CD & DVD Care

by Sandy Berger...

Most of us have moved our old vinyl records and cassette tapes to the back shelf replacing them with sturdy, long lasting CDs and DVDs.   Americans households have already invested billions of dollars in disc-based media. Now it’s time to learn how to keep those discs in tip-top condition.

Vinyl records wore out because of the friction of the needle against the record. Cassette tapes deteriorated as the tape head rubbed against the tape. Compact discs, however, are much less vulnerable to wear. Since CDs and DVDs are read by optical lasers, there is no mechanical contact to erode the compact discs. Most damage to these discs is caused by misuse that can be easily prevented. Although CDs and DVDs have a protective coating, there are three common ways to damage a disc.

A scratch can damage the disc destroying precious data.

1. Food and fingerprints can render the disc unreadable.
2. Heat and/or pressure can warp discs.

Follow these steps to keep your discs damage free.

Always handle the disc by the edge or center hole.

1. Keep discs in sturdy protective coverings. Plastic jewel cases are preferable to paper sleeves and can be purchased at any office supply store.
2. Keep your discs in scratch-free environments. Keep dirt, and sand away from CDs. Handle discs with care. Never slide them across hard surfaces.
3. Keep food or drinks away from your discs.
4. Do not write on the surface of the CD with a pencil, pen, or any other hard object.
5. Keep CDs in normal temperatures as much as possible. Direct sunlight in a hot environment, as well as excessive humidity can cause CDs to warp. If a CD is exposed to freezing temperatures, it is best to let it warm up before playing.
6. Store CDs in a stress-free environment. It doesn’t matter if they are stored horizontally or vertically, but they should not be kept under any heavy objects.
7. Keep your CDs clean by occasionally gently wiping with a soft non-abrasive cloth. Be sure that the cloth is clean and does not contain any dirt or abrasive particles that can scratch the disc.
8. Don’t let the kids use CDs as teething rings, coasters, or Frisbees.

If a disc does become excessively dirty or scratched, cleaning kits and repair mechanisms are available. If, however, you follow these simple steps you may never need to purchase any additional equipment to maintain your discs as the long lasting storage medium they were meant to be.