Wipe down the rails once a week if you keep your tracks set up permanently. If you keep the tracks stored in a box, clean them whenever you take them out. [2] X Research source
You can buy braid conditioner online or at hobby shops that sell model railroad materials. If you’re an avid slot car enthusiast or interested in competitive racing, go for the braid conditioner. The minor advantage over water will be worth it.
You can start on any portion of the track. Each track length is identical, so it doesn’t matter where you begin so long as you cover the entire course. If your track is disassembled, just clean each track length individually.
You don’t need to push down super hard or anything. A gentle wipe will do the trick.
Hit the rails with a few bursts of canned air to speed the drying process up.
If your cars were stalling before and continue to stall after you wipe down the tracks, your rails are probably corroded. You may not be able to see any corrosion since the rails are so small, but it’s definitely there if your cars are stalling or sliding.
If you can’t buy a drywall sponge, a rubber eraser will also work. [8] X Research source Do not use sandpaper or steel wool for this. They’re too hard and microscopic shards of steel wool or sandpaper can get stuck in the tracks. [9] X Research source
Don’t worry about damaging the flat portions of your track. They’re designed to handle a fair bit of abrasion.
This gets rid of any corrosive particles that fell in between the rails.
If the car stalls at the same spot every time, it’s a sign you still have corrosion in that area. Rub the sponge over that section another 4-5 times, blow it out, and try again. Wipe the car’s push pin off when you’re done to remove any debris it picked up from the track.
A microfiber cloth is perfect for this since the tiny fibers will absorb microscopic residue on the tiny rails. You can do a final wipe down with a damp rag soaked in mineral spirits if you’d like, but this is controversial in the slot car community. Some slot car racers believe it isn’t worth it since dust can be attracted to the spirits and build up on the tracks.
