- Many times, all that a disc requires is a quick dusting, ideally using a soft 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 make sure to avoid following the circular lines on the disc.
- If the disc still looks dirty after dusting or if 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 instead if you wish. 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, many times the cleaner dries so quickly that this is not a major concern, but check for spots and/or 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 could fail again.
Let me know how this works for you.
Benjamin
×