Clean your CD's and DVD Discs

Here are a few tips on how to clean your CD's and DVD discs.

Before you try any of these suggested methods, remember that CD's and DVD discs are very delicate and you may unintentionally damage the shiny reflective surface if you are not very careful how you handle them. To hold the CD/DVD, insert a finger or thumb inside the centre hole of the CD or handle it by the edges but never touch the shiny surface.

• If dust particles are sticking to the CD/DVD surface, use a piece of soft smooth lint free cloth to wipe off the dust.
• If the CD/DVD surface feels sticky or greasy, mix some baby shampoo in lukewarm water and use a cotton cloth or soft smooth lint free cloth to gently rub the CD/DVD surface with this solution. Make sure the CD/DVD is completely dry (no water drops) before putting it back in the jewel case.
• If there are fingerprint marks on the CD/DVD surface, dip a soft smooth lint free cloth in Isopropyl Alcohol and gently wipe the surface. Never use a petroleum based solvent like Acetone as that will permanently damage the discs surface.

Use Isopropyl Alcohol for Cleaning

If alcohol based products are not available locally, try an on line source such as Amazon and search for Isopropyl Alcohol. Alternatively, use a bottle of Mineral water to clean the dirty CD/DVD surface (normal tap water has higher concentration of salts that may leave white marks on the surface of the disc).

Always wipe the disc surface in a non-radial back-and-forth motion (from the centre hole to the outer edge). Don't follow the concentric circles while cleaning.

There are few CD/DVD polish products in the market that promise to repair the scratched surface of CD's and DVD's. But I am not sure that they are all that effective at the job they are supposed to do. So be careful what you buy!