Cleaning Cartridges Cheap

Ever had somebody over to show 'em a game you just got and you look stupid because it doesn't work?
Never fear!

Note: You do this at your own risk. But then, you knew that, right?

Whelp, if the screen comes up blank or messed up or just is one color, it's probably dirty. Yeah, you could
run out and spend $30 (ouch!) on a cleaning kit, or blow on it, but why, when you could do the same thing
 with rubbing alcohol & a Q-tip?

Even if you don't have rubbing alcohol, I know there's some alcohol-based perfume or cologne there. Anything
with alcohol will do, but if you try beer you'll probably end up with a broken cart and maybe some cool smoke
coming out of your Genocide- err, genesis. Why? Electricity DOES NOT LIKE WATER! Actually, it likes it a little
too much- water is a great conductant, especially salt water. Beer is mostly water, grain, and probably whiz.
This is also why you shouldn't blow on it. Try not to use anything for human consumption, ok? It's prbably not
strong enough if it ain't vodka or something. 

Turn off the machine and take out the cart. Dip one end of the Q-tip in the alcohol. Put it in between the plastic
and the terminals and rub it back and forth, trying not to get any cotton in there. Do the same on the other side
of the terminals with the same end of the Q-tip, then repeat (on both sides) with the dry end of the Q-tip to make
sure it ain't dripping or anything.

Now, put away the alky and Q-tips. Plug. Play.

This shouldn't hurt saved games or anything- I've done this millions of times on my Phantasy Star 4 game and I'm
playing right now. This also works on TurboGrafx 16 cards, NES, SNES, N64, and SMS games. This is especially easy
on TG16 cards- only 1 side, open to the air.