How To Best Handle A CD - Tips For Removal, Maintaining, & Cleaning

Good video as always, Brendon! I do have to differ with you on one thing, though: how to clean CDs. It's always best to wipe a CD straight out from the hub, not in a circular motion. If there ever happens to be any unseen dust or grit on what you're wiping with, radial scratches are always much easier for the laser to deal with than circular scratches - the more data in-sequence that is hard for it to read, the greater the chances for mistracking and skipping. One thing about digi-sleeves that I've found useful: after first opening it, I always keep the disc in its pocket with its label side on the same side as the sleeve's front cover. That way, next time I take the CD out, I do so on my bed or desk, with the digi-sleeve facing cover side down, and holding the pocket at an angle while I squeeze so the disc slips out, with my other hand ready to "catch" it by its label side, so that I avoid touching the playing surface. That also helps keep the disc's playing side from rubbing against the inside of the sleeve, cutting down on scratching risk.

This guy seems so chill. I'd like to see its CD collection.

Hello Brendon! I appreciate you taking the time to show the viewers some useful tips! Unless it's a jewel case, I never put cds back in their original cases. To avoid scratches, I buy packs of 50 slim cd cases. I insert the cd and simply have it next to the original case/sleeve on the shelf or storage box. I'm very careful when removing cds, but have found scratches on brand new cds even after carefully removing for the first time. Maybe the scratches are occurring at the factory during production. Also, I stream while driving now, but for many years the cd multi disc changer in my car did contribute to many scratches. I never took cd cases out of the house, but I did transport cds using case logic portable zippered cases that could hold various amounts of cds. The longevity and portability of cds with proper care goes a long way compared to other formats!!! Thanks, Rick

I handle all my CDs with a microfiber cloth (for eyeglasses), so there are never fingerprints. And you can wipe the dust off the discs with the cloth and leave no streaks behind! Therefore, my discs look like new all the time.

Excellent tips. i think when you are very careful with your CDs the lifespan amounts 60-70 years then the material diffuses slowly. It's called physically entropy. Also importent is no extreme heat and cold with normal humidity. If you take this to heart you can still inherit your CDs in connection with your helpful great advice .

Thank you 🙏 I never was fully shown how to properly remove CD disks and I had to look this up and it worked :)

Thanks for the tips. I take good care of my CDs and records. Some of my albums are over 25 years old and still look new.

Those tips for the vinyl replica sleeves (including the first digipak example you showed) will come in handy for me!

Excellent video Brendon!!! Bought a tonne of CDs lately from Thrift stores. Thanks for the tips.

I use OptoClear Clean Spray for cd cleaning. They send you a little towel too with each kit.

I am just getting back into CDs and I had a bad habit as a teen that was one of the reasons I was initially really excited at the advent of the ipod. Sometimes sure, I'd listen to an album front to back. But many times I had these custom playlists in my head with a certain theme. I didn't have a burner or patience. What I'd do is lay the CD's out, out of their case, data side up, on my bed, so like a private DJ I could listen to the first track I wanted, then quickly switch up to the next track on a totally different CD. It was a lot of fun but likely not very healthy for my collection.

digipak is my least favorite packaging, jewel is far superior

a clean microfiber cloth (give it a skake outside first) and a nice cup of coffee. Holding the disc over the steam from kettle or cup for a second or 2 then wiping gently outward (not circular) is enough for the majority of CD's including disc print and inner plastic fingerprint removal. For more stubborn stains and cleaning I use cheap water based non fragranced baby wipe (one wipe for many discs, dab area again gently wiping outward) THEN microfiber cloth dry gently.

Nice tutorial, really helpful

Great video! There is another issue with jewel cases: The right side of the door differs from case to case. There are 2 vertical knobs that hold the front cover or booklet, which in other cases are 2 small round knobs or 2 spikes vertical to the pages of the booklet. In the second and even worse in the third case, they hurt the booklet, and often, at least I do, replace the cases. I hope I described it correctly, ha!ha! thank you for your patience!

Thank you man, really helpful!

I do have a Grace Potter CD (which the CD is black NOT silver) & still works!!

Hi Brendon 👋 I use a solution called Isopropyl Alcohol to clean my cds. I spray it on the cd from the bottle then with a soft cloth i clean it. This solution was used in the 1980s when cds were first introduced.

Also the two disc albums I always have trouble with getting the discs out but I tried what you said and that helps alot

I ordered the new AC/DC PWR/UP CD and it arrived in a cardboard sleeve which is okay, but I never seen one where the disc and booklet slid out towards the inner side of the sleeve. This made it difficult to get them out, you had to use your fingers to dig them out. I recently found the disc in a jewel box and purchased it again, I felt foolish for buying it twice but what's a man to do Brandon, I couldn't live like that!