How to Keep Your Older Console Game Systems Working

Many of us have older console systems sitting around somewhere in our homes. They are in our basements, attics or even in boxes packed away long forgotten. However, they once gave us hours of entertainment and now sit wasting away with nobody to play them. Why not take the time to keep them in working order and relive the magic?

Older console systems need some upkeep to keep them working. You want to keep them clean with a damp cloth, along with storing them in a place where they cannot be damaged. You can use a can of compressed air to clean the inside of the unit, especially where the cartridge and the disc goes. You can use Q-Tips and rubbing alcohol to clean where the CD will spin, and you can purchase cheaply cartridges that will system clean for those types of systems.

You want to clean your controllers as well. You can do this with a damp cloth, Q-Tips and some rubbing alcohol. Just wipe them down, use the Q-Tips dipped in rubbing alcohol to get the harder to clean grime gone. If you can avoid winding the cord of the controllers, that would be the best way to go. Winding them can cause a breakdown of the wire protected by the plastic. Use rubber bands to fold the cord instead.

Cleaning your games can be necessary, too. CDs can be cleaned with disc cleaner, and they should be kept in protective casing or folders. Cartridges can be cleaned, but each cartridge is system-specific. Make sure to find the right cleaner for it, and use that to keep them clean so they will continue to work. Games more than any other part of the system need to be maintained to keep them working.

The better you take care of your older console systems, the longer they will last. Even something as simple as the first generation Nintendo Entertainment System can last decades after it was originally purchased if taken care of. By taking the time to make sure they are in working order, you can play some of the classics long into the future.