When dusting a CD by hand, always work your way outward from the center of the disc to the outer edge to prevent damage avoid spreading the dust around. [2] X Research source Be sure to handle the disc delicately—if you’re not careful, you can actually scratch a CD while attempting to remove dust.

If the container you’re using has been tucked away inside a cabinet for a while, swirl some warm water in it to rinse out any dust that may be inside before you fill it up with the soap solution.

Hand soap will get the job done as well, as long as it doesn’t have any moisturizers or other additives in it. These can leave behind a filmy residue. [5] X Research source

Warm water works better than cold water for cleaning tasks because of its ability to soften stuck-on substances. Your soap solution may bubble up quite a bit. That’s okay—you’ll be rinsing the excess off later anyway.

If you like, you can whisk the CD slowly through the water a few times for a little extra cleaning power.

Grip the CD with two fingers by the center hole and outer edge to avoid smudging it during the rinse.

If your CD doesn’t look any better after a second cleaning, it may be scratched rather than simply dirty. In this case, you’ll need to actually repair the tiny grooves in the surface.

Microfiber towels are great for drying delicate items like CDs, DVDs, and electronic components. Hand-drying is preferable to air-drying, as it’s possible for water to leave spots on the surface of the disc if it’s allowed to sit for too long. [9] X Research source

It’s important that you use distilled water since you’ll actually be buffing the disc. Tap water contains small particles that could cause scratches. Rubbing alcohol is useful for cutting through thick grime and stuck-on messes like soda or food residue. [11] X Research source Diluting the acidic alcohol will keep it from eating away at the plastic surface of the CD.

To prevent drips, allow any excess solution to drip off the cloth before you begin cleaning your dirty CD. Use only a microfiber cloth, chamois, or something similar. Ordinary hand towels can easily cause scratches.

If you run into a tough spot, go over it in a straight line several times rather than being tempted to rub it in a circular motion.