How to Repair a Scratched DVD or CD

If you’re like most people, you’ve scratched a CD or DVD on more than one occasion. CDs and DVDs have a lot of great qualities, but sturdiness isn’t one of them. Since Vat19 creates and sells a number of curiously awesome DVDs, we thought it only right that we share a few techniques that can bring damaged disks back to playable condition.

The Easy Stuff:

• Know Your Problem: First, make sure that the disk is the problem. This might seem obvious, but it’s easier to check now and save a little time. If your CD or DVD player functions perfectly for everything else, or if the disk acts up in other machines, you’ll know it’s the source of the problem.
• Clean It: Try wiping the disk with a soft cloth. Something like you’d use for eyeglasses would be perfect, as coarse fabric or paper could cause further damage. Most electronics stores also carry products for this purpose. When you’re wiping off the disk, be sure to move in straight lines from the inside to the outside of the disk. Circular motion is not recommended. For a more thorough cleaning, you can purchase professionally manufactured cleaning sprays.

The MacGuyver Stuff:

• Deep Cleaning: Even though rubbing alcohol is corrosive, plenty of people swear by it. If the problem with the disk is minor, we’d definitely recommend making a backup copy of the disk before you try this technique (or the next few, for that matter). In a pinch, many people have successfully used perfume, also.
• Fill in the Scratches: There are a number of common household items that have been known to fill in scratches on CDs and DVDs. Pledge and car wax are probably the most common. Just rub a bit over the affected surface (again, try to stick to rubbing in straight lines) and make sure you clean off all of the excess before attempting to use the disk.
• Rub It Out: This method involves removing the top layer of the CD’s surface where the scratch is found. On your own, you can do this by using plain white toothpaste. For more uniform results across the entire surface of the DVD, you can usually convince a helpful librarian or video store clerk to use their disk repair machine. The downside there is that they may charge a small fee (and no minty freshness).