BORING Question...Cleaning CD's

xandra
xandra Posts: 291
edited June 2009 in Basic Hookup/Wiring Questions
Most device manufacturer's tell you not to use solvents on CDs/DVD's -- that's nice but what should you do about smudges, dirt spots etc that don't come off with water/soft cloth. (I take extraordinary care with my disks and most are flawless... but real life happens.)

I've bought disc cleaners in past but have been too intimidated to use 'em.

Can anyone recc'd a 'safe' dvd/cd cleaner?
LR Setup:
Polk RTi10's, RTi6's, CSiA6 (5 ch setup)
Onkyo 705 & Denon 3808ci Receiver, Onk 875
Parasound 2250 Amp
Sony 26" KDL series Bravia LCD
Panny DMR-EH75 Recorder
Panny DVD-F87 (5 disk DVD player)
NAD T585 (DVD/SACD)
Yamaha DVD-C961 (5 disk SACD/DVD)
SciAnt Explorer 8500HD Cable Box
Orig & 5Gen iPods, , Wii
Plans/Fantasies:
• 400 disk player that handles ALL formats, sounds as good as NAD with Panasonic interface & compatability.
Post edited by xandra on
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  • shack
    shack Posts: 11,154
    edited July 2008
    Add a little baby shampoo to lukewarm water, rub with a soft cloth then rinse. If that doesn't work use Isopropyl alcohol on a soft cloth. There is no need for any of the commercial cleaners or machines.
    "Just because you’re offended doesn’t mean you’re right." - Ricky Gervais

    "For those who believe, no proof is necessary. For those who don't believe, no proof is possible." - Stuart Chase

    "Consistency requires you to be as ignorant today as you were a year ago." - Bernard Berenson
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  • candyliquor35m
    candyliquor35m Posts: 2,267
    edited July 2008
    I run mine under a faucet and then use a drop of liquid hand soap and rub them gently all over with the soap suds to give them a nice squeaky clean shine.

    To dry them, I lay them on a flat paper napkin and press down which quickly absorbs all the water with no rubbing required.
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  • xandra
    xandra Posts: 291
    edited July 2008
    Thanks all: one of the great mysteries of life... solved.
    much accomplished here today.
    LR Setup:
    Polk RTi10's, RTi6's, CSiA6 (5 ch setup)
    Onkyo 705 & Denon 3808ci Receiver, Onk 875
    Parasound 2250 Amp
    Sony 26" KDL series Bravia LCD
    Panny DMR-EH75 Recorder
    Panny DVD-F87 (5 disk DVD player)
    NAD T585 (DVD/SACD)
    Yamaha DVD-C961 (5 disk SACD/DVD)
    SciAnt Explorer 8500HD Cable Box
    Orig & 5Gen iPods, , Wii
    Plans/Fantasies:
    • 400 disk player that handles ALL formats, sounds as good as NAD with Panasonic interface & compatability.
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  • Serendipity
    Serendipity Posts: 6,975
    edited July 2008
    I too use isopropyl alcohol and water - it works really well, especially on rental DVD's and CD's that I've lent to people and got back scratched.
    polkaudio RT35 Bookshelves
    polkaudio 255c-RT Inwalls
    polkaudio DSWPro550WI
    polkaudio XRT12 XM Tuner
    polkaudio RM6750 5.1

    Front projection, 2 channel, car audio... life is good!
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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,538
    edited July 2008
    I use a chamois on all my equipment and my media.
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Shop Spkrs: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
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  • starkiller
    starkiller Posts: 2,723
    edited May 2009
    can i put some isopropyl in small spray bottle and spray it on the disc and then wipe dry?
    Computer room Hegeman 1 SpeakersM&K VX-80 subKenwood DP-7010Cambridge Audio CXC Transport Rega DACPrimaLuna Prologue Four AmpAric Audio Tube PreampGarage Jennings Research SquareCustom tube preampCrown XLS-1000Denon DCD-1500II Modded MSB Link DAC
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  • Pauly
    Pauly Posts: 4,519
    edited May 2009
    starkiller wrote: »
    can i put some isopropyl in small spray bottle and spray it on the disc and then wipe dry?

    Id mix with some water as well and use soft cloth. I wear glasses so i use the cloth to clean those and works quite well


    Pauly
    Life without music would♭
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  • cnh
    cnh Posts: 13,284
    edited May 2009
    steveinaz wrote: »
    I use a chamois on all my equipment and my media.

    That's a good idea too! We use such materials to clean our eye glasses.

    cnh
    Currently orbiting Bowie's Blackstar.!

