Remove Scratches From DVDs And CDs | Gadgets - The Guardian

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CDs, white toothpaste and metal polish
Photograph: Thomas Brown
Photograph: Thomas Brown
Do it yourself and saveGadgets This article is more than 15 years oldReviewRemove scratches from DVDs and CDsThis article is more than 15 years old10 minutesReplacement cost VariesDIY cost 97p: for a lint-free clothDifficulty:Mon 18 Jan 2010 12.05 GMTShare

You can buy dedicated CD or DVD cleaning products, however instead of forking out for these, use white toothpaste or metal polish instead.

Before you deal with the scratch, ensure the CD or DVD is clean. Remove dust and debris with water and a drop of gentle washing up liquid

Locate the scratch

The worst type run in the same direction as the spiral on the disc – these are far more damaging to the data than an angry scratch running from the centre outwards, which tend to look far worse than they are and often make no real difference to the disc's performance.

Remove the scratch

Place the disc, label-side down, on a flat, stable, non-abrasive surface – the label side is close to the disc's data and can be damaged very easily, rendering it useless.

Apply a small dab of white toothpaste or metal polish to a clean, lint-free (ie fluff-free) cloth and rub very gently along the scratch from the disc's centre outwards. Cover the full length of the scratch, then repeat twice for good measure. Run the disc under warm water to remove the toothpaste (or wipe with a cloth if you used metal polish), then wipe dry with a soft cloth.

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