Scratches and scuff marks on the surface of a CD are a major headache because they could cause problems when playing an audio CD or the loss of an important document or file in the case of a data CD. On the web you can find many tips on how to fix this type of problem, but in this article we have collected the three most effective methods to repair a scratched CD. In some cases it will be enough to clean the surface of the CD with a little toothpaste, but in more complicated situations you will have to use an abrasive product or treat the disc with car wax.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Use Toothpaste
Step 1. Choose a regular toothpaste
There is no need to use modern toothpastes in gel, whitening, with microcrystals or flavored with exotic flavors. Simply opt for regular white toothpaste to clean your CD. All types of toothpaste contain a sufficient amount of minerals with abrasive properties capable of doing the job required in this method very well.
Regular toothpastes are much less expensive than the more popular and advertised ones. It is also an ideal solution if you have to deal with a large number of CDs
Step 2. Apply a layer of toothpaste over the entire surface of the disc
Dose a small amount of product on some points of the CD, then spread it evenly over the entire surface of the disc using your fingers.
Step 3. Polish the CD
Make linear movements to work the toothpaste onto the surface of the disc starting from the center and moving towards the outer circumference.
Step 4. Clean and dry the CD
Rinse it generously with warm or hot running water, then dry it carefully using a clean towel. Check the disc surface for toothpaste or moisture residue.
After cleaning and drying the disc, use a clean, soft cloth to polish the reflective surface
Method 2 of 4: Use an Abrasive Product
Step 1. Evaluate which product to use
There is a wide range of cleaning products that are suitable for treating the scratched surface of a CD, but those made by 3M and Duraglit are most likely the ones that give the best results. Alternatively, you can use a car polish with a very fine grain.
If you have chosen to use Duraglit, be sure to work in a well ventilated or ventilated area and avoid breathing the chemical fumes of the product. For your safety, always carefully read the warnings on the packaging of the chemicals you use, as some (such as cleaning alcohol) are highly flammable and / or can cause skin, eye and system problems. respiratory
Step 2. Apply some of the chosen product to a clean cloth
Pour some of the 3M product or Duraglit onto a soft, clean, lint-free cloth. You can use an old T-shirt or cloth to clean your glasses.
Step 3. Clean the CD surface
Make linear movements to spread the product over the area where the scratches are present. Start from the center of the disc and move towards the outer circumference. Repeat this step 10-12 times over the entire disc. If possible, try to focus your efforts especially on where you have identified the scratches.
- When performing this type of cleaning, place the disc on a flat, stable surface that is not abrasive. The data is stored in the deepest layer of the CD (the one near the printed side on which the disc label is present) which in turn is protected by an outermost protective layer that can easily be scratched or punctured. Applying pressure to the disc while it rests on a surface that is too soft may cause the CD layers to crack or peel off.
- Cleaning the disc in circular, rather than linear, movements may create additional scratches that could cause the optical player's laser to malfunction.
Step 4. Remove the polish from the disc
Rinse the CD using warm running water, then let it dry. Make sure you wipe off any product from the surface of the disc and let it dry before trying to use it. If you used Duraglit, wipe off any excess product residue and wait for the rest to dry completely, then use a soft, clean cloth to polish the CD again.
Step 5. Try using the CD
If the problem persists, repeat the cleaning process for about 15 minutes or until most of the scratches have completely disappeared. The surface of the disc around the scratches will appear very bright and you may notice small scratches. If after treating the CD for several minutes you don't notice any difference, it means that the scratches you see are very deep.
If the disc is still unusable, contact a professional repair service. Some video game chains (such as Gamestop) may offer such a service. Alternatively, search the web to find the store closest to your home that performs this type of repair
Method 3 of 4: Final Wax Treatment
Step 1. Determine whether or not to use wax
In some cases you will need to physically remove part of the protective plastic layer from the disc by cleaning and polishing it with an abrasive product. However, removing a large portion of the CD's outer layer will adversely affect the player's ability to reflect laser light, effectively rendering the data unreadable. Treating the scratched surface of the CD with a wax is useful because even if the damage is visible to the naked eye, the player's laser will still be able to read the data.