    Polk Lsi-7s, Def Tech 8" sub, HK 3490, HK HD 990 (CDP/DAC), AKG Q701s
    [sig. changed on a monthly basis as I rotate in and out of my stash]
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  • starkiller
    starkiller Posts: 2,723
    edited May 2009
    i wonder what the ratio should be between the alcohol and water?
    Computer room Hegeman 1 SpeakersM&K VX-80 subKenwood DP-7010Cambridge Audio CXC Transport Rega DACPrimaLuna Prologue Four AmpAric Audio Tube PreampGarage Jennings Research SquareCustom tube preampCrown XLS-1000Denon DCD-1500II Modded MSB Link DAC
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  • hearingimpared
    hearingimpared Posts: 21,136
    edited May 2009
    Just make sure you rub on the radii.
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  • BlueFox
    BlueFox Posts: 15,251
    edited May 2009
    I run Netflix DVDs under tap water and wipe it off on my t-shirt, or sweat pants. Worked fine so far in making a non-playable disc playable.

    However, I have these products on order. Once it arrives and I have a chance to try them I will post a review.

    http://www.mapleshaderecords.com/audioproducts/mikrosmooth.php
    http://www.mapleshaderecords.com/audioproducts/optrix.php
    http://www.mapleshaderecords.com/audioproducts/silclear.php
    Lumin X1 file player, Westminster Labs interconnect cable
    Sony XA-5400ES SACD; Pass XP-22 pre; X600.5 amps
    Magico S5 MKII Mcast Rose speakers; SPOD spikes

    Shunyata Triton v3/Typhon QR on source, Denali 2000 (2) on amps
    Shunyata Sigma XLR analog ICs, Sigma speaker cables
    Shunyata Sigma HC (2), Sigma Analog, Sigma Digital, Z Anaconda (3) power cables

    Mapleshade Samson V.3 four shelf solid maple rack, Micropoint brass footers
    Three 20 amp circuits.
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  • hearingimpared
    hearingimpared Posts: 21,136
    edited May 2009
    BlueFox wrote: »
    I run Netflix DVDs under tap water and wipe it off on my t-shirt, or sweat pants. Worked fine so far in making a non-playable disc playable.

    However, I have these products on order. Once it arrives and I have a chance to try them I will post a review.

    http://www.mapleshaderecords.com/audioproducts/mikrosmooth.php
    http://www.mapleshaderecords.com/audioproducts/optrix.php
    http://www.mapleshaderecords.com/audioproducts/silclear.php

    I gotta check my new Mapleshade catalog to see if Pierre has any special formulas for cleaning 78s.
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  • BlueFox
    BlueFox Posts: 15,251
    edited May 2009
    hearingimpared wrote: »
    I gotta check my new Mapleshade catalog to see if Pierre has any special formulas for cleaning 78s.


    Nope. Just 38s, 45s, and 9mm. ;)
    Lumin X1 file player, Westminster Labs interconnect cable
    Sony XA-5400ES SACD; Pass XP-22 pre; X600.5 amps
    Magico S5 MKII Mcast Rose speakers; SPOD spikes

    Shunyata Triton v3/Typhon QR on source, Denali 2000 (2) on amps
    Shunyata Sigma XLR analog ICs, Sigma speaker cables
    Shunyata Sigma HC (2), Sigma Analog, Sigma Digital, Z Anaconda (3) power cables

    Mapleshade Samson V.3 four shelf solid maple rack, Micropoint brass footers
    Three 20 amp circuits.
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  • hearingimpared
    hearingimpared Posts: 21,136
    edited May 2009
    BlueFox wrote: »
    Nope. Just 38s, 45s, and 9mm. ;)

    Damn!
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  • kolyan2k
    kolyan2k Posts: 259
    edited May 2009
    spit and wipe on your shirt. always worked for me :)
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  • Hillbilly61
    Hillbilly61 Posts: 702
    edited June 2009
    BlueFox wrote: »
    I run Netflix DVDs under tap water and wipe it off on my t-shirt, or sweat pants. Worked fine so far in making a non-playable disc playable.
    QUOTE]

    Thank you! I do too ;) Under tough situations a drop of Dawn dishwashing detergent (or whatever is at the kitchen sink) will do too. 'just rinse them off before drying with dish cloth/shirt/pants or paper towel.

    I have never lost a CD or a DVD. The best practice is to handle by the edges and to right away replace them into their jewel case. My kids never learned the latter, but are quite good at the former. Hence, the developed skills with clothing worn and detergent use!
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  • messiah
    messiah Posts: 1,790
    edited June 2009
    Keiko wrote: »
    This is a little off topic, but I rented "The Bucket List" DVD recently and it had a major scratch across it, causing the disc to skip. I went and put a small amount of Maguires automotive scratch removing compound on the disc and buffed it out a couple times with a soft cotton cloth. Stuff worked beautifully, restored the disc and it played perfectly without a single glitch.

    Thanks for the tip!! Guess that got that dvd off the bucket list too lol
    "They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety."
    Benjamin Franklin, February 17th, 1775.

    "The day that I have to give up my constitutional rights AND let some dude rub my junk...well, let's just say that it's gonna be a real bad day for the dude trying to rub my junk!!"
    messiah, November 23rd, 2010
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