Repairing a damaged Pokémon card: what’s possible, and what isn’t
“Repairing” a card can mean many things. Some defects can be treated safely at home. Others can’t be repaired, and promises to the contrary often end with an even more damaged card. Here is how to sort them out, defect by defect.
- Dirt, dull holo, micro-scratches and curving can be treated at home.
- Creases, crushed corners, tears and whitened edges can’t be repaired.
- A gentle method is always better than a fast one.
- If in doubt about a valuable card, ask a professional for advice.
Curved or bulging card
This is the defect that corrects best: gentle, even, prolonged pressure, without heat or moisture, flattens most cards in 12 to 24 hours. Avoid unprotected piles of books, the iron and humidifying. Full guide: how to flatten a warped card.
Flatten a card again
The flattening kit
Rigid plates, foam mats and clamps for gentle, even pressure, with no heat and no moisture.
See the flattening kitDirty card, fingerprints
Microfibre cloth, alcohol-free spray applied to the cloth, cotton swabs for the corners. See cleaning cards without damaging them.
Dull holo, micro-scratches
The shine gel brings back the mirror effect and removes surface micro-scratches. A deep scratch, however, stays. See removing a micro-scratch.
Small dent
A slight bulge can soften under gentle pressure; a marked indentation generally stays visible. See a dent in a Pokémon card.
What can’t be repaired
- A crease: the card stock is broken, the mark stays. Creased Pokémon card: can a crease be fixed?
- A crushed or rounded corner: material is missing or compressed.
- Whitened edges: the coloured layer is gone. Whitening: can it be fixed?
- A tear.
- Card stock yellowed through. Yellowed card
Some restorers offer to retouch these defects. A retouched card can be rejected or flagged at grading and lose value. Before agreeing, read restoration: professional or DIY?.
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 – €59Frequently asked questions
Can a creased Pokémon card be repaired?
The distortion can sometimes be reduced, but the mark of the crease stays visible.
Can a card be given new corners?
No. A crushed or rounded corner can’t be rebuilt without retouching, and retouching is often spotted at grading.
Which defect corrects best?
Curving caused by humidity, with gentle, prolonged pressure and no heat.