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Step 1
Hold your discs only by the outer edges, being careful not to bend the disc. Never touch the shiny "rainbow" side of the disc. This is the surface that's recorded on. Always keep your discs in a protective container like a jewel case or sleeve, but if you must put the disc down before placing it in a container, always place it with the shiny side up. Be careful not to bend the disc when releasing it from the case.
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Step 2
Clean a disk using a soft cloth to remove spots, fingerprints or dust. Blow on the disc gently to get rid of hairs or other particles. Wipe from the center outwards when cleaning; never wipe in a circular motion.
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Step 3
Avoid using solvent, abrasive cleaners or vinyl record cleaners on your discs. While some cleaners may be safe for audio CDs, they could harm DVDs, CD-Rs or CD-RWs.
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Step 4
Store commercial CDs and DVDs in their original cases. Store the discs upright. If possible, store non-commercial discs in slim or regular size plastic jewel cases. While paper sleeves can be used for discs, be careful that they fit loosely enough to slide the discs in and take them out easily and are not so tight that they could cause the disc to warp. When mailing discs, always use padded envelopes and/or wrap the discs with protective wrapping.
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Step 5
Store your discs out of direct sunlight in a cool, dry area. Avoid leaving discs in your car in hot weather. Heat and humidity could warp your discs.
