Geek Tip: Fix Scratched CDs With Toothpaste

February 18, 2008

I've heard rumblings about this tip for a while now, but I was too scared to try it myself. But I've seen and heard recommendations for it all over the place, so here goes. Though most scratched up CDs make me want to just throw them out, it turns out they just might be salvageable . . . with toothpaste!

Simply rub toothpaste on the scratched surface with a cotton swab until the scratches have disappeared. The paste fills in the scratches so the disc can be read. It may not work for heavily scratched surfaces, but it's worth a shot.

I'd try this with the really plain white toothpaste and nothing with those newfangled beads or bits in it. Clean-spinning and minty fresh!

Source

Geek Tip Cd

18 Comments

elgoog 5 years 10 weeks

tried it.. and guess what .. a patch in the cd .. lolllll..

elgoog 5 years 10 weeks

tried it.. and guess what .. a patch in the cd .. lolllll..

Crazyswooop 5 years 12 weeks

Yup, I use Pledge, works great!

jenintx 5 years 12 weeks

Pledge also works in the same way. My friend told me about it. You just spray it on and then wipe it off, in a circular motion, with a soft cloth. I use it for all my scratched cds.

sparkleluvr 5 years 12 weeks

Interesting tip, toothpaste is also a great way to clean tarnished silver jewelry - makes the silver gleam beautifully, like new!

Computertechno 5 years 12 weeks

I've been using toothpaste to clean my CD's for quite a few years now, and it works great. The only repairs it can't fix are the ones with huge gashes that go from one side of the CD to another. Otherwise it's very safe, and very good solution instead of paying $30+ for Disc Doctors.

Computertechno 5 years 12 weeks

I've been using toothpaste to clean my CD's for quite a few years now, and it works great. The only repairs it can't fix are the ones with huge gashes that go from one side of the CD to another.Otherwise it's very safe, and very good solution instead of paying $30+ for Disc Doctors.

PirateKitty 5 years 13 weeks

i just wash them with soap and water, then dry them carefully with a lint free towel.. this fixes 9/10 skipping CDS, unless the scratch is just too deep.CDs are more durable than people think, don't be scared to wash them.

PirateKitty 5 years 13 weeks

i just wash them with soap and water, then dry them carefully with a lint free towel.. this fixes 9/10 skipping CDS, unless the scratch is just too deep. CDs are more durable than people think, don't be scared to wash them.

x_juicyfruit 5 years 13 weeks

Hmm. Good tip. I'll have to try it some time.

LuxxuryAddict 5 years 13 weeks

No way! I'll try that sometime.

katra12 5 years 13 weeks

I just fixed a severely scratched DVD this way a few days ago. Actually, the abrasiveness is a good thing: it's not filling in the scratches; rather, it's buffing them away. It leaves a cloud of tiny, tiny, faint scratches in its wake, but it removes the big ones and the disc will be playable.

pixelsugar 5 years 13 weeks

Toothpaste has so many hidden uses. You can also use it to remove stains from your MacBook: http://tinyurl.com/ytyabn

KristinDaBomb 5 years 13 weeks

Maybe I will try this. :D Thanks for the tip!

KristinDaBomb 5 years 13 weeks

Maybe I will try this. :D Thanks for the tip!

verily 5 years 13 weeks

Yikes. I don't know about this tip. And a lot of toothpastes these days are slightly abrasive due to the whitening elements in them...

Robyn Tang 5 years 13 weeks

I saw this tip everywhere, tried it on a few discs but didn't have any success. I read that Brasso (a metal polish) is quite effective in repairing scratches, haven't tried it though.

amh678 5 years 13 weeks

I've been too afraid to try this too!

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18 Comments

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