How to Clean Pokémon Cards Safely

Short answer: use a clean, dry microfibre cloth and gentle, straight strokes from the centre outwards. No liquids, no erasers, no sponges, no solvents. If the mark does not lift with a dry cloth, stop and get it looked at.

What you need

A new, clean microfibre cloth (the kind used for glasses)
Clean, dry hands, or cotton gloves
A flat, clean surface with good light
A fresh penny sleeve and top loader for afterwards

Step by step

Take the card out of its sleeve over the flat surface.
Hold it by the edges, never by the holo.
Wipe the front with light, straight strokes from the centre to the edge. Do not scrub in circles.
Turn the card over and do the same on the back.
Check it under the light. If it is clean, sleeve it straight away.

Never use these on a card

Melamine sponges ("magic erasers"): they are abrasive and strip the surface.
Pencil or rubber erasers: they scuff the print and edges.
Toothpaste, polishes or anything gritty.
Alcohol, glass cleaner, acetone or other solvents: they can dull or lift ink and foil.
Water or steam: cardstock swells and warps.
Heat from a hair dryer or iron.

When to stop and ask a professional

Stop if a mark does not move with a dry cloth, if the card is creased, bent or has a lifted edge, if it is a holo or full art with haze, or if the card matters to you. Those need hand work under magnification, not more rubbing.