01/02 02:33] (current) – eldoug
Line 17: Line 17:
 And you are correct, but let me explain. Solvents will dry out the plastics. Nintendo knew this back in 1985 and it's still true today. Alcohol and other solvents dry out plastics. And since these games are OLD we need to make sure we keep them as fresh and saturated as possible. (I should really do a longer explanation about plastics, but we'd be here all night). So in short, the dryer plastics get, the more brittle they can get, and the more likely they are to get damaged. Alcohol speeds that up. We want to use softer cleaners, usually just warm soapy water if possible, to clean plastics. Then saturate the plastics with a silicone based cleaner or protectant (ArmorAll is weirdly perfect for consoles, go figure). But it doesn't stop there! You need to repeat that process often to make sure that plastic stays healthy for as long as possible! And you are correct, but let me explain. Solvents will dry out the plastics. Nintendo knew this back in 1985 and it's still true today. Alcohol and other solvents dry out plastics. And since these games are OLD we need to make sure we keep them as fresh and saturated as possible. (I should really do a longer explanation about plastics, but we'd be here all night). So in short, the dryer plastics get, the more brittle they can get, and the more likely they are to get damaged. Alcohol speeds that up. We want to use softer cleaners, usually just warm soapy water if possible, to clean plastics. Then saturate the plastics with a silicone based cleaner or protectant (ArmorAll is weirdly perfect for consoles, go figure). But it doesn't stop there! You need to repeat that process often to make sure that plastic stays healthy for as long as possible!
 In the same realm as Alcohols and solvents.... In the same realm as Alcohols and solvents....
-==== Windex/RainX ====+ 
 +{{:cleaning:windex.jpg?nolink&200|}} ==== Windex/RainX ====
 Now look.... both have alcohol in them. So re-read above. But see the other problem is that Windex is a glass cleaner (they do make a multisurface cleaner, but even that has alcohol in it) and RainX has a decent amount of alcohol in it as well. (You'll see a trend where the "Do not use" stuff, usually just has alcohol in it. Now look.... both have alcohol in them. So re-read above. But see the other problem is that Windex is a glass cleaner (they do make a multisurface cleaner, but even that has alcohol in it) and RainX has a decent amount of alcohol in it as well. (You'll see a trend where the "Do not use" stuff, usually just has alcohol in it.
  
 +{{:cleaning:brasso.jpg?nolink&200|}}
 ==== Brasso==== ==== Brasso====
 You'll often find Brasso (or similar brass cleaners) in game stores. They usually use it for cleaning pins (you know what I'll say about that), but I've seen more than a few stores use brasso on plastic to remove dirt and smudges. Brasso is a whole bunch of "stuff" you don't really want around your games. (hey weird fact, Brasso and some lighter fluids have similar compounds), but safe to say, it's another thing on the list you just don't want to use. It's an inhalation risk, a fire risk, doesn't really work to clean things, just all around sort of useless for video game cleaning. (It can work to clean brass in PCBs, but it's way more aggressive than what most pins need! We'll get into pin cleaning I promise!) You'll often find Brasso (or similar brass cleaners) in game stores. They usually use it for cleaning pins (you know what I'll say about that), but I've seen more than a few stores use brasso on plastic to remove dirt and smudges. Brasso is a whole bunch of "stuff" you don't really want around your games. (hey weird fact, Brasso and some lighter fluids have similar compounds), but safe to say, it's another thing on the list you just don't want to use. It's an inhalation risk, a fire risk, doesn't really work to clean things, just all around sort of useless for video game cleaning. (It can work to clean brass in PCBs, but it's way more aggressive than what most pins need! We'll get into pin cleaning I promise!)