BEWARE: Bad advice from the Disc Doctor re: CD cleaning!

I just want to save everyone from making the same mistake I just made. I had a long conversation with the Disc Doctor yesterday, who makes the excellent Stereophile recommended lp cleaning system, regarding cd cleaning. He recommends using a carbon fiber record brush, such as the Audioquest model, to lightly brush surface dust off of a cd. He says this on his website and that is what he told me over the phone as well. Well, this evening I tried it and completely cheesed a copy of Underground Radio Vol 2. Obviously using a carbon fiber record brush on a cd is a ridiculously stupid idea. It put small hairline scratches all over the surface of the disc. I will be calling the Disc Doctor tomorrow to express my upset. Beware of this rotten advice and keep your carbon fiber brushes away from your cds.

 

Thanks for the info, prix.

Is there any reason not to use strait cotton cloth? I use it to wax my car and my speakers, and it doesn't leave swirl marks, so I thought it should be fine on CDs(?) I haven't noticed scratches, but maybe I'm not looking hard enough.

 

Ouch. Sorry to hear about the ruined CD. Is it playable?

I have his record cleaning system, and it works great. Guess you never can tell. I generally don't clean my CDs at all, or at most use a damp, soft cloth.

Thanks for the warning.

 

I use a micro cleaning and polishing cloth that JVC sold years back, It's washable and does an amazing job at removing fingerprints and light smudges...Not for scratches though...Thanks for the tip!

 

To clean CDs and DVDs (though I rarely have to), I use a little bit the same gentle solution I buy from Lens Crafters to clean my glasses and on old, white cotton t-shirt. It sounds silly, but it works well.

 

Plain old soap 'n water, and a clean dry cotton towel (same with DVD).

 

I never touch the underside of my CDs unless I ABSOLUTELY have to. If I HAVE TO, I gently use a cotton cloth.

 

Those carbon fibre brushes moult quite a bit - check that the "scratches" aren't in fact micro-fibres.

 

They aren't.

 

Not a good idea.

 

Even the softest cotton cloths will leave barely noticeable hairline scratches. If you are trying a new cd cleaning method, get into the habit of inspecting the disc under various lighting conditions. You will see different things depending on the light source. Try direct sunlight, bright indirect daylight, overhead lighting, flourescent lights, and lamps. If you still don't see any scratches, you've got a safe method.

 

I use soap and water for cleaning CDs as well with success.

 

Anyone seen what the Disc Doctor device does to a CD? I don't know if it really works to make a scratched, skipping disc playable again, but I sure don't like the way a disc looks after going through the Disc Doctor.

 

I'm not sure I would agree with using Windex. For one, is Windex proven not to leave any residue? Is Windex safe for long term use? Is it's chemical structure hard on the plastic or label material? I'm not sure. Also, rubbing a pristine cd with just about anything, no matter how soft, will scratch on some level 99% of the time. I have tried many things and have spent many hours inspecting discs and thus far, there is only one method that works without damaging the cd surface. I'm not saying I won't find something better, but currently I am using a Fujifilm camera lens cleaning cloth that was given to me by the camera shop. I do not rub the disc. I take the edge of the cloth and without applying any pressure, I drag it lightly across the surface to remove dust. I do the same with the label side. If there are oil spots or finger prints, then I will mist the disc with a breath of air and gently wipe the spot away. Of course this is not ideal either because my breath is probably more corrosive than Windex, but it's better than wiping a dry cd. I agree that it is a bad idea to clean discs just for the sake of cleaning discs and in a perfect world, discs would be better left alone. However, the dust on the cd surface, if not removed, could easily contaminate the lens of the laser inside the machine resulting in tracking problems and more frequent errors. Of course the lens can be cleaned, but not easily and not without taking the cover off the machine and this is dangerous business because if it's not done exactly and properly, the laser mechanism will likely be damaged. Ultimately, though, the most valuable and important part of the equation is your software. A cd player is cheap in comparison. If you can't clean a cd safely, I'm with Steve; don't clean it at all.

 

Absolutely, but regarding sonic compromises, wouldn't dust on a disc either A) fall inside the cd player and possibly on the laser lens? or B) remain via static charge in place on the disc surface and act in the same manner as scratches, creating small areas of unreadable data?

 

Excessive moisture is an enemy of the compact disc. Again, with regard to soap...be careful here. There are abrasives and certain chemicals that may be corrosive or destructive to the plastic or may leave residue. If you must use water, I would suggest nothing other than distilled.

 

I'm sure most of us on this forum have had CDs since they first came out, and I can say most of mine still look like new in every way... Only time I use cotton is when one of my daughters gets their greasy paws all over 'em

 

The only thing I do to clean off dust is blow on it. If that isn't enough, I use compressed air.

 

I may have had to clean 6 in my whole life ,and a windex product with a soft cloth with no circular motion. Works. If they get dusty, i use a brush which came with one of the Cartridges i have purchased in the last few years. A very soft brush to get particles which may cause the laser to mistrack.

 

This is true, but for me it's all about damage control. I try to minimize anything within reason that can come between me and the music. I inspect my cds for pin holes also and I will usually replace them if I see something I don't like, or another example is an uneven pour where the surface looks all swirly and marble-like. True, it's hard to avoid dust....impossible actually, but I've found some pretty offensive tiny flakes, hairs, and threads of this and that on my discs. Too bad cds don't have mucous membranes, eh?

 

OH yeah, I've used one of those when I have one around!!!