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To clean the dust, oil, and smudges from your PlayStation game, gently wipe the shiny side of the disc with a soft cloth using straight strokes. For the more stubborn spots, dampen the cloth a little and concentrate on only the soiled area. Cleaning your PlayStation games can prevent them from skipping, locking, or failing to load completely. Learn how to make your PlayStation games sparkle and shine by cleaning them safely and properly. Sometime you may even be able to get rid of scratches with toothpaste!
Steps
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Get a soft, clean cloth. [1] X Research source The cloth should be free of lint and made from cotton or ultra-fine microfiber (like an eyeglass cloth).
- Avoid using anything abrasive, like paper towels or toilet paper.
- If you don't have a soft cloth, use a cotton t-shirt. Be sure to use an area of the shirt that doesn't have any logos. Logos are made from heavy inks and decals and could scratch the surface of your game.
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Lift the disc and hold it by its edge. It may help to insert a finger into the center for a good, solid grip.Advertisement
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Flip your PlayStation game over so that the shiny side faces you, and hold it steady.
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Blow a short (but strong) puff of air at the surface to free loose dust. If dust remains visible, try blowing again.
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Use the cloth to gently wipe the shiny side, using straight strokes from the center out. [2] X Research source Avoid wiping back-and-forth or in circular strokes, as they can scratch the surface! Instead, wipe from the center to the edges, carefully rubbing out any smears or oily fingerprints.
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Dampen a corner of the cloth to wipe more the difficult areas. [3] X Research source If there are tough-to-remove spots remaining, wet a corner of the cloth with cold water and rub the area again. Be persistent, but be gentle—scrubbing will only make things worse.
- If you have a water-based CD/DVD/game cleaner in a spray bottle, apply it to the backside and gently wipe with a dry area of the cloth. If there are specific instructions on the bottle, follow them.
- Try using distilled vinegar on difficult oily spots. Vinegar can break down thicker residues and stains. [4] X Research source If you clean the game with vinegar, give it a quick rinse in lukewarm water after.
- Avoid using household cleaning products on your PlayStation games. Many products contain solvents that will irreparably damage the game.
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Get some non-abrasive toothpaste that isn’t a gel. [5] X Research source If you see some light scratches on the shiny side of your game, they can be buffed out with toothpaste. It’s important to make sure you’re using a variety that doesn’t have any chunky ingredients, like crystals or bits of dental strips—those additives can scratch the disc’s surface. It’s also important not to use a gel toothpaste, as it won’t be able to fill in the scratches.
- To test your toothpaste, apply a little bit to the front of your hand and rub it in with your finger. If it feels gritty, don’t use it.
- Most toothpaste labeled “sensitive” or “children’s” is non-abrasive.
- If the scratches are too deep, toothpaste won’t work.
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Hold the PlayStation game disc under cold water to get the shiny side wet. [6] X Research source
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Apply (roughly) a dime-sized amount of toothpaste to your cloth. Use more or less depending on the amount of scratches on the disc.
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Gently rub toothpaste over the scratched area in straight strokes, starting from the center. Like removing dust and dirt, you’ll rub the toothpaste in only one direction (outward from the center), and never in a circular pattern. Stroke the scratched areas 10-15 times, applying more toothpaste if the motion feels dry.
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Run the disc under lukewarm water until all toothpaste is removed from the game. You may need to use the cloth to help remove the toothpaste, but again, never rub the cloth in any direction other than outward from the center.
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Shake the remaining water from the game and leave it to dry, face up, at room temperature. [7] X Research source Now that the game has been cleaned and buffed, it’s time to let it dry. Never insert a wet disc into your PlayStation!
- Any scratches remaining after using this method will need to be buffed out by a professional.
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Community Q&A
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QuestionIf the games are still not working, what should I do?Community AnswerYou may want to try cleaning the PlayStation itself. Otherwise, take your games to a game shop and ask the clerk if he or she can buff them free of scratches.
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QuestionCan I use any type of toothpaste for this?Community AnswerDon't use abrasive, gritty toothpaste or gel. A gritty toothpaste scratches the disk even more, and gel toothpaste just doesn't work.
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Tips
- Always hold your games from the edges, or by sliding your finger into the center.Thanks
- Store your games in their cases, and keep the cases in a dry, dust-free area.Thanks
- You can also follow these steps to clean your CDs and DVDs.Thanks
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References
- ↑ http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home/cleaning/q-and-a/a20996/cd-dvd-cleaning-may03/
- ↑ http://diyvideoeditor.com/clean-repair-dvds-cds-game-discs/
- ↑ https://www.otrcat.com/how-to-clean-cd
- ↑ http://www.tech-faq.com/how-to-clean-a-dvd.html
- ↑ http://www.ubergizmo.com/how-to/fix-a-scratched-disc-cd-dvd/
- ↑ http://www.ebay.com/gds/How-To-Fix-Badly-Scratched-Ps2-Games-/10000000178717006/g.html
- ↑ http://www.ubergizmo.com/how-to/fix-a-scratched-disc-cd-dvd/
About This Article
Article Summary
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If your Playstation discs are dirty or scratched, you can clean them with some simple household cleaners. To remove dust and dirt, first blow a little compressed air on the disc. Then, wipe the shiny side of the disc with a clean, soft cloth. Use short strokes from the center to the edges so you don’t risk scratching the disc. For any stubborn stains, dampen the edge of the cloth with water and try again. To get rid of minor scratches, wet the disc under the tap, apply a dime-sized amount of toothpaste to the disc with a clean cloth, and gently rub the scratched areas 10-15 times. Finally, rinse your disc under lukewarm water to clean off the toothpaste, then leave it to air dry before you put it in your Playstation. For more tips, including how to clean Playstation discs with vinegar, read on!
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