[CWilliams1013]

The trick that always worked for me was to insert the cartridge and then pull it out just enough to where the near edge of the cartridge would just barely scrape against the console as it was pushed down. This was far more effective than blowing on the cartridge.

[super-serial]

I read the comments just to see this answer. I thought it was common knowledge - and was surprised it wasn't in the article.

[willstepp]

I did that too! Man, this article is taking me back...

[pserwylo]

Taking you back?

My house mate and I are currently moving through our Killer Instinct phase on SNES, and I just lent my NES to my 18 year old sister and her boyfriend who borrow it regularly.

I'm taking this article very seriously, as I am from the family of people who blew in the cartridges (and the console) up until I read this :)

[icebraining]

Is it really worth it the risks to play on the real thing? I don't have my NES anymore (my parents convinced me to give it away when I got an N64), but I think that I'd still use an emulator and boot it only once every few months rather than risking breaking it. And using It Might Be NES (emulator for the PS1/One/2) on a CRT TV is almost the same anyway ;)

Now, I realize there's no point in having something without using it, but my point is if parsimony isn't a better policy.