Regardless of the type of optical media in use, when the surface of a CD has noticeable scratches, the ability to access stored data may be impaired. Surprisingly, however, in the case of minor scratches, smoothing the surface of the disc with simple toothpaste proves to be an excellent home remedy.
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Clean the Disc Surface
Step 1. Inspect the damaged area
Toothpaste is a very useful and effective solution in the case of superficial scratches that have affected only the reflective part of the disc. In the case of deeper scratches, this method will most likely not have the desired effect. The scratches on the non-reflective side of the disc should not be scrubbed and have probably already caused irreparable damage.
If the disc has very deep scratches, consider hiring a professional service to repair this type of damage. Alternatively, you can try to use more abrasive materials, such as a metal polishing product that is not based on petroleum derivatives
Step 2. Dampen a soft, lint-free cloth
Use a cotton or microfiber cloth. You can use it to clean the surface of the disc and remove any residual dirt. If you skip this step, the toothpaste could absorb dirt particles during polishing, which could further damage the substrate.
- Avoid using granular or powdered materials.
- If the disc surface is visibly greasy or dirty, rinse it with running water.
Step 3. Clean the reflective side of the disc
Gently wipe the damp cloth over the surface of the disc. To do this, make linear movements, from the center outwards (like the spokes of a bicycle wheel). With circular movements you risk damaging the surface further.
To clean the disc, hold it from the outer edge using your fingertips. This will prevent dirt and natural grease from the leather from settling on the surface
Step 4. Dry the disc very carefully
Do not use a dry cloth, it could make the situation worse. Instead, try one of the following solutions:
- Place the disc on a couple of sheets of blotting paper, with the wet side facing down, then wait for it to dry.
- Using a generous amount of absorbent paper, blot the disc in linear motion from the center out. Do not exert additional pressure during this step: the only force should be the one exerted naturally by the absorbent paper.
- Simply let the disc air dry.
Part 2 of 2: Polishing with Toothpaste
Step 1. Choose the toothpaste
For this step it is mandatory to use toothpaste in paste and not gel. Toothpastes contain abrasive materials whose job is to remove plaque from the teeth. These are the materials that will smooth the surface of the disc by removing the scratches that prevent the player's laser head from finding information correctly.
- Bicarbonate toothpastes are very effective thanks to the additional abrasive capacity of this element.
- If you're lucky, your toothpaste may have the abrasiveness index identified by the RDA code on it. There are no tests regarding how RDA affects the disc cleaning process, but using a toothpaste with an abrasiveness index greater than 120 should ensure better results.
Step 2. Apply a small amount of toothpaste to the cleaning cloth
A small drop of toothpaste should suffice. Again, use a clean, lint-free cloth, such as a cotton or microfiber cloth.
Step 3. Very carefully apply the toothpaste to the optical media
Always make linear movements starting from the center of the disc outwards - never make circular movements. Gently continue cleaning until the scratches are completely or nearly gone. This step may take several minutes.
NOT try to reduce polishing time by applying excessive pressure. Obviously, this procedure will simply lead to a worsening of the situation.
Step 4. Rinse the disc under running water
Make sure you remove any toothpaste residue. To do this, use a clean cloth, always using the same movement pattern.
Step 5. Dry the disc
In this case you can also use a dry cloth, but the use of absorbent paper guarantees greater safety. Now the scratches on the surface of the disc should be much less noticeable or even disappeared. During the cleaning process, you may have created a few more small scratches, caused by exerting too much pressure; nevertheless they should not interfere with the normal use of the optical media.
Step 6. Test the disc
Insert it into the optical drive and check if it works properly. If so, the work is done. If the problem persists, try repeating the cleaning procedure with the toothpaste a second time.
- If the second attempt fails, try using a more abrasive toothpaste or metal polish that does not contain petroleum derivatives.
- If both of the above steps did not have the desired effect, try using a professional repair service. Professionals in the sector use special machines created specifically to smooth the surface of the disc.
Advice
To make sure you get a smooth surface, make constant and regular movements, always applying the same pressure
Warnings
- When cleaning the optical media, do not apply excessive pressure and do not repeat the process too many times consecutively. Otherwise you will simply risk damaging it further.
- This procedure is ideal for removing very light damage by polishing the problem area. In the case of a seriously damaged optical media, you will not be able to polish it deeply enough to "remove" the scratches without further damaging the disc. If this is the case, try using an advanced procedure for repairing an optical disc.
