Boil your DVDs, really.

[Downhome 0]

I'm sure most people who buy a lot of DVDs knows this by now, but I never actually tried it until tonight. To those of you who have never heard of this or just haven't ever tried it, read on.

 

Two of my DVDs that I bought used today didn't want to work, One Hour Photo and the Wishmaster double feature, so I decided to get a pot, boil some water, put the DVDs in the water, and leave them in there for a little while, just a few minutes. To my surprise, this totally worked 100%, they are like new now (well, in terms of actually playing like new). Just put a DVD in the boiling water, only one at a time, and leave it in there for a few minutes, 3-5 or so, then take it straight out of the water, put it on a paper towel or another very soft something or other, and PAT it dry, do not wipe.

 

I use an ice pick to take the DVDs out of the water. Just stick it through the middle hole, get the DVD to slide on, then take it from there to the paper towel, and just let it slide right off.

 

You might need to go through the process twice for the really stubborn DVDs.

 

If you ever encounter a DVD that flat out skips, doesn't play, or whatever else, give that a try, it's great.

 

Sincerely,

...Downhome...

[starvenger 0]

The question I have is - does it work on those not-exactly-legal DVDs that don't work that you can get at Chinese malls?

[NoCalMike 0]

wouldn't boiling water warp and bend plastic?

[Skywarp! 0]

And would it work on CDs?

[Downhome 0]

Yes, this works on CDs as well I do believe. I've never actually tried that though, so I'd test it on one you don't care much about if I were you.

[Guest Brian]

You throw them in a hard boil for a couple minutes or do you turn off the heat and let 'em steep.

[Downhome 0]

The way I personally did it, was put them in with the water still on the stove, but you might not want to do that yourself. It would work just as well to boil the water for a little while, and as soon as you take it off of the stove, stick the DVD in the water and leave it there for a while.

[Styles 0]

Ok, I'm confused, how does this work exactly? What does it correct and how?

[Downhome 0]

I'm not totally sure. All I know is that these two DVDs had scratches and various smudges on them, the DVDs would not play and/or would skip/freeze at certain places, and this process fixed both of them perfectly.

 

I hear toothpaste and certain soaps can help with light scratches also.

[Use Your Illusion 0]

Hey guys, try scissors.

[BlackFlagg 0]

window cleaner works as well

[Slayer 0]

Boil your DVDs

Add salt and spices to taste

 

Serves 5

[{''({o..o})''} 0]

I can verify the toothpaste thing, works better than my disc doctor. One of those cheap electric toothbrushes used with it quickens the process, just go in small circles.

[Guest El Satanico]

Windex still sounds quicker and easier.

 

Spray it on

wipe it off with a soft towel or tshirt

[MrRant 0]

I've found the best thing is just warm water and a mild dish soap. Use your fingers going from the center to the edge (not in circles but a straight line) and then dry with some type of cloth (shirt, towel) in the same motion.

 

Papertowels will scratch the CD/DVD.

[razazteca 0]

I'm too lazy to follow your directions so........what if I took one of those disposable gladware plastic tubs filled it with water half way and added a few squirts of liquid soap and threw it in the microwave?

[Guest Retro Rob]

Give that shot. I'm not going to guarantee it'll fix your DVD, but you'll get a nice fireworks display in the process.

[MarvinisaLunatic 0]

I bet this would ruin CD and DVD RWs.

[MrRant 0]

My thing works fine on pretty much anything.

 

It's what we told people to go when I worked for GT Interactive (then Infogrames, then Atari).

[Guest Agent of Oblivion]

Ok, I'm confused, how does this work exactly? What does it correct and how?

The heat probably makes the plastic sort of re-settle itself, which removes surface scratches on the plastic side. However, most skipping discs are due to a wound on the side that actually contains the information.

[Guest Failed Mascot]

It's what we told people to go when I worked for GT Interactive (then Infogrames, then Atari).

Now that I know this I know who came up with the game where you try to lead a hippy across a street and near a creak only to have him hit by various amounts of traffic.

[Nevermortal 0]

Better idea: Take care of your DVDs so that you don't have to fall back on exposing them to extremely high heat temperatures.

[Downhome 0]

That's a great idea, but you sorta can't do that with used DVDs and the such.

[Guest Failed Mascot]

You can if everybody practices the idea.

[tekcop 0]

I actually tried this the other day. I didn't work---didn't hurt my DVD, but it didn't fix it either. It was kind of fun explaining it too my girlfriend, though. She just kind of shook her head and walked off after I told her.

[Downhome 0]

Did you try it a second time? I've done a few more, and a few of them took about two or three rounds for the problem to be resolved.

 

Still, some DVDs get to the point where you just flat out can't restore em.

[Guest Agent of Oblivion]

About how many hours have you spent boiling DVDs, Downhome? I'm curious about time factors like this.

[Downhome 0]

I've been doing it nonstop since I started this thread.

 

Is this not normal?

[Guest theanswer1824]

downhome, where did you hear about this remedy?

[razazteca 0]

Discovery Channel's Myth Busters?