MacGyver Tip: Fix scratched CDs with toothpaste

[Jared Moya]

If you’ve ever owned a CD or DVD, you’ve certainly had to deal with scratched up, unreadable media. Hardware Secrets has a simple solution:

a scratched CD can be recovered by polishing its plastic surface. If, after carrying out the above cleansing, the CD persists in giving reading errors, just polish the CD with toothpaste. That’s right, toothpaste. It works wonders, and you won’t spend a fortune buying professional cleaning kits.



Having learned this trick in college, I can vouch for it. Don’t expect to recover your most damaged CDs, but you certainly can work a little magic. Anyone else have any good CD repair tips that work for them? Let us know in the comments or at tips at lifehacker.com.

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[Krell]

Mostly a big waste of time, but for what it's worth, mixing extra baking soda with the toothpaste helps, but youll never get it shiney again. Auto polish such as Dupont #7 and rainx works well too.


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[shawners]

People need to take better care of their stuff. All my cd/dvd are in a binder with plastic sleeves and I dont loan them out. I remove them from the drive and back safely. Never lay it around to get scratched. If people want to borrow a cd/dvd. Ill make them a copy.

[zarquon]

Pointless, its effect is negligable. Just backup your cds.

[black_magiic]

I always thought rubbing them up and down with a nice big ol' magnet did the trick :o)

[zarquon]

No thats how to fix a hard drive :)

[black_magiic]

oh right... my bad :P

[nightshadow]

I personally do not recommend this tip even though I have seen it work.
I've seen it ruin more discs further due to improper application than the few it has helped, not saved.
It is not as simple as it seems. If you are going to do it choose your toothpaste and polishing items carefully. Also use the toothpaste sparingly and do not bend or flex the disc much in the process as damage to the actual written layer may occur after which there is no chance of repair.
This trick actually works better for pressed dvds and cds than it does for cdr/dvdr.
As others have suggested prevention and multiple back ups are a far better cure to the problem.

[zarquon]

Yes, be sure to use menthol toothpaste as this works better than regular paste. Also triple action toothpaste will provide an impenetrable protective layer in case you decide to play frisbee while flossing.

[Potato]

I wonder what Richard Dean Anderson thinks of his old character's name being used for this. Maybe he's smiling from Stargate.

[Mels_Smileys45]

I wonder what Richard Dean Anderson thinks of his old character's name being used for this. Maybe he's smiling from Stargate.

He's not on Stargate anymore. So I stopped watching it.

[mfgbypooter]

Rubbing KY jelly around the hole will fix it right up too.

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[Mels_Smileys45]

Which hole?

[Jared Moya]

Yes, be sure to use menthol toothpaste as this works better than regular paste. Also triple action toothpaste will provide an impenetrable protective layer in case you decide to play frisbee while flossing.

What about the kinda with "tartar control?" I heard it wards off DRM installs...............:P

Rubbing KY jelly around the hole will fix it right up too.

*

Now thats just rickin fridiculous...........:drunken_s

[Mels_Smileys45]

I rubbed the KY all around the CD rom opening and the cd slid in real easy like but it didn't seem to help, it may even be alot worse. What did I do wrong?