WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO PROTECT CDS, DVDS, AND BLU-RAYS AGAINST DAMAGE?
HOW TO PROPERLY HANDLE AND STORE YOUR DISCS SO THEY LAST A LIFETIME
Streaming services are certainly becoming more of the norm for both listening to music and watching movies. Yet who doesn’t still own a collection or two of their favorite CDs, DVDs, and Blu-rays? Plus, with the fickle nature of content available on streaming services and the ever-increasing costs of subscriptions, it’s always nice to say you own your favorite album and have a physical copy of the best television show you’ve ever seen.
But no one can deny that optical discs are more prone to damage; after all, breakage, scratches, and dust particles can interfere with data reading and retrieval, which leads to skipping and disruptions during playback.
The good news? You can prevent damage to your discs quite easily! So whether you’re of a newer generation and you’d like a quick, easy rundown of how to handle DVDs and CDs or you’re someone simply looking for a refresher course, these tips and tricks will walk you through how to handle and store your discs so they last you a lifetime to come.
HOW TO HANDLE YOUR DISCS
If you remember nothing else, remember this Golden Rule for handling discs: hold them by their edges.
Optical discs like CDs, DVDs, and Blu-rays are read by shining a laser on the data side of the disc, decoding “lands” and “pits” as a binary code, which is then read and converted back into electrical signals. This data layer is actually sandwiched between other materials, which includes a clear layer the laser has to pass through to read the information. This is why anything that smudges the surface (including fingerprints, dirt smudges, and dust) can distort the laser, making the disc hard to read.
So avoid touching the disc’s surface and instead use your thumb and middle and/or index finger to grip its outside edge. You can also place your thumb on the outside edge and your finger on the inside ring's edge. This will prevent scratches and smudges, keeping your discs in the best working condition possible!
Pro Tip: If you do notice dirt or a smudge on your disc, gently wipe it off using a microfiber cloth (the type you’d use to clean eyeglasses works great). Don’t wipe the cloth in a circular pattern! Instead, wipe the disc from the center out towards the edges.
HOW TO STORE YOUR DISCS
However, as important as it is to properly handle your discs, you should also take care to store them correctly. If something sharp or hard scratches the playing surface, there’s a good chance that disc will end up with playback issues. The easiest way to prevent scratches is to store it correctly: this means either in the case or the player. So don’t leave it loose and goose atop a pile of other discs or shiny-side up on your shelf or disc player! You’ll also want to avoid storing multiple discs in the same case as they can rub against each other, leading to scratches.
Be sure to also keep your CDs, DVDs, and Blu-rays stored in a relatively cool and dry environment. Direct heat and humidity can damage your discs over time. Excessive heat can even lead to your discs warping. Instead of leaving them in the freezing garage or on the dashboard of a hot car sitting directly in sunlight - or, if you’re short on space, atop your microwave or minifridge - keep them on a shelf in your living room, bedroom, or office where extreme cold, heat, and humidity won’t damage them.
Pro Tip: Check if you need to replace your old CD, DVD, or Blu-ray drives! If you’re finding that your shiny new DVD has scratches all over it after a single playthrough when you’ve been storing it safe and sound until then, it’s probably time to replace the player’s optical head. Old ones can scratch and damage discs, so you may need to replace it or invest in a new or refurbished player to prevent damage to all your discs.
IN SUMMARY
Everyone has that stack of CDs, DVDs, and Blu-rays that they’re loath to ditch. Though streaming is popular, there’s also a comfort to popping in your favorite disc, kicking back with the remote, and listening to your music or watching a movie play across the screen. But this is moot if your discs get warped or scratched.
Blu-ray discs have a scratch-resistant coating, so they’re generally less vulnerable to damage than CDs and DVDs. But none of these three are vulnerable, which is why it’s so important to handle and store them safely and securely. So we hope this guide makes you feel confident about caring for your discs, so you know they’ll be with you for years to come.
Thanks for reading! If you’re looking for a nice disc player for your CDs, DVDs, and/or Blu-rays, we’ve got you covered. At SpenCertified, we’re experts at vintage audio and video gear, and we’ve got a wide selection of disc players to choose from! You can find our refurbished CD players here, our DVD players here, and our Blu-ray players here. Have a great day!
https://spencertified.com/collections/refurbished-compact-disc-cd-players
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