How to Clean a CD

by tomonto

239K1716

Intro: How to Clean a CD

Knowing how to clean a CD properly is crucial if you want to save them. There are a few warnings that will save you from destroying your CD. Read on for instructions.

STEP 1: Warnings

These are the important warnings to be cautious of.

1. DO NOT use household washing materials such as windex.

2. DO NOT wipe in circles.

3. DO NOT spray cleaning fluid directly on the CD.

STEP 2: Toothpaste Method

This method is done by gently rubbing a layer of toothpaste over the disk. Then, you are to wait 5 minutes. After the time has passed, gently wipe off the toothpaste under running water.

STEP 3: Wiping

This is the more common method to cleaning a CD. First, the materials you will need:

  • anti static cloth (if possible)
  • CD cleaner (optional)
  • water

If it's not possible to get an anti static cloth a fine cloth or very fine tissue will do.

The method starts with putting your liquid of choice (cleaning fluid or water) on your cloth.IMPORTANT!!!DO NOT SPRAY LIQUID ON THE CD!!!

Next, you will need to wipe the CD in an outward pattern. NOT IN CIRCLES. Wipe from in to out until the CD is dry and clean.

Hopefully this instructable will help you clean your damaged CDs.

15 Comments

wermEosk 6 years ago

I think I had success with Vasoline. Any thoughts on comparable advantage of toothpaste vs. Vasoline.

scubaguy95 12 years ago

does it matter what kind of toothpaste

guitarmonk15 13 years ago

I have heard that you should not use tooth paste gel, only actual paste.

1999 14 years ago

i tried it it only takes away some scratches not all of them

safdar 15 years ago

can you use any toothpaste?

jinjaboy 15 years ago

does this ony work for music cds or does it work on games aswell?

Dinerro94 16 years ago

does the kind of the toothpaste matter?

fromanny 15 years ago

Toothpaste is an abrasive. That's the point-it files the scratches down to a point where they will no longer cause a blip. Just remember to clean from the inside out (center to edge) in deliberate straight strokes NO SCRUBBING! I've done it. It works.

oddie1212 16 years ago

To get scratches out (possibly not divits or vary deep scratches) I've used a fine car finish buffing compound it works fairly well if you have a lot of surface scratches and you don't have any cd cleaner. But may leave some rings which the thoothpaste could get out? Even with some of the rings from buffing it can be read again and doesn't seem to affect the reading. Hey if its meant for making the finish on your car look new (which can be a plastic bumper) why not a cd?

lemonie 16 years ago

Use Brasso - I've done it and it works (required a lot patience on my very heavily scratched Electric Larryland)

L

Easy Button 16 years ago

Wait is this just for cleaning them or getting the scratches out?

LasVegas 16 years ago

I use dish detergent to clean CDs. The goal is simply to remove oils left by fingers. The mild detergent does this beautifully. Toothpaste tends to contain abrasives which would not be good on a CD.

Crash2108 16 years ago

It can't be the gel toothpaste.

!Andrew_Modder! 16 years ago

:-\ yeah it cleans cds, but ONLY cleans them... i do this, then blow torch the scratches out (yes i really do)

Patrick Pending 16 years ago

Why shouldn't you spray liquid directly on the cd?