Comments on: How to Clean CDs

on 11/27/2007 The first thing to try is toothpaste. Toothpaste with baking soda works good but normal will work too. Put the toothpaste on with you finger and move from center to the edges. Dont go in a circle or it could cause more scratches. Then just wash it off with warm water and wipe with cotton or linen.

If this doesnt work then take vaseline or car wax and apply center to edges. This gives it an oil coat thus temporarily fixing the outer layer laminante or hte CD. After applying it wipe it off with a cloth. Don't rinse.

If you get it to work, which you should if you do those methods, then quick burn the CD because those fixes are only TEMPORARY.

on 9/3/2007 I don't know WHAT I was thinking, scrubbing in circles! I see now that I might as well you WIRE-FOAM if I keep doing that! Thank you for waking me up as only Jessica Tingley can!

on 9/2/2007 Thanks for your nice advice!!! It will be very useful to take a piece of cotton cloth to do the job.

on 8/19/2007 Dishwashing Liquid and Pillowcases - Squeeze several drops of dishwashing liquid onto a plate of midly warm water. Submerge the CD (holding it by the center or edges) and swish it around some. Wipe it from the center out using a high thread count pillowcase (250+) that has been folded over several times. Repeat soaking and wiping until the foreign substance has been visually removed (I got rid of chocolate in this way with excellent results). Rinse the newly cleaned CD with warm water right from the tap, and pat it dry using another pillowcase (not the same you used to wipe the CD while it was soaking with detergent). Wipe from the center outward to get rid of the remaining droplets.

on 8/29/2006 Seriously. I looked through all these comments and toothpaste was the one which showed up most often. So I tried it. I wiped toothpaste all over the surface. I waited about 30 - 60 seconds. Then I wiped it off with my previous (failed) distilled water and dish detergent solution. Then I dried it. Popped it into the CD ROM drive and one of the two files I was trying to transfer copied successfully. So, I repeated the whole process and even wiped the toothpaste with the grain (which, yes, is a big no no, just be sure to wipe against the grain when wiping the toothpaste off). This time, the second file transferred successfully. I would be turning back flips if only I could.

By the way, using an old cotton T-shirt is a great substitute for linen. Virtually no lint or fibers stick to the CD.

on 8/8/2006 I had a guitar cleaning kit which included some cleaning spray and a cloth. I used that and it worked great.

on 8/8/2006 When you are looking for a soft cloth to clean a CD with, do keep in mind that tissues (such as Kleenex) and toilet paper are made of wood fibers and will scratch your CD/DVDs. I learned my lesson from the damage done to my spectacle lenses polishing them on tissues. They wore out within two years. My next glasses I started washing with dish detergent and drying them on a linen (lint free) cloth and they have so far outlived the old lenses by several years as they never get scratched. For CDs I always use a proper lens cloth (like you would use on cameras, spectacles etc) - and then I know they won't get scratched.

on 8/8/2006 First, put a rag or dry cloth over the disc, then put a dish detergent on the rag. Rub until disc is covered. Wash in warm water, then dry.

on 8/7/2006 I just used WD-40 sprayed on a clean, white face cloth to wipe CDs clean (sticky substance around the edges). It disappeared immediately.

on 2/16/2006 Simply take Windex (or some other glass cleaner), spray on the CD, and wipe gently with something soft, such as cloth.

on 12/9/2005 Take a baby wipe and wipe the back of the CD going in an outward motion, never in a circle. This removes fingerprints and smudges from the CD.

on 11/22/2005 use toothpast and let it dry over night the rinse under hot water and dry with tisue

on 11/22/2005 Wipe the CD with some peanut butter then wipe it clean with a coffee filter.

on 11/22/2005 A couple of drops of dish detergent, Dawn or whatever you have on hand, mixed with a liberal amount of water. Remember, no ammonia based products. Dip the CDs in the water mix, and using a soft cloth wipe the CDs in a angular motion, then dry with a lint-free soft cloth. This will remove any smoke or finger prints without damage. Remember that the oil in your skin is not the best for CDs and always try to handle the CD by the edges.

on 11/22/2005 Use peroxide, toothpaste and mouthwash.