Can you windex a dvd

Isopropyl rubbing alcohol should be all you need for a clean CD. Dip a corner of your cloth into the mixture and gently wipe the CD.

Again, start from the center hole and wipe straight out to the edge all around the CD. Gentle dish detergent will also clean a CD. When the DVD player says no disc, it means the sensor is not recognizing a disc in the tray. The cleaning should help solve this problem but it may persist. Try a number of different discs to see if the problem is disc-related.

If the problem persists, cleaning the lens on a reader is necessary. In short, no. It can degrade or become damaged, however. CDs and DVDs can degrade over time because their recording layers are made with a dye that is extremely photosensitive; it deteriorates when exposed to UV rays over time. When it is necessary to clean your DVDs, take care not to scratch them. A mild solvent, like rubbing alcohol or window cleaner.

A one-to-one solution of isopropyl alcohol and water usually works well [source: Hatch]. Although getting a DVD wet will probably not cause any major issues besides damaging the label, getting one wet could likely bring other issues that come along with the water.

If you dry off the DVD that was wet and then just leave it exposed to the air for a few minutes then the disc should be fine. You can also use a cleaner made especially for CDs. A solution of rubbing alcohol and water, mixed in a one-to-one ratio, is also commonly used. Simply take a cotton ball and dip it in some alcohol to clean the area near the scratch. Then apply Vaseline or Petroleum Jelly to the disc. The Vaseline will fill in the scratch, hopefully making it readable again. Using a circular motion, apply a freshly cut banana to it.

For tips on how to use toothpaste to clean a DVD, read on! Did this summary help you? Yes No. Random Article. Home Random Terms of Use. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. By using our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Cookie Settings. How to Clean a DVD. Explore this Article Steps. Tips and Warnings. Related Articles. Article Summary.

All rights reserved. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc. Place the DVD label-down on a soft cloth. 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.

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.

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. Add isopropyl alcohol to the DVD's surface.

When you are using air to blow off the dust, do not use canned air as it can be very cold and it can cause the DVD to crack. DVDs often collect dust from sitting on counters, in drawers, or other places and not being used on a regular basis.

Dust may seem like it is nothing to worry about but it can block DVD readers from properly scanning the disk. Dust can generally be removed by wiping the disc with a cloth. While most users wipe the disc off on their shirt, pants, or other rough fabric, this can scratch the disc and cause more harm than good.

Preferably, use a microfiber cloth to clean your discs as these are much softer than regular fabrics and can remove more dust and residue from the disc. A microfiber cloth is the same type of material that is used to clean eyeglasses and telescope lenses. This type of material will not scratch the disc, which could cause even worse problems. In addition to removing dust, a microfiber cloth will also remove fingerprints, oil spots, and other loose residue that has built up on the disc.

Spots are bit trickier to remove than dust as they can be the residue of a chemical or other liquid. Body lotions, hair sprays or other aerosols that are sprayed near the disc, and liquids the disc may be laid in cause oil spots. However, the most common cause of oil spots is oil from the human skin, which can be rubbed onto the disc whenever the user touches it.

To minimize oil spots, users should be sure to never touch the surface of the disc and always hold the disk by its outer and inner sides. Most of these spots will come off of the disk when the user wipes the dust off with a microfiber cloth or tissue paper.

As vinegar contains acetic acid, it is able to break down thicker amounts of residue than a simple wipe. Vinegar should be able to remove any spots, stains, or leftover oil that remains on the disc. Users should take precaution while wiping the disc so as to not scratch the disc. Place your pointer finger through the center of the disc with your thumb holding the exterior side. Brasso metal polisher is yet another household product people are using to clean their DVDs, or to remove scratches from their DVDs.

Actually, only scratches. Because Brasso is an abrasive like toothpaste or any other polishing substance, it works by grinding down a very fine layer of the clear protective coating on the DVD, to help the laser read your DVD better.