That's always a good thing to do, most older games have never had it done. You will need A LOT of Q-tips. The inserts near coils are usually dirty.

Canned air can work well and be quick if the dirt is more powdery and not caked on

That's a terrible idea. It will not clean and will blow coil dust EVERYWHERE, including on under playfield boards and will possibly cause shorts. Use Novus 1 and q-tips, excellent results.

I use a Q-tip. Spray one end with Windex, clean the insert and dry with the dry end. You can usually get a few inserts with one Q-tip. If the inserts are really dirty, it's one swab per insert.

Don't know exactly what they are called...maybe 'swab'...but they are a long plastic stick(like a straw) w/ a little square cube of foam on end and I have used them w/ great results also. Used Windex and Novus 2 as mention in other replies. I did used Q-Tips prior but looked for a alternative as little pcs. Of the cotton swab would get stuck around inserts etc.

+1 with Riprock. They are better than q-tips. I get them from Newegg

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=1K5-001C-00013&nm_mc=KNC-GoogleAdwords&cm_mmc=KNC-GoogleAdwords-_-pla-_-Cleaning+Products-_-1K5-001C-00013&gclid=CLaf6ejevroCFaY-MgodVGIATQ

I have some dirt in the star rollovers. I wonder if these, Tape Head Cleaning Swab, 36/Pack, would work for those?

I just use a little wire brush to clean mine out, then wiped down with a paper towel. Got all the corrosion off and didn't get too messy either. Just make sure there aren't any wire hairs left in the socket when you're done.

Q-Tip with Orange Power citrus cleaner for really filthy pins. Cuts through the worst muck with ease.

Don't use Windex for plastic's (inserts are plastic)! Only thing Windex is good for on a pin is clean the PF glass with it!

Huh? Never had an issue in 13 years on inserts or on plastics.

Star rollovers as in a EM?(guess they could be the same for SS pins) I used to take them out(carefully!as tabs can break easy)to clean, but some find it worth the money/time to just buy new ones and install.

Very simple way to get them very clean. Use Windex with Vinegar (Its the Clear Windex.) you may have to shop around a few stores to find it.

Get spray nozzle as close as you can to insert and shoot the insert. No problem with the runoff on other things as there is usually next to nill and the part that may get some is then wiped clean anyway . Wires, Bulbs etc.

The playfield wood will not be damaged either so nothing to worry about there.

Then simply using a soft cloth soak up or wipe insert and for the smaller inserts Q-tips are fine.

Most of the windex after the blast will run to the bottom of the insert anyway carrying the dirt.( if playfield is raised while cleaning them) so it just needs to be soaked up.

The windex with vinegar is also the best thing to use for the glass and I have also used it for cleaning boards.

and initial cleaning metal assemblies including coils and sleeves.

The initial blast 99% of the time get the inserts completely clean if not repeat procedure again.

Don't use Windex or any other cleaner with ammonia. Use the ammonia free Windex or other cleaner that does not contain ammonia. It's the ammonia that is bad for plastics. For this reason, you shouldn't use ammonia based cleaners on modern flat screen computer monitors, laptop screens etc.

I like to take the playfield out in the driveway and blast it with a nozzle from my air compressor getting into the inserts and around the flippers before cleaning the inserts with q-tips. I spray the window cleaner on one end of the q-tip, wipe out the insert and dry with the other end.

I just use a mix of windex and water and a small paintbrush (about 1/2 inch thick) to clean them. Wiping q-tips through all those little grooves under the inserts takes way too much time.
Afterwards I wipe them dry with paper towel.

Yeah the star rollovers in my Surf Champ. I'd love to get them cleaned up. Thought about replacing them also.

Just to be clear( No pun intended) Windex with Vinegar does not contain ammonia.

http://www.windex.com/en-US/Products/Pages/multi-surface-vinegar.aspx

Same with me, I always figure if the inserts are filthy, as most are, then the rest of the machine needs cleaning too.

I blow the whole machine off with compressed air, if I can, prior to starting any cleaning. It gets rid of a lot of stuff that you won't have to remove with rags, q-tips and elbow grease later.

Robert

If a machine is not too old, I'll pull the playfield and take it outside the shop and clean everything with compressed air.

Older 60s 70s and early 80's machines you must beware, because sometimes the inserts go flying out from the air. Not fun trying find them in the parking lot....

I pull out the entire playfield and soak it overnight in the bathtub filled with Windex. (ok. that was a joke, Don't ever do that) +3 on Q-tips and Novus 1