How to Clean a CD

CDs left in the box for a long time are prone to dust, fingerprints and other stains, which affect the disc’s ability to play. Fortunately, cleaning CDs is quite easy, you only need a few common household items. The simplest way is to wipe the underside of the dish with a mild soap solution, then rinse with clean water. If you have rubbing alcohol, you can also use it to dissolve stubborn dirt on the disc.

Table of Contents

Clean dust and light stains with soap and water

Blow or dust off the surface of the disc. Use a can of compressed air to blow away dirt without touching the disc. If you don’t have a can of compressed air, you can gently wipe it off with a soft, lint-free cloth. Then try playing the disc. If the problem is still not fixed, you may need to continue with a more intensive cleaning method. ^{[1] X Research Source}

When dusting on a CD by hand, be sure to clean from the center to the outer edge of the disc so that the dirt doesn’t spread and cause damage. ^{[2] X Research Source}
Attention: handle gently. If you are not careful, you can scratch the disc while dusting.

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Find an item large enough to hold the CD. A bowl with a sloping side is best, but you can also use a plastic container. Check to make sure the interior of the appliance is clean and completely free of dust or other debris. ^{[3] X Research Sources}

If the container you are using has been in the fridge for quite some time, rinse it with warm water to wash away any dirt that may have accumulated inside before adding the soap solution.

Place 1 teaspoon (4.9 ml) of mild soap solution in a container or bowl. You can also choose a specialized cleaning solution (all natural made with distilled water). Choosing a mild soap is important, as strong cleaning solutions can potentially contain abrasives and leave scratches on the disc. ^{[4] X Research Sources}

Hand soap is a good choice, as long as the product doesn’t contain any other moisturizers or additives. These substances can deposit residue on the disc. ^{[5] X Research Sources}

Fill with warm water so that the water is submerged 5 – 7.5 cm from the bottom of the container/bowl. Then, use your fingers to stir the soap and water together. These two ingredients will create a beautiful effervescent solution.

Warm water provides a better cleaning effect than cold water due to its ability to soften surface dirt.
Maybe the soap solution will be a little foamy, but that’s okay. Anyway, we’ll wash it off right after.

Soak the dirty CD in the soapy solution for about 1 minute. This will give the solution more time to clean the dirt on the plate. Note: you need to insert the CD with the bottom side facing up to avoid colliding with the bottom of the container/bowl.

If you like, you can swish the CD slowly in the water a few times to increase the cleaning effect.

Rinse the CD under warm running water. Tilt the dish at various angles under the tap to rinse off all the soap solution on both sides. Continue rinsing until the water is clear, with no streaks or soap bubbles underneath. ^{[6] X Research Sources}

Hold the CD with two fingers, one finger in the center hole and the other on the outer edge to avoid smearing the surface of the disc during washing.

Repeat the process if necessary. If the dish is still not clean, soak it in the soapy solution for another 1 minute. This time, use your fingers to scrub the most stubborn stains in a circular motion. Stains will disappear easily with just a little pressure. ^{[7] X Research Sources}

If after the second wash the CD is still not getting better, it is more likely that the disc is scratched, not simply dirty. In this case, you need to fix the small scratches on the surface of the CD.

Dry the plate with a lint-free towel. After shaking off excess water, wipe both sides with a towel to absorb any remaining moisture. As mentioned, you need to wipe straight from the center to minimize the risk of damage. Once done, the CD will play smoothly and look as good as new. ^{[8] X Research Sources}

Microfiber towels are great for drying delicate items such as CDs, DVDs and electronic components.
You should dry by hand instead of letting the disc air dry, as water can leave stains on the surface if left on for too long. ^{[9] X Research Source}

Use rubbing alcohol to remove stubborn stains

Mix a mixture of 90% isopropyl alcohol with distilled water in a 1:1 ratio. Pour equal amounts of alcohol and distilled water into a shallow container, then stir. You don’t have to use too much, just about 60-90 ml of each solution is more than enough. ^{[10] X Research Source}

Distilled water is very important because then you will literally polish the disc. Tap water contains many small particles that can cause scratches.
Rubbing alcohol is very effective at removing thick and sticky dirt like soda or food residue. ^{[11] X Research Source}
The acidity of the alcohol is reduced by dilution with water, which prevents corrosion of the plastic surface of the CD.

Dip a clean, lint-free towel into the mixture. Cover your finger with a towel and dip it in the alcohol solution. That way, you’ll be able to soak up a small amount of the solution and rub the surface with more precision. ^{[12] X Research Source}

To avoid dripping, you can wait for the excess solution to drain off the towel before you start cleaning the dish.
Use only microfiber towels, sheepskin towels or similar materials. Ordinary hand towels are easy to cause scratches.

Wipe the CD surface from the center to the outer edge. You need to use moderate force, wipe straight and gently from the center to the outside. Any foreign dirt on the plate will disappear under the towel. Continue wiping until the entire underside of the disc has been cleaned. ^{[13] X Research Source}

If you encounter a hard spot, keep going in a straight line several times instead of trying to rub the stain in a circular motion.

Allow the CD to air-dry on its own. When cleaning is complete, hold the plate with two fingers as in the previous method. The alcohol solution will evaporate in a few seconds, so you don’t need another towel or rag to wipe it off. Then proceed to insert the freshly cleaned disc into the player and listen to it. ^{[14] X Research Source}

Advice

To prevent future contamination of the CD, be sure to store the disc in its original plastic box, bag, or separate CD case.
Always check for scratches or other signs of wear on the CD before proceeding with cleaning. Playback problems such as disc skipping or distortion are more likely to result from disc damage than dirt, and cleaning the CD too often can also be the cause.

Warning

Never use paper towels, toilet paper, or any other paper product to dry CDs. In addition to visible paper dust, paper towels are capable of leaving hundreds of microscopic scratches on the surface of the disc.
You need to avoid using glass cleaners, polishes, stain removers, and so on as these household cleaning products are highly corrosive.

How to Clean a CD

Steps

Clean dust and light stains with soap and water

Use rubbing alcohol to remove stubborn stains

Advice

Warning

Things you need

Soap and water

Cleaning alcohol

Steps

Clean dust and light stains with soap and water

Use rubbing alcohol to remove stubborn stains

Advice

Warning

Things you need

Soap and water

Cleaning alcohol

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