Q&A for How to Clean a DVD

You may have a disc that is badly damaged and cleaning it filled in the cracks/crevices of the disk. If this is not the case, then you have used a toothpaste that may have bleached your DVD. It's also possible that the toothpaste contained something grainy that contributed to the scratches.

You can. Breathe on the DVD, then rub gently with a soft tissue.

Yes, glass cleaner and window cleaner are the same thing.

It's not the player itself that needs cleaning, but the optical 'eye' lens that reads the discs. There are commercial DVD/CD lens cleaners available for cheap in stores. They look like CDs/DVDs, but they have little brushes on the bottom, to brush away any dust or dirt from the optic lens of your player. Just insert one into your player, as you would a DVD, and follow the included instructions.

If the crack is very deep inside the DVD, such that it is touching the chemical data recorder or the rainbow type skin on the DVD, it cannot be fixed. Deep cracks can only be fixed with a professional DVD resurface.

No, you can try the other options here.

No. Nail polish remover contains methyl ethyl ketone, which can damage plastic and could ruin your DVD.

You should avoid whitening toothpastes. You want to clean your disc, not bleach it.

Your DVD reader's reading lens has been damaged or may have been covered with dust. You can only fix that by cleaning the lens carefully or buying a new DVD reader.

You should use water and a microfiber cloth to clean the DVD.

Your CDs may not run correctly if the disk drive is dirty.

It depends on what brand you have. Uline Saftey Glass Wipes have worked well for me in the past, along with Zeiss and Up and Up. Be careful with which one you use, as different brands have different chemicals designed solely for the purpose of cleaning your glasses.

No. WD-40 is a lubricant that contains petroleum distillates that can and will damage the plastic coating of a CD or DVD.

Cleaning a CD is the same as cleaning a DVD.

I use both. After the toothpaste method, do the rubbing alcohol method. It makes sure there is no toothpaste residue, and it works for me almost every time.

The reader inside the player may be dirty/worn out, or you may need a firmware update. It is always better to replace an antiquated player with a modern player about every 5 or 6 years. That way your firmware will be up to date and you will be able to play anything except an out of region disc. It's not like modern players are expensive, so this is the way to go.

Yes, you can use an LCD cleaning kit with good results. Just be careful as a DVD surface is much more scratch-prone than an LCD screen.

You'll want to acquire micro fiber cloth - don't use substitutes. They be found in drugstores, eyeglass stores or online inexpensively. They're a good purchase, as they can be used over and over quite a few times for your other DVDs.

The cotton on Q-tips has a rough outer layer that can scratch your DVD even more, so I wouldn't recommend using them.

Yes, you can.

It depends on the type of dirt/damage on your DVD. Toothpaste will be useful when some light scratches have to be repaired. For fingerprints, the rubbing alcohol should be sufficient.

No! Please do not use peanut butter to clean your DVDs. Peanut butter does not have any properties that would help clean your disc, and would likely ruin it instead.

Yes, you can use camera lens cleaner to clean your DVD discs. These cleaners are designed to be gentle and safe for sensitive surfaces, making them suitable for DVDs.

Yes, you can use computer screen cleaner to clean DVDs. These cleaners are usually gentle and safe for delicate surfaces.

Isopropyl alcohol works well for cleaning DVDs. Use a solution that is about 70% isopropyl alcohol and 30% water, as higher concentrations may be too harsh.

Yes, or you can use a similar glass cleaner. Do it gently. Spray a little of the cleaner on a soft, lint-free cloth—not directly on the DVD. Wipe the DVD in straight lines from the center to the edges, not in circles.

Pre-moistened eyeglass wipes can be a safe option, as they are generally designed to be gentle and free of harsh chemicals that could damage sensitive surfaces.

Using cleaning vinegar to clean DVDs is not recommended. Vinegar is acidic and can potentially damage the delicate layers of the DVD, including its reflective and data layers.

Try pulling the plug on the player while it is on, for that might clear its memory. Then, leave it out for 24 hours and plug it back in and start over.

You shouldn't use no invasive solvent to clean any plastics. What you may do is try to clean the DVD with a "used as a rag" T-Shirt and clean the TOC (inner ring) for that is where the laser reads first. Go in a counter clockwise cleaning direction, since it spins clockwise.