Step 2. Treat the damaged area of the disc with wax
Apply a very thin layer of petroleum jelly, lip balm, car wax, neutral shoe polish or wood wax to the reflective surface of the CD. Let the wax soak into the scratches for a few minutes. Remember that the ultimate goal is for the wax to completely fill the scratches in order to make the data on the disc readable again.
Step 3. Remove excess wax
Use a soft, clean, lint-free cloth; pass it on the CD with linear movements starting from the center and moving towards the outer circumference. If you use a wax (for cars or for wood), read the instructions on the product packaging to find out how to use it (some products must be allowed to air dry before being removed, while others must be discarded while they are still wet).
Step 4. At the end of the treatment try to play the disc
If wax or petroleum jelly has solved the problem, make a copy of the disc immediately. Waxing the CD is only a temporary remedy designed to give you time to copy the data on the disc to your computer or to make a new copy of the optical media.
Method 4 of 4: Use Masking Tape
Before proceeding, keep in mind that if the reflective layer of the CD has holes it is not repairable, even by a professional. The best thing to do is to skip those points entirely so that you can at least access the rest of the data and save it elsewhere.
Step 1. Hold the CD in bright light with the reflective side facing up
Step 2. Check for holes on the reflective side
Step 3. Turn the disc over and mark the corresponding points on the other side with a permanent marker
Step 4. Cut two pieces of masking tape and stick them on top of each other on the marked area
Note:
the CD may make some noise as you play it, but you should be able to access at least 70% of the data.
Advice
- To avoid damaging the surface of the CD, always hold it by the outer circumference.
- Remember that if the damage is too severe you may not be able to repair it. Very deep scratches that have reached the reflective layer of the CD render it unusable. The Disc Eraser product uses this method to damage the surface of CDs and DVDs making them virtually unusable.
- Practice trying to fix scratches on CDs that are of no economic or emotional value before trying your favorites.
- To get rid of scratches on a CD try using "Master Clean Magic Rubber". Apply light pressure when using the rubber and make linear movements starting from the center of the disc and moving towards the outer circumference, exactly as indicated in the article methods that use other abrasive products. The area treated with the "Magic Gum Cleaner" must be polished using one of the methods in the article.
- It is always a good idea to make backup copies of the data on the CDs before the original media becomes damaged.
- If the disc is irreparable, give it a second life by using it as a coaster. Read this article to find out how to reuse and recycle old CDs and DVDs with ingenuity and creativity.
- Xbox game discs can be replaced by contacting Microsoft directly under the "Microsoft Game Disc Replacement Program" policy.
- Instead of using toothpaste, try using peanut butter. The viscosity of the oil contained in peanuts makes it an excellent polishing product. But make sure you buy very smooth butter, otherwise you run the risk of scratching the CD.
- If you have chosen to repair your disc using toothpaste, be sure to use one that does not contain crystals or mineral particles as it will be too abrasive. Use a normal white paste toothpaste.
- Instead of using a cleaning cloth for glasses, try using one designed to clean the screen of an iPad or iPhone.
Warnings
- To avoid damaging your CD player, make sure the disc is perfectly clean (no polish or wax residue) and dry before attempting to play it.
- Do not treat the surface of the CD with chemical solvents, as they would alter the chemical composition of the disc's polycarbonate substrate, making it opaque and therefore unreadable by the laser of the optical player.
- Be aware that any method whose purpose is to restore normal CD operation can also do additional damage. To prevent this from happening, follow the instructions carefully.
- If you have chosen to use very bright and intense light to check for holes and cracks in the reflective layer of the CD, remember not to stare at it for too long. A simple 60-100 Watt bulb emits more than enough light to perform this type of check. Do not use sunlight.
