Cleaning
Always remove batteries and any cartridge before cleaning. Liquid near contacts while powered, or harsh solvents on plastics, can cause damage. Let everything dry fully before reassembly.
Cleaning and Care
Decades of handling leave Game Boys grimy, with sticky buttons, hazy screens, and dirty contacts. A careful clean is the first thing to do with any second-hand unit, and it often fixes problems that look like hardware faults. Most of it requires only basic supplies.
- Open the shell. Use the correct tri-wing screwdriver for the case screws and a Phillips for the board. Set screws aside so none are lost.
- Clean the contacts. Wipe the cartridge slot pins and battery terminals with isopropyl alcohol on a cotton swab. This cures most read and power glitches.
- Wash the shell and buttons. Clean plastics with mild soapy water, scrubbing button grime away. Rinse and dry completely.
- Refresh the membranes and screen. Wipe the rubber button pads, clean both sides of the screen plastic, and remove dust before reassembly.
Ongoing care
- Remove batteries if storing the console for a long time to prevent corrosion.
- Keep cartridges in cases to protect their contacts from dust and oxidation.
- Avoid abrasive cloths on the screen, which scratch the soft plastic.
Contacts first
Before assuming a console or game is broken, clean the contacts. Oxidized pins are the single most common cause of blank screens and "Nintendo" logo glitches, and alcohol usually fixes them.