how to fix scratch cd

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Scratches and scuffs on CDs are very annoying - your favorite CD is now skipping the best songs, or maybe you're dealing with potentially losing an important document or program. You can find so many suggestions on the Internet about how to fix this problem, but we've found the very best three and have collected them here. Polishing the CD with a little toothpaste might be all you need, and if that doesn't work, try using an abrasive compound or coating the CD with wax.

1
Choose a basic toothpaste. There's no need for the sparkles, swirls, and exotic flavors of some oral care products. Instead, opt for a basic white paste to polish your CD. All types of toothpaste contain enough abrasive minerals to get the job done!
- Basic toothpastes are cheaper than their flashier alternatives. This can be especially helpful if you have several CD's to polish.^[1]
2

Apply toothpaste to the CD surface. Squeeze a small dab of toothpaste onto the scratched surface of your CD and spread it evenly over the surface of the CD with your finger.
3

Polish the CD. Using a radial motion, slowly work the toothpaste around the CD. Start at the center and move in a straight line outward.
4
Clean and dry the CD. Run the CD under some warm water and rinse thoroughly. Then, using a soft, clean cloth, dry the CD and double check to make sure you've removed all traces of toothpaste or moisture.
- After you've cleaned and dried the CD, use a soft cloth to buff the surface of the CD.

1
Decide which compound you will use. A number of common household products can be used to polish the CD, but 3M rubbing compound and Brasso are probably the most tried and true. You can also use fine-grit polishing compounds designed for cars or hard finishes.
- If you're using Brasso, make sure to do so in a well-ventilated area, and avoid breathing in the fumes. Always read the safety instructions and warnings on any chemical product as many (such as rubbing alcohol) are flammable and/or can cause skin, eye, or respiratory irritation.^[2]
2

Apply the polishing compound to a cloth. Put a small amount of 3M compound or Brasso on a soft, clean, lint-free cloth. An old shirt or an eyeglass-cleaning cloth will both work well.^[3]
3
Polish the CD. Use a gentle, radial motion, to rub the compound into the scratch. Start at the center and rub out to the edge, like spokes on a wheel. Do this 10 or 12 times all around the CD. Try to focus your efforts solely on the scratch or scratches that you have identified.
- When polishing the disc, make sure to lay the disc on a flat, firm surface that's non abrasive. Data is stored on the foil or dye layers on the top of the disc (label side) and the protective top layer can easily be scratched or perforated. Pressing a disc on too soft a surface may crack it or cause it to de-laminate.
- Rubbing in a circular motion (as opposed to a radial motion) can cause small scratches that throw off the laser tracking system in the player.
4

Remove the polishing product from the disc. Rinse the disc thoroughly with warm water and let it dry. Make sure to remove all of the compound and let the disc dry completely before trying to play it. With Brasso, wipe off excess product and let the rest dry. Then, using a clean cloth, gently wipe the disc again.
5
Test the disc. If the problem persists, polish again for up to 15 minutes, or until the scratch is almost completely buffed out. The surface around the scratch should begin to look shiny with many tiny scratches. If you still do not notice any difference after polishing for a few minutes, the scratch may be extremely deep, or you may be polishing the wrong scratch.
- If the disc is still not operational, take the disc to a trained professional at a gaming store or CD repair shop.

1

Determine whether or not wax is an option. Sometimes you'll need to physically remove plastic from the disc by polishing. However, removing a lot of plastic can affect the refractive property of the lens making the data unreadable. Waxing scratches is useful because even though the defects are visible to your eye, the laser sees around/through them.^[4]
2

Wax the scratches. Apply a very thin coat of Vaseline, chap-stick, liquid car wax, neutral shoe polish, or furniture wax to the CD's playing surface. Let the wax sit in the scratches for a few minutes—remember, the idea is for the wax to fill in the scratch so it can be read again.^[5]
3

Wipe away the excess wax. Using a clean, soft, lint-free cloth, wipe in a radial (inside-to-outside) motion. If using wax, follow the manufacturer's instructions (some need to dry before you wipe them off, while others should be wiped off while still wet).
4

Test the disc again. If the wax or Vaseline does the trick, burn a new disc immediately. The waxing method is only a temporary solution meant to get the CD working long enough to transfer the data to a computer or new disc.

Before proceeding you should come to terms with the fact that holes in the foil layer of a CD are not repairable, not even by professionals. The best way to move past them is to skip them altogether so that at least the remaining data can be accessed and saved elsewhere.

