Cleaning a CD and the player is essential to maintain their quality. To keep both the player and disc in good shape, you can try the following methods.

Proper Maintenance for CD Players

This technique should work with both portable CD players and CD drives. Open the disc drive and use a soft, clean cloth to clean the area. For portable CD players, wipe clean the disc with a tissue or cloth.

You can also use disc cleaners. These are discs equipped with a small brush. Just put it in the disc drive and press play. Continue cleaning a CD for as long as the instructions indicate.

Liquid cleaning solutions are also available. These are applied in different ways. For computer disc drives, put some liquid on the CD’s brush. Insert it in the CD drive and press play.

For portable players, you can use the same technique. Another way is to put some liquid into a piece of cotton. Clean the lens. Be gentle so the lens doesn’t get damaged.

How to Wipe the CD Disc

For dirt and dust, any dry soft cloth will be sufficient. Hold the disc with one finger in the middle hole and another one on the side. Wipe the cloth beginning from the inner part. Work your way to the outside. Wipe in a straight way. Do not wipe in a circular manner. Cleaning a CD in that manner will not remove the dirt.

Other Cleaning Materials

For more persistent dirt, you can use alcohol. Combine one part alcohol with one part water. Wipe the disc using the method suggested earlier. Stand the disc vertically and allow it to dry.

Window cleaners are also popular options. Put some of it on a cloth and clean the disc. Let the disc dry before putting it back in the jewel case.

Some users also clean the discs with car auto polish. These have been proven to work. However there are now specialized CD disc dirt removers which you can buy in the market. Always follow the directions when using any of these products.

Tips and Warnings

For CD players, cleaning once a month should be just about right. Cleaning too often particularly with the liquid solution might damage it. The discs themselves need to be checked regularly.

If you’re cleaning a CD always look for any scratches. If there are some, try applying some toothpaste. This may get rid of the scratch.

Consider buying protective coating for the discs. These products consist of special solutions you apply on the CD surface. These can protect the discs from scratches and prolong their life as well.

Back up all your important discs. Even when they’re working, having duplicate copies is important. You might lose the CD or accidentally break it. By having a backup copy the data will still be there.

Finally, you should always return the discs in their jewel case. This will keep dirt exposure as low as possible. By taking these steps for cleaning a CD, you can be assured that they’ll keep running smoothly for a long time.

Cleaning scratched CDs may help get rid of the skipping and choppy sound you get when playing it. If the CD is still working, make a backup of the disc. These techniques may do the job, but it’s better to have a backup copy just in case things don’t work out.

Polishing Techniques

Note: the following technique does not work with all CDs. Use this only if you have made a backup copy. Be aware that this may render the disc unusable.

Polishing a CD means applying some toothpaste or baking soda on it. Other people like to use fine grit polishing compound. These compounds are usually used on cars. To start cleaning scratched CDs, put some of the polish on a cloth. Wipe it on the disc.

Dab in a circular manner. Repeat a dozen times. Try to focus your rubbing on the scratches. Wash the disc when you’re done. Allow it to dry then clean with a dry cloth. Test the disc. If it doesn’t work, repeat the process.

Waxing Techniques

Apply some liquid car wax or shoe polish on a piece of cloth. Wipe the cloth on the disc’s shiny side. Check the instructions for removing the wax. Allow the disc to dry. Put the CD in the player to test it.

Use a Light Bulb

Another method for cleaning scratched CDs involves using a lamp. Turn on an incandescent lamp (preferably 60W). Use your forefinger to hold the disc. Set the scratched side towards the lamp. It must be about 4 inches away. Keep it there for 20 seconds. Move it in a circular motion. When the disc gets warm, put it in the CD player and try it.

If the technique doesn’t work, try it again. Depending on the scratches, it may or may not work.

Tips and Warnings

If these techniques don’t work, bring it to a repair shop. Some scratches are so deep that the disc becomes unreadable. For light scratches, there are special removers available in stores. To avoid scratches, keep the disc in the jewel case when not using it.

To avoid cleaning scratched CDs, taking care of them should be the priority. Hold the discs in the hole and the edges only. Do not press your fingers on the shiny surface.

Even if the disc works again, make a backup copy. There’s no telling how long the repaired disc will keep working.

Check for Scratches

Of course you need to make sure there is a scratch. Hold the disc up against a light. The scratch should be visible. If there isn’t any, the problem could be the CD player and not the disc. In that case, clean the player using a disc cleaner.

If you need the disc but none of the techniques work, have it repaired by a professional. It may cost some money but in some cases it’s the only solution.

Seeing a scratch doesn’t necessarily mean it isn’t going to work. By knowing the ways of cleaning scratched CDs, you may get it to function again and backup the data.

There are several ways for cleaning alkaline battery corrosion. Here are some suggestions.

Sanding, Solder and Others

You can use sanding to get rid of all the corrosion. Get some silver solder and apply it to the metal. This can restore some of the missing elements. If you removed any components, put them back in place now. Try using the batteries again.

You can also try using an emery board along with sanding. You can use baking soda. Mix the baking soda with some water. Apply some of it on the battery. Leave it there for a few minutes. Finish cleaning alkaline battery corrosion by wiping it with emery paper. Others prefer to just use carbonated soda. This can be enough to eliminate corrosion.

Vinegar and Other Substances

You can use vinegar cleaners to get rid of the corrosion. Just put it on the affected parts and wash it with water. There also contact cleaners available in stores. These are made up of glass fibers placed in a pen shaped contraption. You use this to wipe off the corrosion. Pink pencil erasers can remove light corrosion too.

You can also use lemon juice. Get a Q tip or brush. Dip it in the lemon juice and brush the battery. Cleaning alkaline battery corrosion using acid is also something you can try. However the acid shouldn’t be mixed with water.

Note: the amounts to use will vary. You can start off with a teaspoon of whatever cleansing agent you want to use. Mix this with a teaspoon of water and see what happens. Add more if it doesn’t work.

Warnings

Take out the batteries when not using the device for a long time. This may help prevent any corrosion from building up. Also check the warranty. Some manufacturers will replace the batteries free of charge.

Be careful during the cleanup process. Alkaline batteries have potassium hydroxide. This has been known to cause eye and skin irritation. Wear gloves to avoid any adverse skin reactions. Wear glasses just to be sure.

You’ll spend less time cleaning alkaline battery corrosion by not mixing different brands. They are composed of differing components and might not be compatible. By all means avoid combining new and old batteries. Do not put the batteries if the electrical device is wet, and vice versa.

Tips

The vinegar solution can also be mixed with sandpaper. This compound should be applied to the affected area. Let it dry. If all else fails, contact the manufacturer and ask for a replacement. They may also know another way of cleaning it.

You might also consider switching to lithium batteries. They are less susceptible to corrosion.

Whatever cleaning method you use, it’s important that you take the batteries off the device the moment you see corrosion. If you leave the batteries in the device, the corrosion will spread. It might damage the gadget altogether.

Cleaning alkaline battery corrosion can take many forms. You might have to experiment with some of these solutions to find the right one. It’s very likely though, that you’ll find one that works for you.