mborn Loc: Massachusetts

I use it works fine

BobHartung Loc: Bettendorf, IA

If using an eraser try to get an gumless art eraser.

KLambar Loc: New Jersey

Drug stores

Kuzano

Yes, Coke is best diluted with Rum.

R.G. Loc: Scotland

If using alcohol you shouldn't have to rub. Dabbing on and then dabbing dry with a dry cotton bud or whatever should be enough. Leave for a while so that any residual alcohol can evaporate before re-assembling.

aphelps Loc: Central Ohio

Do not use any kind of eraser. Too abrasive for gold plated contacts.

Jim S Loc: Barrington RI, DC now Hilton Head,

LOL of course RUM + COKE !!

jlv104

Deoxit is a contact cleaner mostly used for “vintage audio/electronic “ potentiometer or Pot, and is definitely effective for that purpose , a little of it go far.
Ok , it works perfectly, as a cracking sound become normal after Deoxit
Now , You have to be certain that your Electronic contact are corroded or dirty it is definitely safer than a sweet soda.
After cleaning an old Pot with surprising result , I used it for Battery terminals always with excellent result... By the way it is called “Deoxit D5”
And use Q tip

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

You don't say what specific camera, but many use gold plating on those contacts. The reason they use it is because gold doesn't oxidize the way other metals do, so you don't need typical electronic contact cleaners (such as DeOxit, which is also rather expensive.... it will work, but is overkill for cleaning gold plated contacts).

The gold plating is rather easily damaged, so - as other responses have said - NEVER use anything abrasive.

I recommend simply using a clean, lint free cloth lightly dampened (definitely not dripping!) with a few drops of isopropyl alcohol. Cheap and widely available "rubbing" alcohol works just fine, though there is more pure available too. But that's harder to find and more expensive.

Usually any problems with those contacts is due to oils on the surface... either stray lubrication from the camera mechanisms or finger oils from handling.... which interrupts the low voltage communication between the camera and lens. Isopropyl/rubbing alcohol will easily remove that and dries quickly with minimal residue.

I DON'T recommend using a pencil eraser (non-abrasive), which I've sometimes seen suggested. For one, erasers are made from vegetable oil, so are unlikely to do a very good job removing any oils on the contacts... more likely will just smear it around or even make matters worse. Also it's possible an eraser will shed particles that might get into the camera's mechanisms and cause problems. "Gum" erasers... I don't know what they're made of, but they are even more "crumbly" and shed more particles than pencil erasers. DEFINITELY don't use an "ink eraser"... in addition to everything else, those are quite abrasive.

Be very careful during the contact cleaning to keep clear of the lens optics, or you'll have to clean them too (brush off dust, then wipe clean & dry with lens cleaning solution & micro fiber cloths, then give a final polishing with a Lens Pen or similar). Also be sure to keep any fluids off the focus screen (most are optical plastic) and don't touch the shutter or mirror or any other mechanisms inside the camera (assuming it's a DSLR). Those things are all pretty delicate and easily damaged by mishandling or incorrect fluids, so it's best to only clean them with a gentle puff of air from a bulb blower made for the purpose.... and if anything more is needed have them professionally cleaned. (Sensor cleaning is another thing... when the camera is set up to do that the mirror flips up and covers the focus screen, protecting both. BTW, sensor cleaning fluid such as Eclipse would also probably be fine to use cleaning those lens-to-camera contacts.)

jlv104

Very good answer
But do not forget that the gold layer is rather thin... and we are talking about “Contacts”...
Putting on and off and on again those Lenses , Off course the layer of Gold will disappear.
I am not an expert at figuring out If my lenses are working correctly or not but I will definitely use a Magnifier and check those Gold plated contacts ... if Dirty or Gone.

Rich Maher Loc: Sonoma County, CA

You can buy isopropyl alcohol at any drug store, Target, Walmart.
Get mine at Target.

crapshooter Loc: Fox, Alaska

Put Whiskey in your Coca Cola and just forget about cleaning your Camera

lumix9 Loc: lakeland,fl. via nyc

Never;ever use coca cola! Are you kidding me?
Alcohol wipes are perfect for these.

Haydon

peterg Loc: Santa Rosa, CA

Yes. I use DeOxit D5, http://store.caig.com/s.nl/sc.2/category.188/.f . Use VERY little on a Q-tip or similar.