How to Fix a CD That Doesn't Work

You can fix a CD that doesn't work using a number of cleaning solutions, most of which you can find in the cabinets of your home. When attempting to fix your CD, start with the mildest solution and work your way down. The cleaning instructions for each step are quite similar.

Using Furniture Polish

• 1

  Spray furniture polish onto a cloth.

• 2

  Polish the CD with this cloth. This will fill in the scratches with furniture polish and allow the disc to be read by a CD player. While polishing, wipe from the center of the CD to the outside edge, across the tracks. Doing so will minimize scratching while polishing the CD.

• 3

  Take another cloth and dampen it with rubbing alcohol. Then clean the disc with this cloth, allow it to dry and test it in a CD player.

Using Toothpaste

• 1

  Squirt toothpaste onto a cloth.

• 2

  Buff the CD with this cloth. The rough texture of the toothpaste will wear away the scratches on the surface of the CD. While polishing, wipe from the center of the CD to the outside.

• 3

  Take another cloth and dampen it with rubbing alcohol. Then clean the toothpaste residue off of the disc, allow it to dry, and test it in a CD player.

Using Brasso

• 1

  Apply some Brasso onto a cloth.

• 2

  Buff the CD with the cloth. Wipe from the center of the CD to the outside edge. Doing so will minimize scratching while polishing the CD.

• 3

  Dampen another cloth with rubbing alcohol. Then clean the Brasso off of the disc. Allow it to dry, and test it in a CD player.