DVD Discs & DVD Players: Care and Cleaning Tips

Taking care of your DVD discs properly will allow you to keep your favorite DVDs safe for years to come.  In this guide, I've listed some of the more commonly practiced ways to maintain your discs and give tips of what to avoid future problems.  Lastly, I've included ways to fix problems with your DVDs in the case of scratches or exposure to liquids.

Taking Care Of Your DVD Discs

• When handling the discs, hold them by the edges so that no dirt, finger prints or other residues can get on the shiny surface of the DVD.
• Always store the DVD jewel case or slip jacket to prevent scratches and getting the DVD discs dirty.
• When placing the disc in the jewel case, make sure it is seated firmly in the center holder.
• Store your DVD discs veritically NOT horizontally.  If your DVDs are exposed to heat or left in the horizontal position over time.   This can cause the DVD to begin to bow since all the support from the jewel case is in the center.
• Remember to store DVDs in a safe place away from excessive heat, humdity, sunlight or anything that may scratch them.
• Cracked or warped discs may damage a media playing/recording device.  If a DVD disc breaks inside of the unit, pieces are likely to strike the optics of the unit.
• If your DVD disc gets dirty, you can clean it with any retail DVD cleaning kits or basic rubbing alcohol.  Do not use abrasives, solvents or highly acidic cleansers since this can damage your DVD.
• When cleaning, ALWAYS use a soft, lint-free cloth and wipe gently in a straight line from the center of the disc outwards toward the edge.   This will avoid any potential scrapes from interrupting with the circular path of the signal.
• If your DVD disc gets scratched, more than likely it can be repaired if the scratch is not too deep.  It's not the actual data section of the disc that gets damaged but its clear coating on the disc that gets damaged.  To fix this, you can fill the scratch with optical materials or polish down the scratch thus removing.  You may use a commercial product designed to do this or a polishing compound.  Remember, when trying to eliminate scratches, try not to create any new ones in the process.  Always polish in straight lines away from the center outwards to the edge.
• If your DVD gets wet, clean and dry the DVD disc as soon as possible.  Damage by a liquid to a DVD depends how long the DVD was exposed to the liquid.   If the DVD disc is not readable after cleaning and drying, don't give up.  The liquid may have been absorbed into the layers of your DVD and will take time to dry out.  In this case, please keep your DVD stored properly as stated above and try again every day for a week or so to see if the DVD disc dries out.

Taking proper care of your DVD player will allow you to watch your favorite movies and television shows using your existing equipment for years to come.  Below I've listed some of the more commonly practiced ways to maintain your player and give tips of what to avoid in future problems.

Knowing and Maintaining Your DVD Player

• The inside of your DVD can get dirty and damaged from just being in your entertainment center.  Dust is everywhere and when we manually dust or use the vacuum, the dust can get inside your DVD player.  You may wish to purchase a dust cover for your DVD player to prevent dust from getting inside your unit or purchase an enclosed entertainment center that doesn't allow dust inside.
• If you encounter skipping, picture or sound problems, it's more than likely time to clean your DVD player.   There are many commercial DVD disc cleaners available (from $3 and up) and can be purchased both online or at your local electronics store.    Just place the cleaning disc into your DVD player per the instructions it came with and your equipment will be ready for you to watch your next DVD on.
• Avoid exposing your DVDs to moisture or liquids since this could ruin the delicate electronics inside your unit and bring your DVD player to its premature death.
• Lastly, know the REGION of your DVD player.   REGION 1 plays DVD discs from North America including the United States and Canada.   If you place a non-REGION 1 DVD from Europe, Asia, South America or Africa, it can't be played in your DVD player.  It's because of this that your DVD player is acting strange not that it has maintenance issues.