# Deodorant in CD/DVD Players. Harm?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deodorant-in-cd-dvd-players-harm/147616>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [January 9, 2003, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deodorant-in-cd-dvd-players-harm/147616 "2003-01-09T22:44:12Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![jclune](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9dc877/32.png) [@jclune](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jclune)\
**Post date:** [January 9, 2003, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deodorant-in-cd-dvd-players-harm/147616/1 "2003-01-09T22:44:12Z")

</div>

Over the years I have learned that a way to make a skipping CD or DVD perform is to put clear deodorant on the disk, wipe it off, and play it. It usually lasts for four or more runs without the skips before needing another coat.

Recently people have told me when I mention this that I am probably damaging the CD or DVD player itself, reasoning that all that deo has to be going somewhere.

Anyone know if there are negative consequences to this panacea?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\
**Post date:** [January 9, 2003, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deodorant-in-cd-dvd-players-harm/147616/2 "2003-01-09T23:01:40Z")

</div>

Assuming you are wiping it off very well, so that only trace amounts are in the tiny cracks, you are adding only a small buildup inside the machine. It probably won’t harm most of the electronics but might screw up the optics. If there is a thin coat over the disc in general after wiping, harming the optics is a certainty.

A much better solution is to take better care of your media and your machine in the first place. What you are doing is not all that different from whacking a TV to make the picture better.

Look up “panacea” in the dictionary. This isn’t one.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![jclune](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9dc877/32.png) [@jclune](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jclune)\
**Post date:** [January 10, 2003, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deodorant-in-cd-dvd-players-harm/147616/3 "2003-01-10T04:00:44Z")

</div>

> [@](#):
>
> Look up “panacea” in the dictionary. This isn’t one. \*\*

Thanks for the info. I was going to write “potential panacea” but was trying to be optimistic.