Be careful of some how to advice!!

Often we can find good information on the internet but there seems to be a trend that people are putting up more and more information that is based on rumor or possibly 1 or 2 time successes and in reality it turns out to be really bad advice that can cause harm. This is the case with most current How To sites and suggestions for fixing CD or DVD media that is often copied from site to site, referenced across sites or posted by the same people which looks like a lot of people endorse an idea but it often is something stated by very few ... just over and over. Here is an example ... http://www.wikihow.com/Fix-a-Scratched-CD or http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/77 

Like many popping up these 2 site's CD repair how to claims that you can fix a scratched CD with household products. Unfortunately this advise is given in error and can actually lead you to cause further damage to your CD or DVD media and severe damage to you players. I have tried to communicate reasonably with these sites and the writers as well as tried contributing to some articles but have had no luck so am putting this information on the net through our site. The difference between other writers and me is ... I have 14 years of in depth experience with the development of polishing compounds and waxes specifically designed for use on clear acrylics, polymers and resins including such things as eye wear, acrylic displays, fiberglass ... and CD/DVD media. I have yet to see any writer with in depth knowledge of these materials contribute repair advise that odd things like Brasso will work. Those who suggest that do so as a result of just trying something out and when it works then thinking it is the way to go and is going to save big bucks. 

Lets take a minute to look at the reality of using various  household products to fix your CDs such as Brasso, Tooth paste, car wax, Vaseline and so on. The fact is these things will work some of the time BUT can cause very extensive damage to both the CD or DVD media as well as your players if used a few times or a lot. This is one reason Brasso or Turtle Wax does not list polymer based product repair as a feature. If it worked well they would make sure to list it because it would sell more product!! The reality as we said is ... these products can damage the CD and the companies know it would not be smart to say the products would work.

Here is the problem!!! .... Brasso, Vaseline and Car wax contain petroleum and/or solvent based materials with abrasives  that are intended to clean "metal". Brasso or any abrasive cleaner can polish and yes, it can remove a scratch from plastics but in time can also chemically change the polymer composition of the CD on the surface and cause it to deteriorate or become brittle with clouding or crazing. 
The problem is even worse with recordable media like CDR/ RW or DVDR/ RW because recording is done to a dye layer that is very sensitive. Recordables are made of much softer polymers than factory pressed CDs. This plastic encases the dye layer. Solvents can discolor plastics and limit a good read capability of the dye layer. 

Toothpaste is really not fixing anything as far as scratching because it just does not abrade the polymer surface enough to reduce damage. Unless the scratch that causes problems is hairline what it is most likely doing is providing a good cleaning ... which can be done with mild soap and tepid water too.

The worst of the worst advice is to coat the cd with anything and leave that material on the CD. I have seen advice saying to use finger nail polish, spray paint or even Vaseline. Nail polish and clear paint can work if you do it "perfectly" but also has the potential to eventually flake off. Vasaline is a petroleum product which over time does the same polymer damage as Brasso or car polish. Not only that but it never dries and is forever "greasy" ... If you get some on your laser ... kiss your player goodbye!!
Don't use anything that is left on the CD and has the potential to come into contact with the inside of your player. That is why products like ours instruct you to do a repair and then completely clean off residue.
To my knowledge there is not one single commercial product that will cause player damage when you follow instructions. 
However ....  there used to be a commercial concept that was like applying fingernail polish and leaving it on. They went broke ... maybe from damage liability?

Granted ... I want you to buy CD Doctor BUT any of the reputable commercial repair products are better than using the other methods no matter how cheap they might sound. There is an old adage ... spending a dollar to save a dime. You might pay $9 to $14 for a commercial product but most give "many" repairs ... possibly for as little as 15 cents for each repair. For 15 cents is it worth risking a $150 player or a $15 cd ???

Dave Peterson ... CD Doctor developer