How to Clean CD’s and DVD’s

That shiny, reflective surface within most your CD’s and DVD’s is not embedded within the plastic disc itself, it is attached to the back, underneath the label. If you scratch the label side of the disk deep enough, you will scrape right through the reflective surface and render the disc useless. That’s why stores like blockbuster put stickers all over the back of their discs – if someone were to try and remove them then they would destroy the disc in the process.

Cleaning a CD

You will need:

A soft cloth, baby shampoo, tepid distilled water, and alcohol.

The Process:

Avoid touching the surface by holding the CD with your thumb inserted in the center hole and fingers squeezing the outside edge.
Sticky, greasy, gummy, or caked spots should be cleaned with baby shampoo mixed in lukewarm water; gently rub the CD surface with this solution using a soft cloth.
If there are fingerprints on the surface, dip a soft cloth in isopropyl alcohol and gently wipe the surface. Never use a petroleum based solvent like acetone, it will permanently destroy the surface.
Make sure the CD is completely dry (no water drops) before putting it away. Pat the disk dry and then let it air dry for about a half hour.
Always keep the CD in its jewel case or a paper sleeve. CD’s exposed to the environment will get dirty and, even worse, scratched.

Fixing Scratches:

If there are light scratches on the disk, hold it up to a light. If light comes through any little scratches or holes, then the foil layer is damaged and the disc is irreparable. If no light shows, you can reduce the impact of scratches by using a soft cloth and one of the following:

Pledge Furniture Polish (the clear wax fills in the scratches)
Automobile wax or polish.
Automotive rubbing compound (be very carefull)

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{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }

Steve Cale October 12, 2007 at 6:07 pm: Instead of the expensive scratch fluid you can buy at the store, use a 1/2 inch dab of tooth paste. Rub it carefully around the CD or DVD and add water a little at a time. The silica in the toothpaste will fill in the scratches. When all the toothpaste is washed away, dry the CD or DVD with a soft cloth wiping from the center to the outer edge.
Tonya Haze June 19, 2008 at 5:31 pm: Isopropyl Rubbing Alcohol is the best thing to use. I’d be a little leery of the baby shampoo thing. I work at a radio station, and I use standard Isopropyl Alcohol to clean everything – CD’s; computer monitors, mice, and keyboards; The Mixing Boards; microphones; headphones, etc. It’s also great for disinfecting telephone receivers and countertops. (And if you have a vinyl collection, it can be used to clean that, too!) I agree with the method for cleaning the CD’s – ALWAYS start at the center and wipe towards the outer edge.
Bing October 11, 2008 at 3:35 pm: Pledge Furniture Polish! I love this method because its so easy. Just look under your sink, get the pledge and spray your cd with it. Dry with a cloth and then just let it air-dry for a half hour… viola!
vinod March 25, 2009 at 3:36 am: i have plent of cd’s in a pouch i have done placing the tisue paper under the cd in each of the cover in cd poutch for not to sitck to the poutch covers but later few day’s the tisue paper disgn is stick to the cd’s now how can i clean them i tryed with water and shampoo too. but no use any solution folks….

thanks in advance..
imran kazi July 23, 2009 at 11:43 am Cleaning CD: I have used petroleum based solvent acetone on one of my CD by mistake, now there are white marks on the cd. My computer is not reading the CD now.
Is there any possibilty of cleaning that Acetone marks
TINA August 17, 2009 at 12:24 am HELP!! STICKY GLUE FROM LABEL ON DISC..: i have tried , the alcohol,babby shampoo,eraser,tape, and it’s still there. iremoved the label not thinking it would leave the sticky part on the disc. i don’t want to use anything harmful to the dvd. not sure about wetting disc or using oil,wd-40 or nail polish remover they might harm it. please help!!! thanks
RevMark76 September 18, 2009 at 6:59 pm RE: STICKY GLUE FROM LABEL ON DISC...: To clean the top of the CD/DVD where the label usually goes, try ‘GooGone’. It’s available at Wal-Mart & many hardware stores. Use it only on the label side. I’ve not tried it on the data/music side, but I don’t recommend it.

I’ve used ”GooGone” for removing glue, sticky tape residue, etc. for several months & I just love it. Has dozens of other uses too!