If you have ever owned a Nintendo NES System I am sure that you have experienced the problems of a blinking red light or only a blue/green screen on your TV. The first thing that most people do is remove the game cartridge and "blow" into the end of the cartridge and slam it back in in hopes that it will get the system to work. WRONG!! Never do this.

Blowing into the end of the cartridge only creates moisture on the contacts that causes a shortage and will make the system work for a few minutes. When you insert the game cartridge into the system, it also transfers moisture, grime and dust onto the 72 pin connector from the game that has been contaminated. Continuation of this practice will damage the 72 pin connector and render the entire system non-functional.

Cleaning your games after each use will keep your system and games working for a long, long time. Here's how to clean them.

First, buy yourself a $.99 bottle of Isopropyl Rubbiing Alochol and a box of Q-tips. Use a small container and mix 1/2 ounce of water with 1/2 ounce of the Alcohol. Dip one end of the Q-tip in the mixture and rub it on both sides of the contacts  in the open end of the game(where you use to blow in it). Use the other end of the Q-tip and dry the contacts. Use only side to side motions when doing this. Repeat the process until both ends of a new Q-tip comes out clean and white. If the first Q-tip comes out dirty and black, throw it away and get a clean one. NEVER dip a soiled Q-tip in the solution. It will recontaminate your games. Once you get your games clean, set them aside for about 5 minutes until the Alcohol and water solution evaporates. It is best to put them in a plastic baggie which will keep normal household dust from collecting inside the game opening. Merely putting the games back inside a sleeve does not protect the games from dust, which is the biggest cause of contamination and improperly working games or system. Never blow into your games again or the acid from your breath will cause the game contacts to become contaminated and stop working. If cleaning you games does not restore your system to a working order, you will have to replace the 72 pin connector inside the system. This process if very simple and I will write another guide showing you how to do this. The cost of replacing the 72 pin connector inside the system is about $10.00 and will provide you with a long lasting, like new system. Remember: Never blow into your games and keep them sealed in a container.