How to Fix a Scratched DVD

Understand How a Scratched DVD Works

If you're wondering how to fix a scratched DVD, you're not alone. DVDs store data in tiny grooves, read by a laser. A scratch interferes with the laser’s ability to read the data, causing glitches, freezes, or unreadable discs. The deeper the scratch, the more severe the data loss—but not all hope is lost.

Safe DIY Methods to Fix Scratched DVDs

Here are tried-and-true methods that can help you recover your data—or at least buy some time:

1. Clean the Surface First

Use a microfiber cloth and gently wipe the disc from the center outward. Avoid circular motions. Dust and fingerprints can mimic scratches.

⚠️ Note: Never use paper towels or abrasive cloths—they can cause more damage.

2. Try Toothpaste or Baking Soda

Non-gel toothpaste or a paste of baking soda and water can sometimes polish the surface. Gently rub a small amount with a soft cloth, rinse, and dry thoroughly.

3. Use a Banana (Yes, Really)

Some people swear by lightly buffing a disc with the inside of a banana or banana peel. Rinse afterward. It’s quirky, but can sometimes fill in light surface scratches.

4. Furniture Polish or Disc Resurfacer

Products like Pledge or a DVD resurfacing tool can temporarily improve playback by creating a smoother surface. These are best used as a last resort for discs you plan to digitize immediately.

🎥 If your scratched disc contains priceless home videos, don't wait for another glitch. A scratch is a warning sign—your memories are at risk.

When DIY Isn’t Enough: Professional Help for Scratched Discs

If your DVD won’t play or if the content is too valuable to risk, it’s time to try a DVD to digital service. At Heirloom, we’ve recovered home videos from discs that wouldn’t even load on home players. Our proprietary tools let us extract whatever data is still readable.

You can also explore our data disc transfer service for non-video discs like photo archives, school projects, or saved game files.

Better Than Fixing: Digitize to Protect Your Memories

A scratch might be repairable, but every disc has an expiration date. Whether it’s a video DVD, an old photo CD, or a data disc, all optical media will eventually degrade. That’s why converting them to cloud-based formats ensures:

• Easy sharing with family

• Reliable playback on modern devices

• Protection from further damage, disasters, or loss

Explore Heirloom's data transfer service to preserve what matters before it’s unreadable.

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