How to Repair Your Scratched CDs

Now a days, the cost of one CD has sky rocketed. You can expect to pay anywhere from $10-$19 for one CD. And don't get a greatest hits CD, those can cost you $30 each. So what do you do if you get a scratch on your CD's? Do you go out and buy a new CD each time you get a scratch, or do you try to repair it yourself? The most logical strategy to do is to repair it yourself. There are CD-repair kits that you can purchase. They work on audio CD's, CD-ROM, and DVD's.

Before you begin to repair a CD, determine the nature of the problem. Look at the CD for any smudges and if the CD is salvageable. If it is fixable, buy a fluid based CD scratch repair kit. For a reasonable cost, purchase a soft, lint free cloth. These can ones made for cleaning eyeglasses or other delicate surfaces. However, your scratch repair kit may come with cloths or swabs for you to use. Once you have everything you need together, follow closely the instructions of the manufacturer. Begin wiping across the CD working from the inside out in straight lines.

To prevent additional scratches and smudges, it is recommended not to wipe in a circular pattern. If the scratches are minor but causes skipping or stopping, use a cleaner rather than a repair kit for the CD. Avoid using alcohol, abrasive cleaners, ammonia, or commercial plastic cleaners for polishing or buffing your CD's. Never use toothpaste to clean your CD's either. Sometimes people may use toothpaste to buff out smudges and scratches, but toothpastes can acts like a light sandpaper. These products can damage your CD rather than repair it.

You can usually find CD repair kits at places that sell electronic devices or CD's. The price may vary, it all depends on the type of CD repair kits you want to purchase. If you have a seriously scratched CD, do not expect a miracle to happen. The repair kits are not intended to be used for severely damaged materials. If your CD falls under the category as being non fixable, it may be a better investment to buy a new one. For minor scratches and blemished, CD repair kits can work wonderful. Be careful not to over repair the CD though. The sound quality of the CD may become low, and not readable in some CD drives. If you pay close attention to the CD repair kit instructions, you can't go wrong.