PopSci 5-Minute Project: Disc Doctor

The prescription for a sick CD? Toothpaste, MSG and wood polish, of course

About to chuck that busted CD? Not so fast, young grasshopper. Web editor Megan Miller demonstrates three ways to resurrect those scratched discs using stuff you probably already have sitting on your shelf.

As always, our 5-Minute Projects are available in video podcast form—subscribe here. And check out the whole series at popsci.com/5minutes.

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What the hell was the dis soap for? Looks?

This was a sloppy tutorial, but informative. I think there is a difference between cd's and dvd's. She didn't mention which one was safe to boil. I think the msg and toothpaste would work on a dvd because it's protected by a layer of plastic, while cd's don't have that protection.

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What the hell was the dish soap for? Looks?

This was a sloppy tutorial, but informative. I think there is a difference between cd's and dvd's. She didn't mention which one was safe to boil. I think the msg and toothpaste would work on a dvd because it's protected by a layer of plastic, while cd's don't have that protection.

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Neo, don't be a twit, the video was good, it was not sloppy. And I think you're wrong about cd's not having a plastic layer. All CD's & DVD's have a plastic layer over the substrate which contains the actual data. THAT'S WHY THEY GET SCRATCHED. The scratches are in the outer layer.

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The dish soap is for washing the toothpaste off the CD. She mentioned washing it, but that they weren't going to show it. I guess they assume 99.9% of viewers could figure that out on their own.

CDs have plastic on one side, but the label side only has a layer of lacquer, plus the label. If that side gets scratched, you're out of options. All you can do is make it worse.

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cooking CDs sound s a bit far fetched. doesn't it get softish and stuff?

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thanks, kind of helpfuf

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Would this work on an Xbox 360 disc? specifically
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion (PLATINUMHITS)

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