Whether you're working on a Pokémon, YuGiOh, Dragon BallZ, or other TCG collection, check out these important tips for brushing up on your TCG cards.
Easiest TCG card problems to fix:
- Surfaces - Including dirty cards and light wear
- Minor dents and damage
- Missing ink
- Fold
- Scratches
TCG Card Cleansing: Do's and Don'ts
Polish Do's
We have found that you can successfully clean almost all Pokémon cards from 1996 to the present (this includes but is not limited to Bandai, Carddass, Topsun and other cards in various languages) with spray and polish.
Use clean applicators (cotton pads and cloths) for each new session. Keep the temperature of the polish at room temperature for best results.
When applying polish to an applicator, do it gently, as if you were spreading butter on bread. Don't squish it or dig in. Be gentle.
Store the polish away from light and with the cap tightly closed.
Polishing Don'ts
We have noticed that with the newer Pokémon sets the top layer has a kind of light powder coating. This is the case with the Japanese Promos for example. We are talking about the stary holo layer on top of the card, like with the Triple Beat Set of Pokémon (especially the ex cards) and Scarlet & Violet including the 151 reverse holos. You can use the spray on these cards without any problems, but due to the lack of a protective layer on top of this fine powder coating, polish will completely remove this coating, except where there is a clear coat. We recommend not using polish on these cards to keep them looking nice.
Certain foil accents are also easy to remove. If the polish ever dries on your card, don’t try to scrape it off. Just apply a little more polish and it will remove everything. This happens when you don’t remove it fast enough. Treat it like any other dirt on your card here.
Spray Do's
Use the spray before polishing to remove residue, stuck-on dirt, heavy fingerprints and other stuff from your card. Spray is great for getting the surface back to packfresh by removing anything that has gotten on the card. Pokémon cards from 1996 to the present (this includes but is not limited to Bandai, Carddass, Topsun and other cards in various languages) can be successfully cleaned with the spray.
Spray Don'ts
Do not spray directly onto the card.
Do not scrub the surface vigorously. You will remove or damage the paint. Gently wipe the problem areas with spray applied to a cotton applicator. Work lightly and be patient.
Map Tools Do's
Use the tool to get the edges and corners back into place. This works well in conjunction with dampening, then resting the card between discs or heavy books. Most TCG cards are thin and stiff. Sometimes it is best for curled edges or corners to rest them between discs/heavy books anyway after dampening or spraying.
Map Tool Don'ts
Don't press too hard and always use a penny sleeve between the tool and the card for extra protection. The paint on TCG cards is easy to remove, so take your time and don't force it. If you create friction, you'll move and ruin the paint.
Conclusion
To avoid mistakes, test everything on a cheap common card before starting on a 1st edition Charizard. Cheaper commons from the same set are made of the same material and will teach you how to successfully work on your favorite cards.
Videos
How do I clean cards with Kut's Card Care Kit?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nh834l71s64&t=1s
How do I repair dents in my cards with Kurt's Card Care Kit?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZLDbmt0w4I
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_Nfozn_790&t=4s
Order your Card Care Kit here: https://tcgtools.nl/products/kurts-card-care-kit