It's a bad feeling when we discover a scratched DVD, especially if it's one of our favorites. Contrary to the popular belief, most scratched DVDs can actually be repaired. There are some damages that cannot be repaired, but those are usually the extremely deep and severe scratches. For small-to-medium scratches and scuffs, the repair may be easier than you think.
Know the Basics
The makeup of your average DVD is fairly simple. It consists of two layers of clear polycarbonate plastic that rest on either side of a burning surface, which is made of a special dye. The outermost layer is protective and very tiny scratches usually don't affect your DVD's readability. It's the small-to-moderate scratches that begin to cause trouble for the laser lens inside a player. Fortunately, these moderate scratches can usually be "buffed out" so you can enjoy your DVDs again.
Easy Home Remedies
Many of the tools to fix your scratched DVDs can be found right at home. Common household items such as toothpaste, metal polish, baking soda, petroleum jelly and rubbing alcohol can be used to repair your DVDs. Toothpaste is the most common remedy for DVD scratches. It works best as a light abrasive and can remove the majority of your smaller scratches. By dabbing a small amount onto a cotton ball and gently rubbing from the center of the disc outward to the edge, many of the visible scratches can be removed. Another remedy is metal polish or Brasso, which can be applied in the same way as toothpaste. After using metal polish, petroleum jelly can be applied and then wiped away with a dry cloth to restore the DVD's natural shine. For slightly larger scratches, dry baking soda is a great option. Remember after using a home remedy, a thorough rinse and dry should be done before testing your disc. Sometimes fingerprints or dirt can cause readability problems. Simple cleaning items like a mild dishwashing soap or isopropyl alcohol on a cotton ball or soft lens cloth can be used for this.
Repair Machines and Other Options
DVD repair machines are another way to repair scratches. They are very convenient and easy to use. However, they are much pricier than the home remedies, ranging from $30 to more than $200. The repair machine's technique involves re-surfacing your DVD by smoothing the larger scratches down with tiny scratches, thus restoring your DVD's readability. Another option is to check with your local electronics store, since many today offer a drop-off disk repair service. There are also several effective cleaning solutions that you can buy for your own DVD repair as well.
Tags: metal polish, baking soda, cotton ball, larger scratches, petroleum jelly