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How to clean gunky CDs

Years ago Cd's in box sets used to be packed with foam inserts holding Cd's in place. I probably should have removed the inserts at that time because now I find that some of them have deteriorated to the point where they leave a sticky substance and bits of foam on the non-playing side of the CD.

I have tried plain soap and water, alcohol, and even lighter fluid. Nothing removes this gunk and I don't want to insert the CD in my player and risk gumming up the mechanism. Any recommendations as to how to remove this gunk would be appreciated?
jec
6 responses Add your response
joseph796
54 posts
 
Try a good plastic polish
glenfihi
525 posts
 
Not a recommendations, but a if all else fails...Perhaps putting the cd in slightly less than boiling water then scrubbing with dish pad used for non stick pans.
Please post your results.
chayro
2,996 posts
 
Try Goo-Gone, a citrus-based cleaner that seems very good at removing gummy residues. Also, you might try some Scotch packing tape. Give it a minute or two to adhere to the goo and then pull it off the CD. I would try both of these methods on a CD I didn't particularly care about for starters.
csontos
1,311 posts
 
Acetone, sparingly dampening the cloth.
sfar's avatar
sfar
1,760 posts
 
Whatever you try, do it first on a blank CD or a CD you don't care about, particularly if you're going to try a solvent as powerful as Acetone.

I, too, would have recommended Goo-Gone or one of the similar citrus based cleaners. WD-40 dissolves some kinds of adhesives and might be worth a try. You might combine the solvent with a Magic Eraser pad, followed by a good plastic polish.

Test first.
donjr
1,335 posts
 
Acetone? That will melt a CD. It dissolves the polycarbonate. Isopropyl or methanol (limited contact) will work.
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