Is it worth it to clean this card to improve its grade?

General
1

I have a 1st edition Neo Genesis Lugia in my childhood collection. I’d like to send it in for grading, but I’m wondering if it would be worthwhile for me to try cleaning the card first. This card has some serious holo scratching (see the images below), and several dirt spots on the front of the card. At least it has good centering and a very solid backside.

Do you think there would be much to gain by me attempting to lightly clean the dirt spots off this card? Do you think if I could safely clean the dirt spots it would boost the grade? Any idea what grade this card might get from PSA? Thanks.

2

I think it’s worth trying to get that border dirt mark off - gentle with a little water and microfiber cloth. I’d think this could still grade a 7/8 range

3

:whatshouldiclean:

Even if you weren’t grading it, absolutely.

4

Yes, as stated a tiny bit of water. Just rub it gently. You would be surprised how durable a card can be.

5

Yes def clean. But with that kind of scratching no way in hell it is getting any higher than a 6. Even with perfect back, you would hope for a 7, expect a 5 or a 6. Without cleaning I’d say you run high risk of getting docked 1 grade less than the would-be grade.

Edit: considering it is lugia (the large holo), I would say 6 would be a solid grade expectation because the rest of the card looks so good. A 7 is possible but unlikely.

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6

Thanks everyone. Yeah I figured cleaning it could only help, I was mostly just thinking about the risks, and if the benefits actually outweigh them. It would be quite undesirable if I somehow damaged the card and then PSA wouldn’t grade it. Obviously I’d rather just take a lower grade instead of no grade at all. Anyway, it sounds like it’s worth giving it a shot, so I’ll follow your tips. I’ll practice on some common cards first though!

7

Plastex works wonders on scratches I hear.

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8

Isn’t that what they use to remove scratches from PSA slabs??

Cotton wool pad and a tiny amount of soapy water on the card. Rub gently, it works wonders!

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9

Obligatory sandpaper cleaning mention

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10

I have cleaned a few of my cards by using a very lightly saturated q-tip with isopropyl (rubbing alcohol) / water mixture.

I was a bit concerned that it would be bad to use iso on the cards but it worked well. I wonder if anyone will tell me now that it was a mistake :sweat: