How to Clean a DVD

Written by Jack Lloyd

Last Updated: May 28, 2021 Approved

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This wikiHow teaches you how to clean dust, dirt, and residue off of a DVD. The easiest way to do this is by using rubbing alcohol and a microfiber cloth, though other cleaning solutions may be applied. Keep in mind that cleaning a DVD will not fix scratches, though it will remove smudges and dust that prevent a certain section of the DVD from being read by the DVD player's laser.

Steps

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This can be anything from a tablecloth to a washcloth or a pillow so long as the label is facing down and the blemished side of the DVD is face-up.
2
Gather your tools. In order to clean adequately your DVD, you'll need the following items:
- Isopropyl alcohol - Used as a cleaner. You can also use toothpaste here, but be wary of most other cleaning supplies as they have additional solvents that may harm your DVD.
- Water - Used to cleanse the DVD after cleaning.
- Microfiber cloth - Used to wipe and dry the DVD. Do not use a washcloth or paper products, as these items can leave scratches on the DVD.
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3
Review the condition of the DVD's surface. If the DVD's surface has streaks of residue and dust on it, you'll need to give it the full treatment; however, if there are only a few dusty sections of the DVD, you should only need to rinse it and dry it.
- If you determine that you only need to rinse and dry the DVD, skip ahead to the "Rinse the DVD" step.
4
Add isopropyl alcohol to the DVD's surface. If your isopropyl alcohol container has a "mist" setting, mist the whole surface of the DVD; if not, a few generous drops spaced around
- If you're using toothpaste, place a few dots of toothpaste around the DVD's surface, then spread it out into one even coat covering the DVD's surface.
5
Gently wipe the alcohol off of the DVD in straight lines. Using the microfiber cloth, brush the isopropyl alcohol outward from the center of the disc, making sure to use straight lines when doing so. The goal here is to make sure that every piece of the disc's surface is coated by isopropyl alcohol at some point, so add more if needed.
- If you're using toothpaste, rinse off the toothpaste with water.
Run mild-temperature water over the surface of the DVD to wash away any remains of residue, dust, and fragments of cloth.
Ideally, you'll stand the DVD upright or lean its label side against a soft object (e.g., a roll of paper towels) to allow it to dry without having to use a cloth, but if you're in a hurry, you can dry off the DVD by wiping it with the microfiber cloth using straight lines.^{[1]
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8
Test the DVD. Insert the dry DVD into a DVD player to see if it will run correctly.
- If the DVD still won't play properly, you may have to take your DVD into a professional resurfacing service. Stores such as Best Buy and Radio Shack often offer this service.

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Question

I cleaned my DVD with toothpaste but it looks more scratched than before. Did I do something wrong?

Community Answer

You may have a disc that is badly damaged and cleaning it filled in the cracks/crevices of the disk. If this is not the case, then you have used a toothpaste that may have bleached your DVD. It's also possible that the toothpaste contained something grainy that contributed to the scratches.

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Can I clean DVDs with tissues?

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You can. Breathe on the DVD, then rub gently with a soft tissue.

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Question

Will glass cleaner work when cleaning a DVD?

Community Answer

Yes, glass cleaner and window cleaner are the same thing.

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Tips

Mild-temperature water won't harm your DVD, but take care not to hit the DVD with exceptionally warm or cold water.

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Tips from our Readers

The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.

Don’t use abrasive materials like paper towels or regular tissues.
Avoid harsh chemicals like bleach or ammonia-based cleaners.

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Warnings

Do not use solvent based cleaners, as doing so may irreparably damage the CD/DVD surface.

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No amount of cleaning can fix deep scratches or holes in the DVD.

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