1

Hold the disc with its shiny side up in clear view of a bright light.
2

See if any holes are visible on the shiny side.
3

Flip the disc and mark the areas holes with a permanent marker.
4
Take 2 small strips of masking tape and stick them on top of each other over the area you have just marked.
- Note: The CD might make a noise while running but you'll be able to access at least 70% of the data on it.

Add New Question

Question

How do I know how deep the scratches are?

By observing the scratches with your eyes, you should be able to see how deep they are. (The reflection of the light will be a clue.)
Question

How do I get the scratches off my DVD?

The methods for a scratched CD will work for a DVD as well.
Question

Can I use any kind of toothpaste for repairing DVD scratches?

Use paste instead of a gel because it is grittier.
Question

Is it true that CDs can be repaired with a banana?

Sliced fresh banana can clean up minor smudges and scratches on a CD. Rub a banana slice over the CD and wipe it off with the inside of the banana peel. Then use a clean cotton cloth to wipe down the CD.
Question

If my DVD gets too many scratches, will it become unfixable?

If the scratches are bad, yes. It's more about how deep the scratches are than how many there are.
Question

Can I use Windex to repair the scratches on a CD?

You can, but it might not work as the other methods.
Question

How do I fix a deeply cut CD?

You can't. However, if you take it to a professional, they may be able to copy the information onto another disk.
Question

Not only is my disc not playing properly, but it has static all though the recording now that wasn't there before. So far, none of these have helped. Any idea what this could be?

LEILA OWENS

Community Answer

That happened to mine as well, I figured out that it was because my toothpaste had a sort of fine grit in it that scratched up the entire surface, ruining my brand new CD. What I would suggest would be to try the wax solution and burn a new one.
Question

How do I fix a game disc?

I used the toothpaste method for my Just Dance 2 game with heavily used toothpaste and it worked perfectly.
Question

Can I copy music on a DVD disc?

Yes, but you will only be able to play it on a DVD player.

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Video

Try using a dry "Mr. Clean Magic Eraser" to remove scratches. Use light pressure, wiping from the center of the disk to the outside edge just as described with other polishing methods. The repaired area can be buffed until shiny using the other polishing or waxing techniques described.
Practice repairing scratched CD's that you do not care much about before you set out to repair your favorites.
You can use an iPad or iPhone cleaning cloth, instead of a eyeglass cleaner.
To avoid damage, always hold the CD by the sides.
It is a good idea to create a backup of any data disc before damage occurs.
Instead of toothpaste, consider using peanut butter. The oily viscosity of peanut butter makes for an effective polishing compound. Make sure it's the smooth kind!
Severely damaged CDs may not be salvageable. Very deep scratches and cracks that reach the CD's foil will make the CD useless. In fact, the Disc Eraser uses foil damage to render CD's and DVD's unreadable!
If the CD is irreparable, use it as a coaster for your beverages! See how to reuse old CD's for lots more great ideas.
Xbox discs can usually be returned directly to Microsoft and replaced for around $20.
Make sure if you are using the toothpaste method, that the toothpaste does not have any crystals or minerals in it-- make sure it is the original white kind.

Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

To prevent damage to your CD player, make sure that CD's are completely dry and free of excess polishing products or waxes before you attempt to play them.
Understand that any CD repair method may cause additional damage. Make sure to follow the steps carefully.
Do not apply solvents to CD surfaces as it changes the chemical composition of the polycarbonate substrate resulting in an opaque finish and an unreadable disc!
If you hold the CD up to a bright light to check for holes in the foil layer, remember not to stare at the light for too long. A 60-100 Watt bulb should be more than enough to see pinholes in the foil layer. Do not use the sun!

Things You'll Need

Clean, soft, lint-free cloth (microfiber cloths are excellent)
Water (or rubbing alcohol)
Brasso metal polisher, fine polishing compound or toothpaste
Liquid car wax or Vaseline
Cotton gloves or plastic food-handling gloves (they make it easier to handle CDs and not leave fingerprints)

About This Article

Article SummaryX

To fix a scratched CD, first squirt some toothpaste with baking soda in it onto the CD. Then, use a cotton swab to work the toothpaste into any deep scratches. Next, wipe the toothpaste around the disc in a circular motion with a paper towel or a microfiber cloth. Rinse the toothpaste off with cool water. You can also use metal polish to remove CD scratches. Pour a small amount of metal polish into a clean microfiber cloth. Wipe around the disc in a circular motion to spread the metal polish around. Then, wipe the excess polish off with a clean, dry cloth. Another option is to use petroleum jelly. Just spread some petroleum jelly around the disc with your finger so it's completely covered to fill in any scratches. Then, wipe off the excess with a clean microfiber cloth. Lip balm, furniture wax, and shoe polish will also work for this.

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