# Cleaning CD's

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cleaning-cds/170668>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [April 23, 2003, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cleaning-cds/170668 "2003-04-23T19:43:13Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 9\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![gypsymoth3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/85e7bf/32.png) [@gypsymoth3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gypsymoth3)\
**Post date:** [April 23, 2003, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cleaning-cds/170668/1 "2003-04-23T19:43:13Z")

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i can’t find my CD cleaning solution. are there any common household substances i could use instead?

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**Author:** ![andy\_fl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/49beb7/32.png) [@andy\_fl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andy_fl)\
**Post date:** [April 23, 2003, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cleaning-cds/170668/2 "2003-04-23T20:03:03Z")

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water with a little bit of detergent should be jsut fine.

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**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\
**Post date:** [April 23, 2003, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cleaning-cds/170668/3 "2003-04-23T20:15:37Z")

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Use liquid detergent, not anything abrasive

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**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\
**Post date:** [April 23, 2003, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cleaning-cds/170668/4 "2003-04-23T21:31:47Z")

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I just use water from the faucet & pat dry, no soap, it might give a film.

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**Author:** ![cainxinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7bcc69/32.png) [@cainxinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cainxinth)\
**Post date:** [April 23, 2003, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cleaning-cds/170668/5 "2003-04-23T23:45:03Z")

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And remember to wipe vertically from the inside out, not in circles

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**Author:** ![Doomtrain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/0ea827/32.png) [@Doomtrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doomtrain)\
**Post date:** [April 24, 2003, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cleaning-cds/170668/6 "2003-04-24T00:42:42Z")

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I use some (dry) CD cleaning cloths I picked up a LONG time ago (like 1994) to clean mine. Works every time.

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**Author:** ![netscape\_6](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/8c91f0/32.png) [@netscape\_6](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/netscape_6)\
**Post date:** [April 24, 2003, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cleaning-cds/170668/7 "2003-04-24T01:18:04Z")

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i personally use spit and a soft cloth. in my experance saliva seems to work pretty good.

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**Author:** ![gypsymoth3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/85e7bf/32.png) [@gypsymoth3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gypsymoth3)\
**Post date:** [April 24, 2003, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cleaning-cds/170668/8 "2003-04-24T02:16:53Z")

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netscape, that kinda makes sense considering the semi-digestive properties of your special cleaning solution.

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**Author:** ![mipiace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb9ed0/32.png) [@mipiace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mipiace)\
**Post date:** [April 24, 2003, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cleaning-cds/170668/9 "2003-04-24T03:22:33Z")

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I use toothpaste and water. It’s a mild abrasive and washs off easily