Hi everyone..

Not sure if this has been covered before but was a bit too lazy to check (and on a dial-up.. )
Got back some CDs I had lent out a few weeks ago and found that they are covered in finger prints (basically a mess). Just wondering what people use to clean them? Also wondering about those CD demagnitizers, enhancers sprays, cd pads (like lp matts), etc..
anyone have good results with any of these products???

Paulo
Happy New Year to all...

paulo,
firstly DONT lend out youre cds !!
i use mr muscle window cleaner (green fluid)
which works as well as expensive cleaning solutions you can buy.
spray on disc and work from inside (hole) to outside edge (NOT AROUND)
try it - it works a treat
regards, scotty

Isopropyl alcohol on a good quality fine tissue, wiping from centre out.
this was advised to me by a commercial seller of second hand CDs and my experience is that I have not bought a duff one yet.

Is that pure isopropyl alcohol, or "rubbing alcohol", which is ~40% alcohol in water? Pure isopropyl alcohol might gnaw on the plastic.

I rented a DVD the other day that wouldn't play. I gave it a good clean with soap and water, which took off a lot of fingerprints and such, but not the offending scuffs. I took it back to the shop, where they put it into some sort of buffing gizmo, which they said would polish it down to a new surface. I was skeptical, but it worked fine. Being nice to your local DVD rental shop might be a good last resort.

I have used toothpaste and Brillo (yes, really!!) to remove light scratching and scuffs. Works a treat. But if finger marks only, warm soapy water.

The toothpaste and Brillo are both slightly abrasive, so care is needed and of course you must clean the cd after (with soapy water).

The cd from charity shops or local library sell-offs are all perfectly ok in our CD5X after this treatment.

Regards, Graeme

quote:

Brillo (yes, really!!)

Sorry!!!! Correction - meant Brasso (which is a liquid metal cleaner).

Regards, Graeme

quote:

Is that pure isopropyl alcohol, or "rubbing alcohol", which is ~40% alcohol in water? Pure isopropyl alcohol might gnaw on the plastic.

Pure.

Was told to use alcohol last night as well....from inside out as mentioned. Worried alcohol might mess up plastic though...

will give it a try on an old cd...

thanks for the feedback... Do have a few scratched CDs so might give toothpaste a try.

Many thanks & happy holidays
Paulo

Greetings Paulo;

I wear spectacles, and use a fine brush and disposable moistened spec-wipes to clean them.

I find both these items perfect for the occasional dirty CD. Clearly it's not desirable to rub in any surface grit, so I use the fine brush (tangentially from the centre) to remove fine particles, then use the same action with a moistened spec-wipe.

Generally of course, correctly handled CD's should need no cleaning.

John.