What do you guys think the best way to clean LD is I tried using rubbing although it just left a white residue on the disc.

You never use any kind of chemicals on a disc surface as it has the potential to mar the finish and then the laser will not be able to read the data.

Just use water and a non-abrasive cloth and don’t wipe in a circular pattern.

I'm assuming when fred posts rubbing hes saying rubbing alcohol, wow.

If you have more than 2 LDs you should have their original inner sleeves which say how to clean these discs.
Even player manuals say how to clean discs, please pay more attention and don't destroy our precious LDs.

really? I have never noticed anything about cleaning on the sleeves, hmm I guess I will have to check that out I have clean cd with alcohol for years and never seen the residue on them so I assumed it would be ok, btw I got the residue off but for sure would do that again.

https://blog.teufelaudio.com/cd-cleanin ... /#chapter5

This applies to all type of optical discs

I will also add that using alcohol has the potential to get into the adhesives on an LD and if that happens you could potentially create an opening for laser rot. It's your choice if you want to risk that.




Just checked some of my discs and the warnings only mention choking hazard for kids and how to store discs to prevent damage.




That I can concur that is accurate at least on the manuals I have; not sure if that's consistent from year to year but I assume yes.

Oh I may be wrong, I though on the inner sleeves that had blue printing said how to clean??

I didn't think alcohol was goo for CDs either, not just film as LDs are made of a different plastic but that will get
between the thin foil and coating on the top of the CD but again I may be mistaken on that one.

I personally clean CDs with soap, water and a very fine sponge that won't scratch, the CDs I get from thrift stores are grimy.

OK found it, seems like it was only on Warner Brothers discs but I don't know for how long.
I thought it was on more discs but I guess it wasn't.

I know there is a topic here where we talk about how to clean but I guess this should be a main point like size of discs etc.

Loved those jackets with the care tips......
Very helpful.
I used several mild cleaners, however just a good breath and polish worked 9 times out of 10.

Science it out....
Always test trial on a valueless platter. I kept several around just for that purpose.

Cheers to the membership !

I don’t get my discs dirty so I rarely clean them but Windex works great, despite whatever the next post says. I’ve used it for 30 years on LD with no issue.

Well.........

Ammonia is not good for plastics.

Then why isn’t my LD collection trashed? Also CD, DVD, BR? Every Gameboy screen I’ve ever owned, CD cases, TVs, you name it, I’ve cleaned it with Windex.

I will say, the “plus vinegar” version you don’t want as it attacks electronics, leaves behind a residue that shorts PCB traces. This I learned the hard way.

I don't know why its not trashed.

Its like the hardware store guy who told me how to replace the siding on part of my house, I told him its not going to happen the way he told me to do it.
I had only 1 way of doing it and if it did what he said I told him I knew he was right, if it didn't I told him I lucked out but still knew he was right, but I had
no other way to install this patch.

So far it didn't do the issue and I lucked out, didn't mean he was wrong its just that I lucked out.

That’s nothing at all like my situation. There isn’t one chemistry for me and one for you, there’s just Chemistry. If Windex doesn’t melt LDs at my house it won’t melt LDs at yours.

Ammonia is not good for plastics.

I took it to a different level.
I use isopropyl ETOH...... and never had an issue. Some help with gummy edge leaking over on platter surfaces.
Never had an issue with fogging or blemishing with ETOH however still recommend testing first before going hole hog.
ETOH may have an X factor interaction with previously used cleaners.

Zeta, big fan of windex. Never did steer me wrong.......

Cheers mates !

Hey folks .....

Remember to :

My March 2020 take on this was a little more British!



Julien