How to clean a Pokémon card before PSA grading
PSA, CGC, PCA and Beckett grade four criteria: centering, corners, edges and surface. Only the surface can be prepared. A speck of dust, a fingerprint or a greasy haze can cost points for nothing. Here is the step-by-step method to clean a card before sending it, without ever retouching it.
- Cleaning only concerns the surface: it does not fix centering, corners or edges.
- You remove what has built up on the card and add nothing: no varnish, no wax, no retouching.
- The product goes on the microfibre cloth, never directly on the card.
- Check the result under raking light before sleeving the card.
Why clean a card before grading?
A card can look clean to the naked eye and still show fingerprints, a greasy film or tiny debris on the varnish under a lamp. The grader inspects the surface under light that reveals all of this. A gentle clean simply keeps those deposits from weighing on the grade.
What cleaning does not do: it does not re-center a card, straighten a corner or erase a deep scratch. To find out whether a card is worth sending, start with our guide pre-grading: assessing your card’s condition.
What you need
- A clean, soft microfibre cloth kept for your cards only.
- The Restore+ cleaning spray, alcohol-free, for matte areas (back, borders, frame).
- The Restore+ shine gel and a foam applicator, only if the holo front is dull.
- Precision cotton swabs for corners and edges.
- A flat, clean surface, a lamp, and clean, dry hands.
The method, step by step
- Wash and dry your hands, then hold the card by its edges.
- Lay it on a clean surface (microfibre cloth or playmat).
- Remove dust with a light pass of a dry microfibre cloth.
- Spray a small amount onto the microfibre cloth, then wipe the back and borders gently, without pressing.
- For the corners, use a barely dampened cotton swab.
- If the holo front is dull, put a very small amount of gel on the applicator, apply without pressing, then buff with a clean microfibre cloth.
- Let it air-dry for a few minutes.
- Inspect the card under raking light: the surface should be clear, with no haze or marks.
- Slide it straight into a new sleeve, then into a semi-rigid holder.
The complete kit
The Pokémon card restoration kit
Alcohol-free cleaning spray, shine gel, 2 microfibre cloths, 5 applicators and 10 cotton swabs: everything you need for €59.
See the kit – €59Mistakes to avoid
- Spraying the product directly onto the card.
- Using water, alcohol, acetone or wet wipes: the card stock warps and the ink can run.
- Rubbing hard or dry: that is how micro-scratches appear.
- Using paper towels or tissues: their fibres scratch the surface.
- Trying to “repair” a corner or an edge before sending: a retouched card can be rejected.
The full list is in our article the 5 mistakes to avoid before sending a card for grading.
After cleaning: protect it until shipping
A clean card has to stay clean: a new sleeve, a semi-rigid holder (the format most grading companies ask for), then packaging where nothing moves. Full details in how to protect your Pokémon cards.
Frequently asked questions
Is cleaning allowed by PSA?
A surface clean that removes dust and marks without altering the card is standard preparation. Any retouching (ink, recoloured edges, filled crease), on the other hand, is a no-go: the card may be rejected or flagged as altered.
Should I clean the back?
Yes, the back counts as much as the front for the surface grade. Matte areas are cleaned with spray applied to the microfibre cloth.
Is the gel needed for every card?
No. The gel is only for reviving a dull holo surface and softening micro-scratches. On a clean, shiny card, the spray is enough.
How long before shipping should I clean the card?
Right before sleeving it. Once protected, the card does not need to be touched again until grading.