Can I wash a CD?

[Rigo]

I accidentaly dropped a CD (with both mp3 and data files) in the gutter (ok;
the toilet!), and dried it up and palys well and can read files but would
like to wash it clean! is this a bad idea? can it be ruined?...

thanks.

 

[Martmcd]

Use a mild detergent and don't scrub. wipe with a soft cloth, don't scratch
it and it should be fine.
Martin

 

[HillBillyBuddhist]

|I accidentaly dropped a CD (with both mp3 and data files) in the gutter
(ok;
| the toilet!), and dried it up and palys well and can read files but would
| like to wash it clean! is this a bad idea? can it be ruined?...
|
| thanks.
|


No problem. I routinely wash the gunk encrusted discs checked out from the
children's section of the public library. A drop of liquid dish soap, warm
water, soft cloth.

--
Doug

I'm not an MVP a VIP nor do I have ESP.
I was just trying to help.
Please use your own best judgment before implementing any suggestions or
advice herein.
No warranty is expressed or implied.
Your mileage may vary.
See store for details.

Remove shoes to E-mail.

 

[Rigo]

thanks: washed it, no problem!...

 

[Rigo]

thanks: did that; no problem!...

----------------------------------------

 

[MAP]

I accidentaly dropped a CD (with both mp3 and data files) in the
gutter (ok; the toilet!), and dried it up and palys well and can read
files but would like to wash it clean! is this a bad idea? can it be
ruined?...

thanks.

To add to what others have already said.
CD's should be dried in a light circular motion.
DVD's should be dried from the center hole outward.

 

[Guest]

Yes! use a mild soap and only wash in the direction of the center to outside
edge. DO NOT use circular or up and down strokes. Use a soft cloth, such as a
T shirt. and be gentle so as NOT to scratch.
But if it IS SCRATCHED go to Radio Shack and pick up the CD
cleaner/Polish. Use the supplied soft Q-tips and apply the Wax, keep rubbing
until Wax is totally dry and about gone, wipe clean with the supplied cloth
and all the scratches are GONE. I have used it to eliminate some pretty big
scratches.
The main reason sratches don't bother Music CDs as much as DATA CDs is
that most Audio CD players use a Tri-Spot Laser to read the data, that means
it reads data before, at and after and if there is a scratch, it will read
the data before the scratch and after and bridge the data together, with
Music it is hardly noticeable, with Data itf a portion of the file is
unreadavble, the whole program could be rendered USELESS. So ALWAYS beware of
scratching, regardless.

 

[Frank Saunders, MS-MVP OE]

I accidentaly dropped a CD (with both mp3 and data files) in the
gutter (ok; the toilet!), and dried it up and palys well and can read
files but would like to wash it clean! is this a bad idea? can it be
ruined?...

thanks.

Only use soft cloth. Never use paper or tissue.

--
Frank Saunders, MS-MVP OE
Please respond in Newsgroup only. Do not send email
http://www.fjsmjs.com
Protect your PC
http://www.microsoft.com./athome/security/protect/default.aspx
http://defendingyourmachine.blogspot.com/

 

[Galley]

To add to what others have already said.
CD's should be dried in a light circular motion.
DVD's should be dried from the center hole outward.

CDs should also be wiped from the center hole outward.

 

[Galen]

In Rigo <[email protected]> had this to say:

My reply is at the bottom of your sent message:

I accidentaly dropped a CD (with both mp3 and data files) in the
gutter (ok; the toilet!), and dried it up and palys well and can read
files but would like to wash it clean! is this a bad idea? can it be
ruined?...

thanks.

And...

You shoulda washed it before trying to play it? Now you may have gotten that
muck inside of your CD player?

--
Galen - MS MVP - Windows (Shell/User & IE)
http://dts-l.org/

"A man should keep his little brain attic stocked with all the
furniture that he is likely to use, and the rest he can put away in the
lumber-room of his library where he can get it if he wants it."

