We've all experienced it before... let me set the scene for you:
You've been salivating, waiting, pining over Final Fantasy VII for PlayStation. (Remember?) Deciding to try it out before you buy it, you decide to rent out the LAST COPY from your local video store. Heading home like the proud fanboy or fangirl that you are, clutching your plastic rental case full of RPG gaming goodness, you simply CAN'T WAIT.
You arrive home, giggling and overjoyed, only to find that the disc... won't... play.
grrrrrr......
You try everything to get it to work... but nothing works, because there's a bunch of scratches and Cheeto-prints on the back of the disk from the inconsiderate loser who rented it before you.
So what do you do, you ask? Well, there are a number of tried and true "home remedies" for repairing damaged CD's and DVD's that you can try. I won't guarantee that all of these will work for you, and you can use them at your own risk, but they may just be of assistance.
Before we begin, the most crucial thing to remember, which can be applied to any of these cleaning methods, is ALWAYS to clean the disk in a radial motion; that is, wipe or polish in straight lines from the middle of the disk outward to the edge. NEVER rub in a circular motion, as this could damage the disk, and actually leave more damage than what you are trying to repair.
1. Clean Them Gently With Soap and Water
This is the easiest method, and certainly has the least impact, not only to the disk but also to your wallet and your time. All you need to do is gently wipe the disk clean with a soft cloth, using the gentlest household soap you can find. This method won't help much if you are dealing with a scratch problem.
This method repairs: Fingerprints and grime
Materials needed: Soft cloth, H2O, and a mild soap
2. Use A Basic Polish
This method is just as easy as the first, but requires you to purchase a special product. I've had the best luck with iKlear Apple Polish, and have been using it for years on my LCD screens, gadgets, game systems, disks...you name it. (Disclaimer: I don't have any connection to the company who makes iKlear. I just really, really, really like the product. And yes, you can use it on anything, not just Apple products.) A bottle of it, along with travel wipes and a microfiber cloth, will usually set you back about $20, and will last a long time, as in 6 months to a year or even longer - depending on how obsessive you are about your stuff (if you're like me, ultra-obsessive.)
Anyway, all you have to do is follow the radial method to polish the back of your disk, using a decent spray of the polish. Remember, straight out from the center to the edge - no swirls.
This stuff will mildly polish tiny scratches on the disk, and could help more
than just simple soap. Make sure that you "buff" out the polish, or it will leave streaks. You probably shouldn't use the polish on an overly soiled disk, so if it's super-scummy, as in 3-year-old-macaroni-and-cheese-spread-all-over-the-disk scummy, you should wipe the big chunks off before applying the polish.
This method repairs: Fingerprints and tiny scratches
Materials needed: iKlear Apple Polish or similar product, microfiber or soft cloth, soap and water (if desired)
3. Try Using Alternative Polishing Methods, Or Even A Wax
There are some other types of "polish" that you can try, although to be honest, I personally have not been willing to risk any of my media to these methods. Here are some other types of polish that you could try, at your own risk:
-
Toothpaste, preferably the baking soda kind. The logic here is that toothpaste is gently abrasive, and could remove small scratches while leaving the disk undamaged. This is a polishing method.
- Using the same method as polishing, you could also try a few wax methods. Some people have used furniture wax, liquid car wax, or even colorless shoe polish (that one sounds iffy to me) to obtain results.
Remember that you should always wipe the disk clean after trying any of these methods, to ensure you aren't depositing any gunk in your player! Use these various materials at your own risk!
This method repairs: Light scratches, possibly medium scratches
Materials needed: your polishing or waxing chemical of choice, a soft cloth, soap and water (if desired)
4. Use an In-Home Disc Repair Solution
There are many manufacturers out there that offer disc repair solutions. One such solution is the SkipDr Premier disc repair system, which uses a patented polishing wheel that duplicates the radial motion I described, but is automated, and accomplishes more than a simple hand buffing could. These are more expensive, but promise better results with deeper scratches, or more highly damaged disks.
They make manually driven models as well for a lower price. See them here.
This method repairs: More difficult scratches
Materials needed: one of the kits above
5. Use A Professional Disk Restore Service Or Buy An Industrial-Grade Machine
If you're willing to pony up the Benjamins, Krone, Lira, Yen, or Rupees, you could always hire a professional disk repair service to bring your media back to life. Of course, this is pretty expensive. You could also buy a professional disk repair machine. These are usually pretty expensive, too. But it would probably work the best.
This method repairs: most likely, whatever you pay for
Materials needed: more money than I have
6. Voodoo & Other Magic Tricks 
Usually the least effective of the six methods, disk repair voodoo requires some exotic materials, a high learning curve, and an occasional sacrifice. Here are some techniques that you should NEVER try:
- Blow into your CD or DVD tray or player
- Turn your system upside down
- Do a little dance
- Place golden weights on top of your DVD player at each corner
- Whisper chants
- Toss your CD player out the window while shouting expletives
- Stuff a hamburger inside the laser assembly
- Craft a straw doll shaped like your XBOX 360, and poke it with a pin
- Ask your magical bunny to fix it for you
Remember - voodoo almost never works, and you should never try these techniques - they are included for educational value only.
This method repairs: Nothing
Materials needed: A lot of free time and desperation, a flair for the exotic, complete disregard for your media, no social awareness
Conclusion
By now, you must have a pretty good idea of what you can do to resurrect your ailing media. Some of these methods may work, some may not. (Seriously, don't try the voodoo. It's just a joke.)
We wish you the best of luck in repairing your disks, and if all else fails... it's back to the store where you bought it (or rented it!)
Comments
I have been told of a method
I have been told of a method of repair that sounds alittle far fetched. I myself have never tried this;
Bring a pot of water to a boil. Using a coat hanger, dip the CD/DVD into the boiling water for five seconds. Remove and lay the CD/DVD lable side down on a flat surface too cool.
Sounds Iffy but if the disc is that messed-up to begin with, what have you got to lose. Has anyone else heard of this repair method?
Thordog Cappy
Personally, I use 2000 grit
Personally, I use 2000 grit sandpaper, purchased at a local auto parts store, followed by a rub with a soft, cotton, lint free cloth and maybe a little spit. This will remove even the deepest scratches if you work it long enough (or you could start with 1000 or even 600 or 800 and work you way up to 2000). Be careful not to penetrate the laminate surface of the disk or it is a coaster!
It should be noted that if you can see light through the disk anywhere, that data is permanently gone. The lable side is more important to protect than the side that is read since you can polish the read side but you can't replace the reflective underside of the label.