GradePrep Clean & Polish

No. Our restoration process is designed to preserve the original card, not alter it.

We do not recolour, repaint, rebuild, trim or add printed material to your card. Our process focuses on carefully correcting physical imperfections while maintaining the card's original surface, print and structure.

Every card is inspected under 40× magnification and blue light throughout the process to ensure the work is clean and free from unwanted residue or visible restoration marks.

The goal is simple: your card should still be your original card - just professionally prepared and presented at its best.

Final grading and alteration determinations are always made independently by the grading company, so a specific grade or outcome cannot be guaranteed.

We specialise in correcting a wide range of physical and surface imperfections that can negatively affect a card’s presentation and grading potential.

Depending on the condition of the card, we can treat dents, creases, corner lifts, dings, raised or uneven edges, surface contamination, fingerprints, oils, debris, light surface imperfections and minor scratches. Our restoration services can also include precision pressing, flattening, surface polishing and advanced water-damage treatment.

Our priority is achieving the best possible result while preserving the integrity of the original card.

Important: Whitening cannot be repaired. Whitening occurs when the card’s original ink or printed surface has been physically lost. Correcting it would require adding colour or material back to the card, which we do not do.

We never recolour, repaint or touch up whitening to disguise damage If the original material is gone, we don’t replace it.

We restore all major TCG and collectible trading cards, from modern releases to vintage and high-value collectibles.

This includes Pokémon, Yu-Gi-Oh!, One Piece, Magic: The Gathering, Lorcana, Dragon Ball, Riftbound, Naruto, as well as NBA, soccer, rugby, football and other sports cards.

Whether it’s a modern pull, vintage card or valuable investment piece, we restore and gradeprep it all.

Once your order is placed, you’ll receive clear step-by-step instructions on what to do next.

You can choose to either ship your cards to Card Care using a tracked service or drop them off directly at our shop in Sydney, Australia.

We’ll provide everything you need, including packaging instructions, our address and what to include with your cards.

Once your cards are received and checked in, you’ll receive an SMS/email confirmation, with progress updates throughout the process.

When complete, your cards will be securely packaged and returned to you or made ready for collection, depending on your selected option.

Yes. If you believe a graded card has more potential, our Slab Crack service allows the card to be professionally removed from its holder, assessed, prepared and worked on where appropriate before re-grading.

A previous grade or restoration does not guarantee a higher grade when the card is submitted again.

Yes. While our card restoration studio is based in Sydney, Australia, we accept submissions from customers across Australia and internationally.

International customers are responsible for shipping their cards to us, along with any applicable postage, customs duties, taxes or import/export charges. Once restoration is complete, your cards are securely packaged and returned using your selected shipping method.

We understand that many of the cards entrusted to us are valuable collectibles, which is why every submission is handled with care throughout the restoration process.

For shipping, we strongly recommend using a tracked and appropriately insured service based on the value of your cards. Card Care cannot control loss, theft or damage that occurs while a parcel is in the possession of a third-party postal or courier provider.

Restoration also carries inherent risks, particularly with older, previously damaged, water-affected or structurally compromised cards. Any specific risks identified during assessment may be discussed with you before advanced restoration work proceeds.

Every card is different, and restoration results depend heavily on the type, severity and history of the damage.

We aim to achieve the best result reasonably possible while preserving the card's original material and integrity. However, restoration cannot make every card perfect, reverse missing material or guarantee a particular grading result.

If you have concerns after receiving your card, contact our team with your order details and we'll review the restoration with you.

A card may be worth restoring when correctable defects such as dents, creases, corner lifts, dings, surface contamination or other physical imperfections are affecting its overall presentation or grading potential.

We assess cards based on their condition, defects and restoration potential, including detailed inspection under 40× magnification where applicable.

For expensive cards, the decision shouldn't simply be “Can this be fixed?” It should be “Does restoring this particular defect make sense for this card?”

Whitening cannot be restored. We do not recolour, repaint or add missing printed material to disguise whitening or colour loss.

No. Your card is completely dried and stabilised before it is returned to you.

Our process is specifically designed to prevent residual moisture from remaining within the card before it is returned or submitted for grading.

When controlled moisture is required during restoration, the card does not simply air-dry and get placed straight into a holder.

We use a multi-stage drying and stabilisation process that can include controlled heat treatment, professional pressing and clamping techniques, and protective parchment layers to allow the card to dry evenly while maintaining its structure and surface integrity.

The card remains under controlled pressure during the stabilisation process to help prevent warping, curling or deformation as moisture is released.

Once the drying cycle is complete, the card is allowed to rest and stabilise before being inspected again. We check for any remaining moisture-related movement, surface changes or structural instability before the card passes final quality control.

Controlled Treatment → Heat & Drying → Protected Pressing → Stabilisation → Final Inspection

The purpose of this process is to ensure the card is fully dried and stable before it leaves Card Care, significantly reducing the risk of restoration-related moisture causing problems later after encapsulation.

If a card isn't completely dry and stable, it doesn't leave our care.