Nobody wants to lose an important software program on a scratched CD-ROM or see the disc skip right at the climax of a favorite movie.  The CD and DVD to some extent are fragile items, and sometimes it can seem inevitable that they’ll get scratched eventually. 

You can extend the life of your discs with proper care and handling, however.  Here are a few tips for keeping your discs clean and smooth—and what to do if you get a scratch.   

Writing labels. You can write on a CD or DVD without damaging the disc, but only if you write on the top of the disc—not the bottom.  There are special markers made specifically for this purpose, but any soft felt-tipped marker will work.  Don’t use hard-tipped ballpoint pens, as these can damage the discs.  When in doubt, use a CD label maker instead.

Proper storage.  It’s best to store discs vertically rather than horizontally.  This lessens the likelihood that the discs will touch the sides of the storage unit or box they’re in.  You’ll have to be a bit more careful with discs kept in a paper sleeve, as jewel boxes usually elevate the disc slightly to keep it from touching the surface of the boxes.  Keep your discs away from direct sunlight and extreme temperatures, and always put them away after using them.

Gentle cleaning.  If your disc gets dirty or dusty, you can clean it using water, a tiny amount of soap, and a soft, lint-free cloth.  Many discs accumulate fingerprints, which are oil-based; and a gentle detergent cuts the oil.  Technology stores usually sell soaps and cloths made specifically for cleaning digital media, but you can also use a drop of liquid dish soap.  Avoid using harsh alcohol or ammonia-based cleansers. 

Dissolve the soap in the water or put it on the cloth first; don’t put it directly on the disc.  Wipe from the center of the disc outwards in straight lines—if you do put a scratch in your data, you’ll want it to run across the data lines, not parallel to them.  So don’t wipe in a circular motion, and don’t scrub hard.

Careful handling.  When handling a CD or DVD, grasp it with your thumb in the center hole and your fingers along the outer edge of the disc.  Avoid touching the surface of the disc, particularly on the bottom.  If you do touch the surface of the disc, you’ll leave an oily fingerprint that can make your disc difficult to read.

Dealing with scratches.  There are many methods out there for dealing with a scratch on your disc.  Before you try to repair a scratch yourself, give the disc a thorough cleaning—it may simply be dirty.  If that doesn’t work, try making a new disc.  Some CD and DVD players are more sensitive than others; a disc that doesn’t work in your DVD player might work fine in your computer’s disc drive.  If you can, burn a new copy of your disc. 

If the scratch is too deep, however, your disc might not work on any player.  If this is the case, visually inspect the disc to see if you can spot the scratch. Once you’ve found it, there are a few things you can try.

Surprisingly, polishing a disc with toothpaste can solve disc scratch problems.  This works by buffing down the surrounding surface of the disc so that the original scratch is not as deep.  Polish the scratched area with a toothpaste-covered cotton swab or cloth, then wash the disc with warm water to remove excess toothpaste.

If this doesn’t work, try waxing.  Coat the scratched area in a thin layer of Vaseline, neutral shoe polish, or furniture wax.  Wipe off the excess wax with a soft cloth, moving in a straight line from the center of the disc to the edge.  Try playing your CD.  If it works, burn a copy.

If none of these tips work, take your disc to a CD store—particularly one that sells used discs.  They can refinish the surface of your disc for you, and it’s usually not expensive.