If you have a dirty DVD, CD, or another type of disc that needs to be cleaned, here’s how to quickly and safely clean it and get it up and running again.
How to Clean Your Disc
This method uses a soft cloth and white vinegar to get your disc working like new.
If Your Disc Still Won’t Play
Check for Deep Disc Scratches
If you’ve done a careful cleaning of the disc and still won’t play, check to see if the disc has any deep scratches that you’ve overlooked. These can often be repaired with a bottle of scratch remover or a CD repair kit. Rub the scratch remover solution on the scratch and wipe off the excess. One bottle is good for at least 100 discs, so if you have kids who are rough on their movies and video games, it’s definitely money well spent.
Clean Your Player
If you don’t see any scratches on the disc, the problem could be a dirty DVD/Blu-ray/video game player. Laser lens cleaners might solve the problem. These cleaners are actually discs with little built-in brushes that you put into your player. As it “plays,” it cleans the laser that reads your discs.
Convert to Digital
If you’re still having no luck with your disc, consider converting the media to digital format. Services such as Vudu turn that scratched movie disc into a digital copy that’s stored on the cloud, and you’ll be able to watch it anywhere, on any device, including your computer, smartphone, tablet, or even your TV.
