how to fix a badly scratched dvd

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Scratches on DVDs normally appear after regular use, but they can be polished away easily with a few cleaning techniques. No matter how well you care for your DVDs, they're going to get some scratches at some point. That's just what happens. Fortunately, it's very easy to get rid of those scratches and make your DVDs watchable again, so you never have to worry about your collection being lost or damaged beyond repair!

1
Assess the damage. Decide whether your DVD can be fixed, or whether it has irreparable damage.
- As mentioned above, disks with scratches that go deep will not be able to be mended. To assess the damage, hold the disk up in the sunlight. If sunlight shines through the scratch, the DVD is unlikely to be mended.
- Scratches that are circular, around the laser track, are more likely to result in a permanently damaged disk. Small scratches that run across the radius are easier to fix.
2

Clean the DVD. Use a soft cloth and some very clean water. You may also use alcohol, but most other solvents may damage the discs.
3

Find a jewelry cloth (also known as a jeweler's rouge, or a rouge cloth). A cloth specialized for eyeglasses would also do.
4

Hold the disk from the sides with your non-dominant hand. Then, gently wipe the disk from the center to the edges, across the radius, using the jewelry cloth. Continue wiping around the disk, from inside to outside, until the entire disk has been cleaned.
5

Insert the disk into your DVD player. Try to play it, to evaluate if cleaning the disk solved the problem. If it is not repaired, more extreme measures are required.
6
Try to create a uniform surface. There are several methods for doing this:
- Buy rubbing polish from an automotive store. Apply a small amount of the compound. Rub it across the radius until it covers the entire surface. Allow it to sit for a few minutes. Then, rinse and rub with a soft cloth. Use this product in a well-ventilated area, and be sure to wash your hands thoroughly after polishing.^[1]
- Buy a mechanical scratch remover. This also removes the first layer of disk material and polishes the disk. Insert the DVD and turn the hand crank according to package directions. Buff with your jewelry cleaning cloth.
- Buy a professional DVD scratch polish, such as SkipDr. Apply the product across the radius. Allow it to sit according to package directions, so that the outer layer of disk will be removed. Rinse and/or buff the disk with the jewelry cloth.
- Try basic toothpaste. Get a plain enamel-cleaning paste at your local drugstore. The grit inside toothpaste helps to clean and buff the surface of the disk. Apply toothpaste across the radius until the entire disk is covered. Let the toothpaste dry. Then, rinse it clean and buff with your jewelry cleaning cloth across the radius.

1

Assess the damage. Decide whether your DVD can be fixed, or whether it has irreparable damage. (For more on this, see above.)
2

Clean the DVD. Use a soft cloth and some very clean water. You can also use alcohol, but many cleaning solvents can damage the discs.
3

Find a jewelry cloth (also known as a jeweler's rouge, or a rouge cloth). A cloth specialized for eyeglasses would also do.
4

Hold the disk from the sides with your non-dominant hand. Then, gently wipe the disk from the center to the edges, across the radius, using the jewelry cloth. Continue wiping around the disk, from inside to outside, until the entire disk has been cleaned.
5

Insert the disk into your DVD player. Try to play it, to evaluate if cleaning the disk solved the problem. If it is not repaired, more extreme measures are required.
6

Rub vaseline on the surface of the DVD. Cover the whole surface, but don't rub it on too thick. The hope is that the vaseline will get into the scratches and minimize their reflectivity.^[2] ^[3]
7

Remove the vaseline. Use a method similar to what you did when cleaning the disc. It may be useful to use alcohol (even if you didn't when initially cleaning the disc) to help break up the vaseline. Make sure there are no smudges or evident residue left behind.

Add New Question

Question

Can I use Pledge to fix scratches on my DVD?

You can follow the methods that are listed in the article.
Question

Can I use car polish to repair a disc?

It worked for me on a non-readable DVD. I used Meguiar's G19216 Ultimate Polish car polish. The disk was usable after the application.
Question

Will all purpose miracle cloth work on a scratched DVD?

While I am not sure what Miracle cloth is, Magic Eraser products will work because they are made of the same material that the data layer is made up of-with the exception of slight heat. Using it in circular way from center to outer slowly and gently should wipe out any scratches up to moderate.
Question

Will Pledge work if a DVD has many scratches?

Yes because it is oil based, but stainless steel cleaner is a much better choice if possible.
Question

Where can I find rubbing polish?

Aditya Telang

Community Answer

It can be found in any automotive store. You can also order it online. Just make sure to use a very fine polishing compound; a coarse compound will definitely damage your CD/DVD.
Question

How much isopropyl alcohol is needed when fixing a scratched DVD?

Aditya Telang

Community Answer

Isopropyl alcohol is a cleaning agent; use just a dab of it on your cloth. Using too much will damage the plastic of the DVD/CD.
Question

If I use petroleum jelly on the disc, how long does it have to stay on there for?

Aditya Telang

Community Answer

You can remove the petroleum jelly as soon as you cover the CD/DVD with it.
Question

Can I use a regular pink pencil eraser to fix a scratched DVD?

Aditya Telang

Community Answer

Eraser cannot remove scratches from a surface. Pencil erasers are soft and can only remove graphite on paper.
Question

Why does the DVD player skip although I don't see anything wrong with the disc?

Rudy Toth

Community Answer

It could be a dirty disc that you need to clean with your t-shirt (works bests!) Or, you need a CD disc player cleaner. There's a small brush inserted into the CD that cycles in the drive and cleans the laser head from dust particles. Clean your CD ring-core with your t-shirt to buff it up. It is that ring around the disc with digital symbols on it, aka the Table of Contents. Make sure that is not damaged.
Question

Can a DVD cracked in the middle be repaired?

Rudy Toth

Community Answer

Yes, but it is costly. You need the right equipment and solutions to use them the right way without being a hazard to yourself and others. So, it's much easier to buy a new copy.

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Store your DVDs in a dark, cool and dry area. Disks that are exposed to sunlight, moisture, and heat are more likely to warp and scratch.

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Do not use these DVD repair methods on a Blu Ray disk. Blu Rays are more scratch resistant, but they are easily ruined with the application of polishing substances.
Do not use small, circular motions as you polish. This can create polishing marks that will also interfere with the laser light as it passes to and from the reflective surface.

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