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Remove dust, fingerprints, and scratches from any game
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If you want to play Xbox, PlayStation, or GameCube games but they’re smudged or scratched, it’s easy to clean the discs so they work properly. Luckily, you don’t need any special supplies for a basic cleaning, and you may already have common household products that work for a deeper clean. Keep reading, and we’ll walk through the different ways to clean and protect any game disc, plus how to clean your console’s disc drive.
Best Way to Clean a Disc
Wet a microfiber cloth with clean water, and wipe the disc from the center to the outer edge. Carefully dry the game disc with a clean lint-free towel before trying to play it. Avoid using household cleaners or abrasive cleaners that could damage the disc.
Steps
Section 1 of 4:
Cleaning a Game Disc with Water
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Wet a small area of a microfiber cloth . Use regular tap water to wet a small area of the cloth, and then squeeze it out to remove excess water.
- If you don’t have a microfiber cloth, an old cotton T-shirt or lint-free cloth will work in a pinch.
- Avoid using household cleaning products, like Windex or benzine cleaner, because they can ruin your disc.
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Hold the game disc by its rim. Avoid placing your fingers on the surface of the disc so you don’t leave fingerprints. Turn the game disc over so the non-labeled, reflective side faces you. [1] X Research source
- You can clean the labeled side of the disc as well, but be extremely careful because doing it too vigorously can destroy the data on some game discs.
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Wipe the disc surface outward from the center using the wet cloth. Start at the disc’s center hole and move the wet cloth in a short, straight line toward the rim. Reposition the cloth at the center and continue wiping until you clean the entire disc. [2] X Research source
- Avoid moving the cloth in circles around the disc because you’re more likely to cause damage or leave behind scratches.
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Dry the disc with a clean cloth. Use the dry portion of the cloth to remove moisture. Make the same straight, short strokes from the center of the disc toward the rim. Be extra gentle because you’re more likely to scratch the disc with a dry towel.
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Wait 2 minutes for the disc to dry before testing. Put the disc down with the reflective side face-up. Wait at least 2 minutes to allow the remaining moisture to completely evaporate before putting the disc into the disc drive of your game console or computer.
- If there are still problems, you may need to use a stronger cleaning method or clean your disc drive .
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Section 3 of 4:
How to Clean Your Game Console’s Disc Drive
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Blow out dust with an air bulb duster . Open the disc drive of your console if you’re able to. Then, point the nozzle of the duster at the drive, and squeeze the bulb to blow air. Keep squeezing the bulb until you don’t see any more dust lift up from the surface.
- While you may also use a can of compressed air, it’s more likely to cause damage to delicate drives.
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Insert a laser lens cleaner into the disc drive. Laser lens cleaners look like a game disc, but they have small brushes that clean the laser reader inside your console. Place the disc inside of the disc drive and leave it for a few minutes. As the disc rotates, the brush will break apart dust and gunk on the lens. [7] X Research source
- Some laser lens cleaners come with a liquid cleaner to apply on the disc before inserting it. Follow the specific directions for the cleaner you purchase.
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Have your console professionally repaired. If other cleaners don’t work and your console doesn’t work with a new, unscratched disc, then it may need repairs. If your device is still under warranty, then you may be able to have it serviced for free from the manufacturer. Otherwise, look for a game repair service in your area that can clean the lens in the disc drive.
- Use the Xbox service site to send your console in and have it repaired.
- Contact Playstation support to browse through fixes and talk to support staff.
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Community Q&A
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QuestionHow do I keep my game disc working after cleaning it?Community AnswerDon't leave the disc in the console. Put it away in its original case after its use.
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QuestionCan a disk be cleaned if it is very scratched up?Community AnswerYou can try to use toothpaste, but you will need a lot of it. It is not guaranteed to work for cleaning a disk that is severely scratched up.
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QuestionHow can I get my game to work if it doesn't have any scratches?Community AnswerIf there is clearly nothing wrong with the disc, then it may have something to do with the console or system. Try other discs out on the same system, or the same disc on another system to help rule that out.
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Tips
- These cleaning methods also work for CDs, DVDs, and Blu-Ray discs that are scratched or dirty.Thanks
- If you spill any liquids on your game disc, blot it up as soon as possible with a soft cloth. Be careful not to wipe or rub the liquid so you don’t scratch the disc.Thanks
- Some game discs have their data stored right below the label, so avoid scrubbing the labeled side of the disc unless it’s visibly dirty.Thanks
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Warnings
- Avoid heavy abrasive or chemical cleaners because they can damage your games even more.Thanks
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References
- ↑ https://support.xbox.com/en-US/help/games-apps/troubleshooting/how-to-troubleshoot-problems-playing-disc-on-xbox-one
- ↑ https://www.playstation.com/en-us/support/hardware/ps4-problems-reading-discs/#dirt
- ↑ https://youtu.be/Dqa8KpSLtH8?t=104
- ↑ https://cheshirelibraryblog.com/2013/04/08/this-wont-play-part-1-fingering-the-culprit/
- ↑ https://youtu.be/wg2WlYlB8Zw?t=1262
- ↑ https://youtu.be/wg2WlYlB8Zw?t=280
- ↑ https://youtu.be/WVHBRMQieMU?t=23
- ↑ https://www.sony.com/electronics/support/articles/00026689
About This Article
Article Summary
X
If you’re trying to clean a game disc that’s been scratched, start by putting a little regular toothpaste on a soft cotton or microfiber cloth. Then, hold your disc by the rim and wipe it from the center outward with the cloth. You should wipe it a second time with a dry cloth to remove any excess moisture before you play your disc again. Alternatively, put rubbing alcohol on the cloth to clean fingerprints or grease from your disc. Want to give your disc a general cleaning? Just dampen the cloth with tap water and wipe your disc in the same way. To learn how to get a clean disc drive to put your now-clean disc into, read on!
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Reader Success Stories
- "This really helped me. I got an A on my presentation. I suggest gamers use this, it helped me."
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"This really helped me. I got an A on my presentation. I suggest gamers use this, it helped me."
"It really helped me when I thought the disk was spoilt. Thank you wikiHow!"
"Thanks so much! I tried cleaning it with water, and it worked! "
"I used water and a cloth to clean the disc and it worked well."
"The Q-tip cleaning to the eye lens helped."
