A DVD player reads binary data off the disc by bouncing a laser off the shiny underside. The disc is covered by microscopic pits and raised areas. When the surface of the disc is obscured by dust, grime or scratches, the lens can't read the reflected light. This causes the movie to skip. You can easily remove smudges and dust, but scratches present more of a challenge. Whether you can fix a scratch depends on its location. Scratches on the label side of the disc cannot be fixed.
Instructions
1. Wet a soft cloth with water and wipe off any dust or fingerprints. Wipe from the center of the disc toward the edge. The data track is arranged in a continuous spiral, starting from the center and ending at the edge. If you should happen to scratch the disc, scratches that go from the edge to the middle are easier for the player to read through.
2. Hold the DVD up to a light source and see if you can spot light shining through the scratches. If you see light shining through, it means the scratch has penetrated the data layer on the disc. You can't fix skips caused by this type of scratch, because the data is missing. This issue is most common for scratches on the label side, since the data layer lies closest to the label side.
3. Lay the disc label side down on a soft cloth if the scratches are on the underside. The cloth will cushion the disc and prevent more scratches.
4. Squeeze a small amount of toothpaste or brass cleaner on the surface of the disc. Wrap the other cloth around your index finger and rub the surface of the disc from edge to center and vice versa. The grit in the paste acts like fine grain sandpaper, removing a small amount of the surface of the disc.
5. Wash the disc off to remove the toothpaste or brass cleaner, then dry it with a soft cloth to prevent spots.
Tags: label side, surface disc, soft cloth, brass cleaner, data layer, from center
