How To Remove Scratches From a DVD

So you are watching your favorite movie on DVD and all of a sudden it starts to stutter and skip or just plain stop dead. You eject the DVD and see that it has some good-sized scratches on the surface. You are worried this is the end of your favorite DVD, but have no fear -- there are some ways to get this bad boy fixed.

1. Understanding the damage. DVDs are like CDs in that they are read in a spiral starting in the center of the disk and continuing to the outer edge. The info is encoded in "bumps" below the surface of the disk. A laser reads these by passing through the surface and reflecting off the "bumps." When the surface is scratched or blemished, the path of the laser is diverted slightly and the player cannot read the disk.

2. Clean. It is always good to clean the DVD just to make sure the malfunction isn't being caused by something that will just wipe off with a moist cloth. If you hold the DVD near a light and at an angle, you can see the blemishes on the surface. The best tool you can use in cleaning and caring for any disc is a lint-free optical cloth. Most commonly used for cleaning eyeglass lenses, these cloths are soft and won't leave lint when you are done using them. Common rubbing alcohol is a great solution to use when cleaning DVDs. Just put a little on the cloth and rub the surface lightly, always in straight lines from the center out to the edge.
3. Repair. Light abrasives such as toothpaste, polishes and cleaners will all fix scratches to some degree but you have to be very careful in using them. Some cleaners are actually no good at all for the surfaces of disks. Stuff that you use on glass is fine because it's alcohol-based, like Windex. Stuff that you use on bathrooms or floors are not so good; bathroom cleaners such as Tilex use bleach, which is harmful to DVDs.

   I recommend using a solution or kit specifically designed for DVD scratch removal. These kits usually come with a solution and a cloth, like this example I found at Buy.com. There is even something that works like a wet wipe with the DVD solution already applied to the wipe. Whatever you decide to use, make sure you use a light touch when applying it. Put a little of your solution on your cloth and, starting from the center of the disk, gently wipe out to the edge of the disk in a straight line. Do not use a circular motion or side-to-side, but only straight from the center to outside. Rub it in lightly then wipe clean with the same lint-free cloth.

4. DVD/CD Resurfacing. There are a couple of devices that will give your disk a total surface make-over. You usually put your disk into the device and then spray the included solution on the disk, close the device and spin the disk using a handle or, in some scenarios, by pressing the On button. These are pretty good tools and will, in most situations, cure any of your scratch problems. Two different popular types are the Skip Doctor Classic and CD Clinic.
5. Care for your disks. When you are done cleaning and fixing your DVDs, make sure you put them in a safe place. The original case is the best place for a DVD, but if you want to put it in a holder, look for one with soft backings that won't damage your disk any further. You can also just get some jewel cases. Stores sell them pretty cheaply and they are a good place to keep DVDs, much better than the floor.