How to Remove CD Scratches

CDs require careful handling, though scratches are a common occurrence in the course of their usage. But sometimes, even a minor scratch can make the CD useless. Scratches can appear on the surface of the CDs rendering them unplayable, but the good news is that these scratches can be fixed. There are many commercial products available for this purpose, but you can easily remove the scratches on your own with materials readily available in your house.

The Layers of a CD

A CD contains four separate layers. Topmost is the soft and clear plastic layer, which protects the data layer on the play side and also works like a lens by focusing the CD player's laser onto the data layer. Next comes the data layer in which the content is stored. A metallic layer on the top of the data layer reflects CD player's laser back to the player, after the laser has read the data. An ultra thin plastic coating protects the metallic layer. The label is printed on the plastic coating. Minor scratches on the CD cause damage to the protective plastic layer which covers the data layer. This can be rectified through methods like polishing, which either makes the surface even or fills the grooves made by the scratches. However, these methods may fail in case of deeper scratches, which damage the data layer. Let us take a look at some of the methods which can be adopted for removing scratches from CDs.

Methods to Remove CD Scratches

Toothpaste Method: Apart from the scratched CDs, you will need lukewarm water, a small amount of detergent, soft cotton cloth and toothpaste. Clean the surface of the CD with a solution of warm water and detergent. Then clean again with warm water and let it dry. Now, you have to apply the cleaning materials. Take the soft cotton cloth and apply some toothpaste on it. Rub it on the surface of the CD, especially on the scratches. Start polishing your CD from the center, going outwards. Never polish a CD in circular motions and refrain from applying pressure. Polish it for around five minutes and then rinse with water. Make sure that there are no traces of toothpaste left behind on the CD. Shake the CD to remove excess water and air dry it. Try to play the CD; if it works, you can copy the content onto another one. If not, repeat the process and polish the CD for at least 10 minutes. Before trying this method, make sure that the toothpaste you are using is not the whitening one, as it may further damage the CD.

Brasso Metal Polish: You can use brasso metal polish to remove scratches from CDs. Clean the CD with water and liquid soap. Let it air dry and never use any cloth or paper towel to wipe it dry. Apply two to three drops of brasso and polish with a soft cloth for five minutes and let it dry. Always remember to polish your CD radially. Normally, radial scratches do not interfere with the working condition of CDs. After five minutes, remove the brasso on the CD with a soft cloth (radially). Check the working condition of the CD. If it is not working properly, you may repeat the process. It is observed that the new formulations of brasso are not useful for removing scratches, on the contrary they can cause more damage to the CDs.

It is also said that materials like ketchup, banana peel or banana, etc. are also beneficial in fixing the scratches on CDs. Many commercial cleansers are also available for this purpose. However, the best method is to protect your CDs from scratches.