CDs are a great way to play music and to play presentations in your computer. However, from time to time they may freeze up, skip, or not play at all. This can be very frustrating and upsetting. Before you toss them out and replace them though you should know how to clean CDs. This can make them work as good as new once again. Keep that in mind because replacing some CDs such as computer software can be very expensive.

Rubbing alcohol is very inexpensive, and there is a good chance you already have some in your home. You can use that to rub on CDs with a clean cloth. Make sure you completely dry the rubbing alcohol. It is also convenient to use alcohol clothes that are individually packaged. Having some of them handy in your vehicles can ensure you always are able to clean CDs you would like to listen to while driving.

Most retailers offer cleaning fluid for CDs as well. This can be used in the same manner as the rubbing alcohol. If you didn’t get results with the rubbing alcohol then you may want to invest in some of it. The cost is very low so don’t worry about the expense. You do want to make sure you get a good quality brand though as not all of them work to the same degree as others.

Regardless of whether you are going to apply rubbing alcohol or the cleaning fluid, you don’t want to apply the liquid directly to the surface of the CD. Instead you want to apply it to a cloth and then to the CD. On a side note, any cloths that you use for your CD cleaning need to be the static free kind. Otherwise you can be damaging your CD’ with every motion you make on them.

That way they don’t allow friction to build up as you move them across your CDs. That is important if you want them to be able to work like they should once again. You don’t want to press too hard or use cloths that may scratch your CDs either. Be very conscious about what you use on them so that you won’t make the situation worse. Too often people try to do what they think will work and then they end up with a completely ruined CD that can’t be salvaged.

Some other things you can use to clean CDs with that work well are old cotton t-shirts or pillowcases. They won’t create friction and they also don’t leave tiny fibers behind that can affect the way that a CD will play. Paying close attention to these details is what will help you to successfully save your CDs instead of having to replace them.

Make sure you handle the CDs correctly while you are cleaning them too. You want to hold them on the outer edges. Try to keep your fingers from touching the part of the CD that needs to be played. Start at the very inside part of the CD and work your way out. Many people make the mistake of working in a circular motion. You don’t want to do that because it can be more damaging than helpful.

Make sure you continue to wipe the CD until it is completely clean. You may need to repeat the process if is really dirty. Make sure you use a clean section of the cloth when you do the second round. Otherwise you risk getting dirt and debris back on the CD when you are working diligently to remove it.

You want to make sure all of the rubbing alcohol or cleaning fluid if completely dry before you stop rubbing the CD. If you allow it to be inserted into your computer, home video game console, or CD player when it is wet it could result in serious damages to that type of equipment. You definitely don’t want to have to pay to replace such items because they can be very expensive.

You may have heard about some home remedies for how to clean CDs as well. They may be something you want to try if these other products don’t seem to work for you. Toothpaste is a common one that people have used successfully. Mixing it with a bit of baking soda can help to reduce the chances of scratches developing. Make sure you take your time using such a product and that you work from the inside outward with it as well.

A bit of Vaseline applied to the edges of the CD can help if it is skipping. However, many people find that this is only a temporary fix so don’t get too excited about it. Yet this option can give you time to burn a couple of copies of the CD so that you won’t have to go out and pay to replace it.

A mild type of dishwashing liquid with some warm water can also help if the problem with the CD isn’t very severe. Baby shampoo works best because it is effective but it doesn’t have any harmful chemicals in it. You want to make sure you don’t use too much soap though. Just a couple of drops are more than sufficient for you to get the results you want. You also need to make sure you completely rinse off all the soap. If you leave a residue of it behind, it will become a magnet for dirt and debris to build up.

Now that you know various ways of how to clean CDs, you will be able to keep them working like they should. You will be able to invest in such products without worrying about how long they are going to last you. Make sure you always handle CDs with care and that you store them correctly. This will cut down on how often you end up needing to clean them. You should place them in a case or as sleeve when they aren’t in use.