# Dirty CD Question

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dirty-cd-question/595167>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [September 4, 2011, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dirty-cd-question/595167 "2011-09-04T16:00:40Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![SanDiegoTim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85e7bf/32.png) [@SanDiegoTim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanDiegoTim)\
**Post date:** [September 4, 2011, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dirty-cd-question/595167/1 "2011-09-04T16:00:40Z")

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I’ve got a sticky substance on one of my CDs. Water and a soft cloth removed some of it, but it appears as though I’ll need a solvent of some type to remove the rest. What, if anything, will clean it, but not damage the CD? Alcohol perhaps? Adhesive remover? Thanks.

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**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\
**Post date:** [September 4, 2011, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dirty-cd-question/595167/2 "2011-09-04T16:37:59Z")

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isopropyl or rubbing alcohol should be safe. don’t use any petroleum-based solvent, else they might attack the polycarbonate.

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**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\
**Post date:** [September 4, 2011, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dirty-cd-question/595167/3 "2011-09-04T18:19:54Z")

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Pretty sure I’ve used windex in the past. You might just try soaking it in soapy water for awhile, then gently rubbing across the “grooves” to get it off.