My dad told me to use toothpaste on a scratched DVD and it actually worked

So my kid scratched up our copy of their favorite movie, like deep grooves you could feel with your fingernail. It wouldn't play past the 20 minute mark. I was ready to just buy a new one, but my dad, who's always got an old-school fix, said to try rubbing a tiny bit of plain white toothpaste on the disc in straight lines from the center out, then rinse it off. I was super skeptical, but I figured I had nothing to lose. I used a soft cloth and did it for about five minutes, really gently. After I washed and dried it, the scratches looked way less severe, and the movie played all the way through without a single skip. I mean, it's not perfect for deep gashes, but for light surface stuff it's a legit cheap fix. Has anyone else tried this, or have a different method for saving scratched discs?

2 comments

2 Comments

cooper.viola17d ago

Bettykim's right. Ever try car wax for deeper scratches?

bettykim17d ago

Yeah that trick is a classic for a reason. The mild abrasive in the toothpaste can actually buff out those fine surface scratches just enough for the laser to read the disc again. Just make sure you use a plain paste, not a gel, and go in straight lines from the middle to the edge. I've saved a few old video games that way.