Cleaning a DVD+RW without damaging it

[Yirkin]

Hi everyone,

I try to be careful with my DVDs but eventually fingerprints and dust do get on them. I have some experience cleaning CD's using lent free clothes but I'm not sure about cleaning DVDs, especially rewritable ones. Is the DVD in general more delicate then a CD and most importantly, should the rewritable DVD be cleaned differently to protect it's surface? I only have a couple of DVD+RW discs which I use over and over to learn about video editing so I am concerned about damaging them.

I've looked through various areas of this web site and searched the Internet but I don't see an answer to my question regarding cleaning DVDs and DVD+RW discs.

Thank you,

Howard

[Bob W]

Simple use a 50/50 solution of isopropyl alcohol and distilled water. I put the solution in a small spray bottle then lightly spray the disc and wipe with a clean soft cotton cloth. Always wipe lightly from the center of the disc out.

[Allan55]

Hi,

I generally use 99% isopropyl alchohol because I have it for general cleaning around computer stuff anyway (every drugstore I've ever tried has it but you may have to ask the pharmacist). If you want a more dilute solution, how about rubbing alchohol which is usually around 70% isopropyl alchohol and 30% water.

IMHO adding water (as in rubbing alchohol) causes more problems that it cures; even distilled water can leave a residue (watermark). Never add anything but distilled water so that there is no mineral or chemical content in the water.

Allan

[Renegade6]

Would sterile water be just as good as distilled water?

[Allan55]

Would sterile water be just as good as distilled water?

I don't know. If this is just a difference in usage (I'm in Canada) and is the equivalent of distilled water then obviously its the same stuff . If it is something like tap water that has had bacteria and other biological stuff killed (U.V. light? added chlorine? other ways???) then it probably still has disolved chemicals like dead bacteria, iron, manganse. and many others. When the water evaporates these chemicals are left behind. This is where problems start. Maybe I'm a purest, especially for the surface of CDs and DVDs (which are polycarbonate I think) but there it is.

Regards

Allan