Scratches and streaks on CDs can be very annoying - your favorite CD is now skipping the best songs or you may have lost an important document or program. You can find a lot of suggestions on how to solve this problem on the internet, but we have found the best three methods and described them in this article. You may only need to polish the CD with a little toothpaste. If that doesn't work, try using an abrasive polish or coating the CD with a layer of wax.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Using toothpaste
Step 1. Use a simple toothpaste
It is not necessary to use toothpaste with glitter, multiple colors and exotic flavors. Instead, opt for a regular white toothpaste to polish your CD. All types of toothpaste contain enough abrasive minerals to correct the problem.
A regular toothpaste is cheaper than the more luxurious alternatives on the market. This can be especially useful if you want to polish multiple CDs
Step 2. Apply the toothpaste to the surface of the CD
Squeeze a small dollop of toothpaste onto the scratched surface of the CD and use your finger to spread an even layer of toothpaste over the CD.
Step 3. Polish the CD
Slowly rub the toothpaste over the entire CD in straight strokes. Brush from the center in a straight line towards the outer edge.
Step 4. Clean and dry the CD
Hold the CD under a warm tap and rinse it thoroughly. Then dry the CD with a clean, soft cloth and check that you have removed all toothpaste and moisture.
After you have cleaned and dried the CD, polish the surface of the CD with a soft cloth
Method 2 of 3: Brush with an abrasive polish
Step 1. Decide which polish to use
You can use some well-known household products to polish the CD, but 3M and Brasso polishes are probably the most reliable. You can also use fine-grained automotive and hard surface polishes.
When using Brasso, make sure you work in a well-ventilated area and don't inhale the fumes. Always read the safety instructions and warnings on the packaging of any chemical products you use, as many agents (such as rubbing alcohol) are highly flammable and/or can cause irritation to the eyes, skin and respiratory tract
Step 2. Put the polish on a cloth
Apply a small amount of 3M, Brasso or other brand of polish to a clean, soft, lint-free cloth. An old T-shirt or glasses cleaning cloth works very well.
Step 3. Polish the CD
Make gentle straight strokes to rub the polish into the scratch. Start in the center and rub in straight strokes towards the edge, just like spokes in a wheel. Do this 10 to 12 times on the entire CD. Try to focus on the scratch or scratches you discovered.
- Make sure to place the CD on a flat, firm and non-abrasive surface while polishing. The data is stored on the top of the CD (the side with the label) in the foil layer or colored layer. Scratches and holes can easily occur in the protective top layer. Pressing a CD on a surface that is too soft can crack it and cause the foil layer to come off.
- Rubbing in circular motions (rather than straight strokes) can create small scratches that tangle the CD player's laser.
Step 4. Remove the polish from the CD
Rinse the CD thoroughly with warm water and let it dry. Make sure to remove any polish residue and let the CD dry completely before attempting to use it. If you've used Brasso, wipe off the excess polish and let the rest dry. Then use a clean cloth to gently wipe the CD again.
Step 5. Test out the CD
If the problem is not solved, polish the CD for a maximum of 15 minutes, or until the scratch has almost completely disappeared. The surface around the scratch should begin to shine with lots of tiny scratches. If you still don't notice a difference after a few minutes of brushing, the scratch may be very deep or you may be brushing the wrong scratch.
If the CD still doesn't work, take it to a professional at a games store or other place where they sell CDs and they can fix the CD for you
Method 3 of 3: Finish with wax
Step 1. See if a temporary repair with wax is possible
Sometimes you will have to manually remove plastic from the CD by polishing. However, removing a lot of plastic can cause the lens to stop reflecting properly, making the data unreadable. Applying wax to the scratches helps, because even though you can see the scratches yourself, the wax causes the laser to ignore them.
Step 2. Apply wax to the scratches
Apply a very thin layer of petroleum jelly, lip balm, liquid car wax, colorless shoe polish or furniture wax to the readable surface of the CD. Let the wax sit in the scratches for a few minutes. Remember that the intention is to fill the scratches with wax so that you can read the CD again.
Step 3. Wipe off the excess wax
Use a clean, soft, lint-free cloth and wipe with straight strokes from the center to the outer edge. Follow the directions on the package when using wax. Some types of wax require drying before wiping, while others require a wet wipe.
Step 4. Test the CD again
If the wax or Vaseline makes the CD work again, burn a new CD immediately. This method is only a temporary solution to allow the CD to run long enough to transfer the data to a computer or a new CD.
Tips
- Always hold your CDs by the sides to avoid damage.
- Severely damaged CDs are unlikely to be repairable. Very deep scratches and cracks into the foil layer make the CD worthless. In fact, CD and DVD erasing tools damage the foil layer, making them unreadable.
- Practice repairing scratched CDs that may break before attempting to repair your favorite CDs.
- Try using a dry miracle sponge from Mr. Proper use to remove scratches. Apply light pressure and rub from the center of the disc toward the outer edge, as described above for the other brushing methods. The repaired spot can then be buffed with a polish or wax, as described above. Brush until the affected area shines.
- It's a good idea to back up all your data CDs before they get damaged.
- If you can't fix the CD, use it as a coaster for your drink. Search the internet for other good ideas for reusing your old CDs.
- You can usually send Xbox discs to Microsoft, after which you will receive a new disc for about 20 euros.
- Consider using peanut butter instead of toothpaste. Peanut butter is a good polish because of its oily texture. Make sure to use creamy peanut butter.
Warnings
- Make sure your CDs are completely dry and free of polish or wax residue before attempting to play them. This will prevent you from damaging your CD player.
- Do not apply solvents to the surface of a CD as this will change the chemical composition of the polycarbonate backing. The top layer then becomes opaque, making the CD unreadable.
- Understand that you can damage the CD even more, whichever repair method you use. Make sure you follow the steps carefully.
- If you hold the CD up to a bright light to check for holes in the foil layer, be careful not to stare at the light for too long. A 60 to 100 watt light bulb should be more than enough to see tiny holes in the foil layer. Do not use sunlight.