Best way to clean 4k discs?

[maverick22]

So I picked up the Mulan 2020 4k steelbook at Best Buy. Not only did the steelbook have a few dings, but the disc had 3 scratches at least an inch long.

I exchanged it tonight. The steelbook is in great condition, but this time the disc had milky droplet looking spots all over the laser side of the disc

I tried to wipe it off with my softest t-shirt, but that didn't get most of the spots off. Then I used warm water and dish soap after a quick online search, and then used a microfiber cloth, but that left tons of little micro scratches on the laser side! I can't watch it, but it's "running in the background" while I get some work done at home.

What have you all found is the best/safest method to clean 4k discs?

I can't believe I have to raise this question with brand new discs!

Thanks in advance.

[Esch84]

I use one of those silky cloths that come with Apple products (I forget which specifically... maybe my iPad?) after breathing on the disc. I'm sure there are better ways, but I haven't had a disc with any problems after an application of hot breath and an Apple cloth wipe down.

Don't feel bad about your question. I can't believe I'm talking about hot breath, but here we are.

[Angry Virginian]

I use dish soap to clean it, rinse, blot dry with microfiber cloth, and then use lens cloth to polish it.

[Sky_Captain]

I've a bunch of large cloths that I bought from Amazon, mainly for cleaning my OLED screen.

They're made from the same material used for glasses lens cleaning cloths.

They do the trick.

[Synchg]

dish liquid soap> toilet paper (un-used obviously, and the 1000 sheet types, not soft) for greasy stuff, can't comment on scratches.

[Nothing371]

Pretty sure that microfiber cloth the generally accepted recommendation. It's not going to leave lint/fibers, nor scratch your disc.

[maverick22]

Originally Posted by Nothing371

Pretty sure that microfiber cloth the generally accepted recommendation. It's not going to leave lint/fibers, nor scratch your disc.

I cleaned mine with a very soft waffle style micro fiber car wash towel. It created tons of little micro scratches that weren’t previously there.

What kind of micro fiber cloth do you all recommend?

[Jonathan McLeod]

Originally Posted by maverick22

It created tons of little micro scratches that weren’t previously there.

Very unlikely. Blu-ray discs are scratch-resistant. Unless you are far too rough with a disc you aren't going to scratch it accidently. I've had marks that look like scratches on my discs before, but they just clean off.

[Dunemoon]

Tongue...

[HD Goofnut]

A dry microfiber cloth for fingerprints, dust, or dirt. If it's something sticky or greasy then put some warm water directly on the disc and then wipe.

[Braktastic]

Originally Posted by drawn

I get scratched 4K disc's from Disney and Paramount the most. Mostly Disney. I just exchange them if it's severe enough. Smudges and fingerprints come right off with a soft cloth.

Warner Bros, Sony, and pretty much all other studios disc's always arrive brand spanking new and SPOTLESS.

Anyone else experience a similar trend?

In my opinion, yes, Disney is the biggest offender of scratched discs. It's been kind of a relief not having bought any of their 4K UHD releases recently. But Mulan (1998) is coming...

Recently, and I mean within the past two weeks recently, I've been having trouble with WB discs being scratched, particularly V for Vendetta. But what I've had the most problems from them with recently is that milky residue that looks like it is all over the black plastic case and coating the disc.

[I KEEL YOU]

Originally Posted by maverick22

What kind of micro fiber cloth do you all recommend?

Mighty Hanks is the best micro fiber cloth I've ever come across:

[Brian81]

Originally Posted by Braktastic

In my opinion, yes, Disney is the biggest offender of scratched discs. It's been kind of a relief not having bought any of their 4K UHD releases recently. But Mulan (1998) is coming...

Recently, and I mean within the past two weeks recently, I've been having trouble with WB discs being scratched, particularly V for Vendetta. But what I've had the most problems from them with recently is that milky residue that looks like it is all over the black plastic case and coating the disc.

My copy of V has scratches as well

[Ricky G]

Disney is the WORST. I always open my new Disney movies in the parking-lot of where ever I purchased them from so I don't have to make another trip if I fancy a return.

[Number 6]

I have a extensive DVD/Blu-ray collection. Never had to clean any of them. The trick is to handle and store them properly.

[maverick22]

Originally Posted by Number 6

I have a extensive DVD/Blu-ray collection. Never had to clean any of them. The trick is to handle and store them properly.

I have an extensive collection as well! I am as careful as they come. I’m not taking about cleaning due to my mishandling.

I’m talking about as soon as you break the seal, open the case, and take the disc out there are already scratches on discs and spots. That isn’t due to me. These are brand new discs.

[Fjodor2000]

Originally Posted by maverick22

So I picked up the Mulan 2020 4k steelbook at Best Buy. Not only did the steelbook have a few dings, but the disc had 3 scratches at least an inch long.

I exchanged it tonight. The steelbook is in great condition, but this time the disc had milky droplet looking spots all over the laser side of the disc

I tried to wipe it off with my softest t-shirt, but that didn't get most of the spots off. Then I used warm water and dish soap after a quick online search, and then used a microfiber cloth, but that left tons of little micro scratches on the laser side! I can't watch it, but it's "running in the background" while I get some work done at home.

What have you all found is the best/safest method to clean 4k discs?

I can't believe I have to raise this question with brand new discs!

Thanks in advance.

Discs are technically designed to handle scratches. Especially if the scratches they are perpendicular to the tracks.

The data has ECC encoded to allow the data to be recovered even if there are scratches causing errors due to normal wear and tear (up to some point).

I'm surprised people are having issues with this. I've seen it happening to audio discs which I've brought to parties where people treated the discs really badly (dropping the disc on the dance floor, throwing them on stacks etc). But if they are treated normally there should be no issue.

Now if you are having scratches on brand new discs that's another issue. How the h*ell can they send out new discs with scratches to consumers? I've never seen this happening myself.

[stvn1974]

"it rubs the lotion on the disc"

[Mr. Sasquatch]

I've found these pre-moistened lens wipes from Target work well. They're cheap. Each wipe is individually packaged for a one time use.

https://www.target.com/p/pre-moisten...2/-/A-15022894

[Here2Learn]

Originally Posted by maverick22

So I picked up the Mulan 2020 4k steelbook at Best Buy. Not only did the steelbook have a few dings, but the disc had 3 scratches at least an inch long.

I exchanged it tonight. The steelbook is in great condition, but this time the disc had milky droplet looking spots all over the laser side of the disc

I tried to wipe it off with my softest t-shirt, but that didn't get most of the spots off. Then I used warm water and dish soap after a quick online search, and then used a microfiber cloth, but that left tons of little micro scratches on the laser side! I can't watch it, but it's "running in the background" while I get some work done at home.

What have you all found is the best/safest method to clean 4k discs?

I can't believe I have to raise this question with brand new discs!

Thanks in advance.

Some packaging styles are packed by hand, not machine. Grab a cheap single disc BD package and look inside. See those little nickel sized circles on the flat plastic? That's where the suction cups hold the case so the machine can place the disc in the case. The cases are stacked in an open manner.