/vr/ - Retro Games

I have an NTSC-U N64, and three controllers. They're all gone to shit, and I'm ordering a bunch of Japanese games, so I have some problems I need to fix so I can be ready.

1.) My Gray controller's Joystick has gone full Mario Party and is useless, my Yellow controller's joystick is also gone full Mario Party, but it's all had soda spilled on it and all the buttons are stiff as fuck until you break them in, then they become sticky. My see-through purple controller is also sticky because of the soda, but the joystick is fine. What's the best way to clean them so they stop sticking, and are those Gamecube style joysticks worth swapping in over original N64 sticks?

2.) I have a gamebit so I can get the console open. What is the best way to remove the tabs in the cartridge slot so the games can fit in if I don't have a dremel cutter?