So I tried cleaning my cd and wound up making it worse… only smudges no scratches that I can see what would be the best thing to use when cleaning?
I just use a wet (with water) paper towel and wipe from center of the disk to the outside (never do circles)
i have a polishing system, but it’s for peasants. it’s not mechanical, the kit comes with polish, cleaning solution (rubbing alcohol), and some rags. I’ve been using it for so long that the rags have become crusty…
spit…and lick…and spit…and lick some more…and…spit…lick…ok ill stop…um bubble bath???
:D:D:D:D
You did not say whether it still works or whether this is just to “get the scratches off”
If it still works, get the info off quick.
I have read on the net that you can use toothpaste as a polishing medium, but I would not recommend it unless the cd is useless. Try on a different one first maybe.
Never tried it myself, but its one of those things I have in the back of my mind to try someday.
I have actually found that smearing a light film of detergent on (very, very, very light) sometimes helps, as I think it changes the refractive index of the scratched area. This also comes at the expense of a possibly wrecked cdrom drive of course.
I think Manok just wants to clean it.
I have tried the toothpaste method on a scratched and unreadable cd. I scrubbed for about an hour then put the cd in the drive and managed to recover all the data. Although I tried to put it in a second time to see what would happen and I couldn’t read the cd, so I think it’s a bit of a hit and miss affair.
From what I heard, a piece of dry cloth works best. Then again, I’m no expert at this.
Spit, polish, a damp cloth and scale shine.
You can also use a file to chip some of the crud off CD’s teeth
A lens cleaning cloth and rubbing alcohol is the best thing to clean it, but if you have a scratch, then the best thing is a scratch removing machine, I dont know where you are but they cost around 30 dollars, and they have saved me from throwing out many cd’s , they also work on video game discs as well.
This method works really well for those promotional ISP provider trial CDs.
Cleans them up real good. 
I’ve used it several times, kinda fun!
Note: please read disclaimer at bottom of page.
windows ™ cleaner fluid/spray with kleenex is best. If i ran out of it i do it with dish cleaner under warm tap water and as mentioned above don’t wipe in circles but inside out.
Toothpaste works wonders. Be liberal w/ it, just smear it all over, and rub it pretty hard, then rinse. It works wonders.
yea… well watch out with the toothpaste.
don’t get the grainy one…
Try running a few through the dishwasher.