Advice Needed: How to Clean a Compact Disk

[Gina]

I haven't had to clean a CD in a very LONG time. And yes, I've looked it up on google, but there's some conflicting information out there.

I recently found a 13 year old CD with pictures of my kids from when they were tiny. So it's very important that I don't make it worse. But it's not working very well.

Any tips?

[ARSM™]

Off the top of my head? Maybe the little things people use for cleaning glasses?

[↑↑↓↓←→←→BASelect]

Got to a drug store and buy 91% rubbing alcohol. Then get a very soft cloth and put some of the alcohol on it and wipe from center to out all around in a straight line. Do not go in circular motion. This is how to properly clean a cd/dvd/bluray disc. Also do not use water as that can leave water spots that will mis-track the laser.

I have used this method for many years and it never failed me. And it gets the discs nice and clean. It won't fix scratches though.

[post nut clarity]

Microfiber (lens) cloth might do the trick

[SMIFFY]

If it's scratched you can buy CD repair kits to fix the surface. If the CD surface looks fine but isn't working it could be disc rot.

[HypersleepyNaputunia]

rub from center outward not side side

[↑↑↓↓←→←→BASelect]

The cd cleaning kits they sell is nothing but a wipe and alcohol and they sell it for 10 bucks. Save your money buy a bottle of 91% alcohol for 2 bucks. Them cleaning kits are a waste of money.

[videogames10]

I used to use Windex glass cleaner and an extra soft Puffs tissue (no lotion). I then used a can of compressed air to remove any residual dust. Worked like a charm.

[SMIFFY]

Opprinnelig skrevet av ♥♥♥♥ everyone and ♥♥♥♥ you:

The cd cleaning kits they sell is nothing but a wipe and alcohol and they sell it for 10 bucks. Save your money buy a bottle of 91% alcohol for 2 bucks. Them cleaning kits are a waste of money.

I said repair kit, not cleaing kit.

[↑↑↓↓←→←→BASelect]

Opprinnelig skrevet av SMIFFY:

Opprinnelig skrevet av ♥♥♥♥ everyone and ♥♥♥♥ you:

The cd cleaning kits they sell is nothing but a wipe and alcohol and they sell it for 10 bucks. Save your money buy a bottle of 91% alcohol for 2 bucks. Them cleaning kits are a waste of money.

I said repair kit, not cleaing kit.

I know. I was letting the op know that them cleaning kits are a scam i said nothing, nothing at all about a repair kit.

[↑↑↓↓←→←→BASelect]

Opprinnelig skrevet av videogames10:

I used to use Windex glass cleaner and an extra soft Puffs tissue. I then used a can of compressed air to remove any residual dust. Worked like a charm.

Windex could eat away at the protective layer on the disc cause the disk to malfunction quicker.

[videogames10]

Opprinnelig skrevet av Killroy was here:

Opprinnelig skrevet av videogames10:

I used to use Windex glass cleaner and an extra soft Puffs tissue. I then used a can of compressed air to remove any residual dust. Worked like a charm.

Windex could eat away at the protective layer on the disc cause the disk to malfunction quicker.

Honestly, I've never had a problem with it.

[↑↑↓↓←→←→BASelect]

Opprinnelig skrevet av videogames10:

Opprinnelig skrevet av Killroy was here:

Windex could eat away at the protective layer on the disc cause the disk to malfunction quicker.

Honestly, I've never had a problem with it.

That's why i used could eat away. It may not but i wouldn't take the risk myself on a important disk. I use 91% alcohol as that is what most cleaning kits come with. Only they give you a 1 ounce bottle and charge you 10 bucks.

[Gina]

Opprinnelig skrevet av Killroy was here:

Opprinnelig skrevet av videogames10:

I used to use Windex glass cleaner and an extra soft Puffs tissue. I then used a can of compressed air to remove any residual dust. Worked like a charm.

Windex could eat away at the protective layer on the disc cause the disk to malfunction quicker.

Yeah, that's why I decided to ask the question on here. Some websites had Windex and dish soup, but other sites said no household cleaning products. One website said to soak it in water, and that was a scary thought.

After using the alcohol (luckily I had some on hand), it's working much better. Still not perfect. There's still one folder I can't access, but it looks like I can get the other folders off the disk.

Thanks a lot for the answers!

[↑↑↓↓←→←→BASelect]

Opprinnelig skrevet av Gina:

Opprinnelig skrevet av Killroy was here:

Windex could eat away at the protective layer on the disc cause the disk to malfunction quicker.

Yeah, that's why I decided to ask the question on here. Some websites had Windex and dish soup, but other sites said no household cleaning products. One website said to soak it in water, and that was a scary thought.

After using the alcohol (luckily I had some on hand), it's working much better. Still not perfect. There's still one folder I can't access, but it looks like I can get the other folders off the disk.

Thanks a lot for the answers!

Try going back over it again and see if you can access it. Is the disk scratched? Sometimes i had to do it 2 or 3 times to get a disk to read. Once you can fully read the disk, copy everything off the disk and just make a new one then destroy the old disk cause you don't want people to use your kids pics for bad stuff.

[HypersleepyNaputunia]

plain white cotton t shirt will work with alcohol rub center out not sideways along track