Sherlock Holmes

 

[audiohead]

woollite on gentle cycle. dry using antiwrinkle setting. steam
cleaning is not recommended.

 

[Guest]

have you tried natures most effective method..............lick it?

 

[Martmcd]

not to be recommended with a disk from the library or if it's been down the
toilet.

 

[p.mc]

After licking, don't forget to bless it for that added protection.

 

[Sparda]

I accidentaly dropped a CD (with both mp3 and data files) in
the gutter (ok;
the toilet!), and dried it up and palys well and can read
files but would
like to wash it clean! is this a bad idea? can it be
ruined?...

thanks.

"I accidentaly dropped a CD (with both mp3 and data files) in the
gutter (ok; the toilet!),"
Are you suregesting mp3 files aren’t data files?

"and dried it up and palys well and can read files but would like to
wash it clean!"
You can clean them, it is best to clean them with a dry soft cloth of
some kind, prefrably the cloth used to clean glasses as that is
paticulaly soft and, usualy, lyint free.

 

[Guest]

I review and read the numerous postings to try to learn from others
experiences. Without a doubt, I don't know of ANY other question that has
received so many responses .... comforting to know that there are REAL people
out there that can add educated info ......
I have a question to attach to this, unless this has become pushed back so
far that nobody is following ....
What about cleaning the actual drive itself ???
I have seen the cleaning kits at pc locations, but could anyone advise which
one would be best, and how to best use it ??

---Thanks for any help ----
25or6to4

 

[Martmcd]

They rarely need cleaning, often a quick blast from a can of air is
sufficient to remove dust.
as for cleaning kits - I have noticed some that have a few bristles set onto
a cd to brush the lens but, have also seen some that have a plain looking cd
that as far as I can see will do nothing. Bear in mind the lens does not
touch the cd so unless it has something that sticks out of the cleaning disk
its not going to do a lot.

When I do need to clean the lens I use a small amount of isopropyl alcohol
and a cotton bud.

Better to use clean disks and dust the tray occasionally.

Regards,
Martin

 

[Galen]

In Martmcd <Martmcd > had this to say:

My reply is at the bottom of your sent message:

They rarely need cleaning, often a quick blast from a can of air is
sufficient to remove dust.
as for cleaning kits - I have noticed some that have a few bristles
set onto a cd to brush the lens but, have also seen some that have a
plain looking cd that as far as I can see will do nothing. Bear in
mind the lens does not touch the cd so unless it has something that
sticks out of the cleaning disk its not going to do a lot.

When I do need to clean the lens I use a small amount of isopropyl
alcohol and a cotton bud.

Better to use clean disks and dust the tray occasionally.

Regards,
Martin

For the life of me I have no idea who borrowed it nor where I bought it but
I have/had a DVD/CD cleaner that had both the bristles and small soft cloth
swatches. Depending on the track you played you'd get one of the two or if
you played through you got the brush-like things first and then the softer
cloth material. That did a decent enough job I suppose, well enough for it
to not be returned to me and it wasn't very expensive either. I'm pretty
sure I either picked it up in a large department store or at a computer
supply store but which is beyond me. I do know that I got it in a brick and
morter store and didn't order it online - I'd be able to track the receipt
if I had and I'd know where I got it and it's not in my files. If you can
find one then you can consider something like that as well.

Additionally - you're posting from windowsforumz.com (not the person I'm
threaded beneath but the Sparda person) and they're leeching our posts here
in the newsgroups. Most of us are still willing to help you with your
questions but you should be aware that there's a free, non-ad sponsored, and
no registration required way to access the true source of information. (It's
also easier, has more features, and likely faster...)

Access MS Newsgroups :
http://kgiii.info/windows/all/general/msnewsgroups.html

--
Galen - MS MVP - Windows (Shell/User & IE)
http://dts-l.org/

"My life is spent in one long effort to escape from the commonplaces of
existence." - Sherlock Holmes