How do you clean DVDs?

How do you guys clean dirty DVDs?

At a yard sale last year, I bought a "CD+ Clinic" (for cleaning CDs, DVDs, VCDs, and CD-Roms), which is/was a device that you lightly spray the disc with the cleaning solution, put the disc face up in the unit, close the lid and then spin the device's handle by hand which is supposed to clean the disc... Essentially, it's no good, at least I haven't had any luck with it...

I put a DVD in there that had jumped around during two of the episodes, and after cleaning it, it was made worse-Worse to the point that the DVD player gave the message of "unable to read disc". The DVD I tried to clean is a common title, and easily replaced, so I'm really not out anything but the couple of bucks I paid for the season...

All that said, I'm wondering how you guys and gals clean your DVDs?

I know the little hand spinning machine I bought really isn't going to cut it, so I'm looking for a better way (or ways) to clean DVDs... Thanks...

PS: I'm guessing that any ways you describe to clean them could be applied to CDs as well?

 

If I were you I'd grab some 40 or 60 grit sandpaper and work on both sides until you are satisfied with the results. They do that at my local Goodwill.

 

Sometimes w/that unable to read biz, just eject disc & turn player off. Restarting from beginning often solves it w/my player. Or, unplug it & plug back in - the easy fix w/everything from computers to cable tv, too.
Re: Disc cleaning (DVDs or CDs). Suggest using an eyeglass hoya cleaning cloth. 99% of the time that works for me. If that alone doesn't do it, add a little windex & clean w/paper towel. (IDK about using that w/a hoya cloth.)

 

I'll rinse under tap water to remove loose dirt and dust. Then use dish soap (most seem to like Dawn, I prefer Sunlight) and a clean cloth that won't scratch to wash the disc. Then rinse again and pat dry with a clean microfiber towel.

I guess if scratches on the bottom are an issue, I'd try to buff them out with toothpaste, like people do with CDs. That's worked for me in the past with relatively light scratches.

Sometimes this is all necessary when buying used discs.

 

This is the technique I've used on CD's since the 1980s. Works for me.

 

It may be the laser that is causing problems too with accumulated dust etc.
Whenever I have problems I just take the player lid off and clean the laser lens with a soft rag and disc cleaning solvent.

 

I have a DVD/CD Disc Repair Plus machine that does a pretty good job. The buffing/refinishing sanding discs have even restored unreadable discs, though not every one, successfully.

 

Once watched, take them to the charity shop.

 

Nah, I buy them to collect them...

I have donated to the charity/thrift shops before, but now if I buy something and don't like it, I put it in the "Free Little Library" box near the park where I live... People leave books, magazines, occasional CDs and DVDs in them for anybody in the area to use.

 

gently with soap and water

 

This is simply what I do with CDs and DVDs.

 

Clean 100% cotton towel on the data side.

 

I clean my C.D.s & D.V.D.s the same way as you did but ensure that I dry them slightly before playing while not getting smears with a cleaning cloth which won't scratch them or moult (a record cleaning cloth is ideal for this).

 

Water

 

That. Tap water. Bottled water a no-no in this household.Wiping them on my tee-shirt at the sink way too often. I have 1,000s of CDs,100s of DVDs. Soap? That adds another layer of something usually(always?) unnecessary. When did this become a problem?

 

Why buy them to watch once?

 

Oh god I don't but people still give them as gifts and such.

 

Ah

 

For truly filthy discs I clean in 3 stages.

1. Wash the disc in warm water and washing up liquid with a fine sponge. Dry with a Kleenex tissue.

2. Spray Windowline glass cleaner. Using a clean Kleenex tissue wiping horizontally and vertically rather than in circles.

3. Spray with Calotherm spray and wipe with a lens cloth. This usually does the job.

 

Just buy some optical lens/glasses cleaner.