- Many times, all that a
disc requires is a quick dusting, ideally using a cloth which has been
specifically designed to clean a CD. To remove dust from a DVD or CD, use a
soft, lint-free cloth. Hold the disc in a pincer grip with one finger along the
edge and another in the hole in the middle, without touching the shiny portion,
and gently move the cloth radially outwards from the middle. Do not rub the disc
or move the cloth in circular motions, and avoid following the circular lines
in the disc.
- If the disc still looks
dirty after dusting or you are having trouble playing it, a more serious
cleaning effort may be required. Several companies make special chemicals for
the purpose of cleaning DVDs, but you can also use household cleaning supplies.
One of the best cleaners is rubbing alcohol, but you can also use a warm water
and mild soap solution. Avoid any heavy duty solvents when you clean a CD, as
they can damage the disc.
- Apply the cleaning
solution to a clean lint-free cloth, and wipe the disc, again radially. When you
clean a CD with a liquid material, make sure to wipe the excess liquid off, and
never put the disc back into its packaging when it is still wet. Allow the
cleaned disc to dry completely before attempting to play it again. When you
clean a CD with alcohol or a specialized cleaning solution, often the cleaner
dries so quickly that this is not a major concern, but check for spots and
marks which may interfere with clean play.
- Even after cleaning, a
disc may fail to play properly because of scratches. Some companies manufacture
products which are designed to resurface discs, smoothing out scratches so that
they will play again. Depending on how severe the damage is, these products can
be quite effective, but it is a good idea to back up the data as soon as you
have repaired the disc, in case it fails again.
Let me know how this works out for you.
Benjamin
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