Any kind of solvent safe to use on DVDs? (1 Viewer)

[Frank@N]

Every now and again I get a used disc with specks of goop on it.

The goop seems to be water-resistant, so if I wet & wipe it just smears around.

Is there any kind of solvent that is safe to use on DVDs but strong enough to breakdown adhesives?

 

[Kevin M]

I use windex diluted with distilled water, works great.

 

[Aaron Silverman]

I use a small amount of rubbing alcohol, which also works great. I don't know if it has any damaging effects (I'm sure it would if I didn't wipe it off very quickly), but I haven't seen any yet.

 

[Ruz-El]

Where the hell does this goopy snot come from? I've seen it countless times on the used disc's I've gotten, and I always have to wonder what type of savages are renting these.

Spit and a cotton shirt have worked for me. No lie, I've even gotten a new disc to work that jammed at the layer change by gobbing on it and rubbing it on my t-shirt. Must be magic spit.

 

[Frank@N]

It looks like tiny gobs of packaging goop.

The stuff that's used to stick to things, but is designed to be removable.

Could also be some kind of lubrication thrown off by cheap DVD players.

 

[Nils Luehrmann]

Hmmm... are these adult DVDs?

(sorry, couldn't resist - I needed a humor break from all the drama in the discussions over the next DVD format) :b

I use Windex to wipe fingerprints off my discs and have never had any problems.

 

[Kevin M]

How about a brillo pad?

 

[Derek Estes]

I sometimes use a small amount of liquid dish soap, and gently rinse it off with running water. Dawn seems to work it removes grease, like stubborn fingerprints.

 

[Gary Seven]

I use hot tap water and a 100 percent cotton towel. Works great. I have been cleaning CDs, LDs and now DVDs that way for 20 years. No problems. I would NOT recommend alcohol on plastic as it breaks it down.

 

[jim.vaccaro]

My Dad said in the "old days" of LPs he would put his records in the dishwasher once in a while to clean them, and he said it worked great. Wonder if it would work with DVDs?

 

[Leo Kerr]

The detergents in dishwashers are pretty brutal; records didn't have a glue layer that was exposed to the washing.

"Universal" or "Museum" solvent works well on most things (spit. Don't laugh. Just be careful where you do it.) And second the nomination for a cotton tee-shirt.

I know that there are certain solvents that cause certain problems with certain plastics. Windex can cause browning, crazing, and general distruction of acrylics - but DVDs are polycarbonate.

Something else that might work is plex cleaner - "Brillianize" or something homonymic to that. If I recall, it also has a mild anti-static component.

Leo

 

[Kevin M]

I've been using diluted windex since 1992 with my first LD's (read about it in Stereo Review I believe) and have never had a problem, they all look as clean (and clear) as the day I bought them.

 

[Kevin L McCorry]

I use Windex as well (or a bargain brand variation), but I didn't think to dilute it.