Have I made an error? (About residue in cases and its effects on players/discs)

[ArtistADC]

It’s just occurred to me recently after I noticed a very mild amount of residue in the case of a recent purchase- upon looking up info about such case residue on the forums, I saw multiple posts where people talk about wiping all discs down before first play.

I hadn’t thought to in this case because I hadn’t seen anything at all on the disc when I was inspecting for scratches, and it played through perfectly- but what I’m worried about is, have I perhaps damaged the disc and player by not doing so? Did I ‘bake-in’ the invisible residue by playing the disc and perhaps the laser of the player as well?

I try to take great care in handling my discs and storing them, as well as my hardware, so the idea of this manufacturing residue problem kinda disturbs me.

[Katatonia]

I doubt it did any damage to the disc or player, or baked it in. I do always inspect discs before I pop them into a player, even when I've checked them previously.

As far as the off-gassing case residue and its long-term affects on discs, your guess is as good as mine.

I just always wipe it off with a lens cleaning cloth when seen visually. It seems like lately, I haven't noticed the residue/film in as many "new" release cases...but it can always show up months later in storage.

[jvonl]

Personally, I wipe every disc before I play it, whether I see anything on the disc or not.

[ArtistADC]

Originally Posted by jvonl

Personally, I wipe every disc before I play it, whether I see anything on the disc or not.

Yes, I’m thinking of doing the same just to save myself scares like this in the future.

It just hadn’t occurred to me until reading through the forums. Hopefully the discs are fine.

[jvonl]

Originally Posted by ArtistADC

Yes, I’m thinking of doing the same just to save myself scares like this in the future.

It just hadn’t occurred to me until reading through the forums. Hopefully the discs are fine.

For me, it's about playback issues. Very frustrating to be watching a pristine looking disc and getting freezing/pixelation issues. Preemptive cleaning has (so far) fixed that problem.

[steel_breeze]

Originally Posted by jvonl

Personally, I wipe every disc before I play it, whether I see anything on the disc or not.

I was tending toward this behavior myself, but pulled wayyy back because I've found even the finest micro-fibre cloths CAN create (not every time, but CAN create) super-fine scratches. And there's nothing I hate more than when I wipe something that didn't "need" wiping, only to find I've created a new super-fine scratch or two. I usually go through a period of self-loathing followed by the re-purchasing of whatever disc I've scratched. Okay that's an exaggeration for comedic effect, but I have re-purchased a disc due to my own "over-cleaning when there wasn't a need".

Now I visually inspect each disc before inserting and only wipe it down if there's a strong off-gassing cloud. Even if it's mild I'll let it go and only address it if there's a playback issue. And by the way, to date I've NEVER had an actual playback issue; it's all been in my head!

[jvonl]

Originally Posted by steel_breeze

Now I visually inspect each disc before inserting and only wipe it down if there's a strong off-gassing cloud. Even if it's mild I'll let it go and only address it if there's a playback issue. And by the way, to date I've NEVER had an actual playback issue; it's all been in my head!

Lucky you! Most recent was The Abyss. Looked perfect, froze in two different places. Cleaned it, played fine. Same with one of the LOTR discs, don't remember which. Since I started pre-cleaning, no issues. I get your concern about scratches, but I'd rather take the chance of screwing it up myself rather than have my viewing experience interrupted. Good luck....

[AllOuttaBubbleGum]

What's the verdict on gently cleaning blu-rays with a few drops of water, a clean finger and a little basic dish washing liquid? In my experience, residues lift away reliably and discs rinse spotlessly clean...but someone cautioned about contact with water due to the risk of oxidation (over time). Is that a realistic concern? Probably not an issue with distilled, I'd wager...but I've cleaned a lot of blus with tap.

..

[Katatonia]

Originally Posted by AllOuttaBubbleGum

What's the verdict on gently cleaning blu-rays with a few drops of water, a clean finger and a little basic dish washing liquid? In my experience, residues lift away reliably and discs rinse spotlessly clean...but someone cautioned about contact with water due to the risk of oxidation (over time). Is that a realistic concern?

..

I only ever use a liquid if it's something that won't simply wipe off gently with a clean lens cloth, or a disc keeps skipping, etc. Otherwise, I don't see much point in risking it.

[steel_breeze]

Originally Posted by AllOuttaBubbleGum

What's the verdict on gently cleaning blu-rays with a few drops of water, a clean finger and a little basic dish washing liquid? In my experience, residues lift away reliably and discs rinse spotlessly clean...but someone cautioned about contact with water due to the risk of oxidation (over time). Is that a realistic concern?

..

Don't know about oxidation, but I personally never use any liquid... and I'd never ever use a finger, no matter how clean. Really seems like that's a recipe for scratching, every time.

"Get that finger out of your ear, you don't know where that finger's been."
--Airplane

[jvonl]

Originally Posted by Katatonia

I only ever use a liquid if it's something that won't simply wipe off gently with a clean lens cloth, or a disc keeps skipping, etc. Otherwise, I don't see much point in risking it.

What risk? Digital information doesn't dissolve in water or detergent. If issues present themselves even after pre-wiping, I go to warm water and a few drops of Dawn, always wiping (with a finger) from the center out. The most important element then is rinsing multiple times to remove all traces of detergent. That process has never, in my experience, caused any problems. I've seen others skeptical of using water, and I've never understood why.

[Katatonia]

Originally Posted by jvonl

What risk? Digital information doesn't dissolve in water or detergent. If issues present themselves even after pre-wiping, I go to warm water and a few drops of Dawn, always wiping (with a finger) from the center out. The most important element then is rinsing multiple times to remove all traces of detergent. That process has never, in my experience, caused any problems. I've seen others skeptical of using water, and I've never understood why.

I'm just saying why risk inducing possible oxidation with using a liquid if it's not even necessary. There's no point if it's not needed. I personally would never use something like Dawn on a disc, unless there was something just ghastly on a disc surface.

[AllOuttaBubbleGum]

Originally Posted by steel_breeze

Don't know about oxidation, but I personally never use any liquid... and I'd never ever use a finger, no matter how clean. Really seems like that's a recipe for scratching, every time.

"Get that finger out of your ear, you don't know where that finger's been."
--Airplane

It probably says something about my finger--or technique--that this method has never caused a problem, or at least anything I could detect under mild magnification. It's so low friction, it verges on 'digit hydroplaning,' dissolving grime, fingerprints, et al...without abrading the surface. I am careful to be sure there're no remaining particulates on the disc before starting, and that I keep any of my rougher digits--I've got a few--sidelined from this sensitive duty.

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[ArtistADC]

Ooh boy. Noticed some of my worst offenders are blus that came with plastic slipcovers- the gas must have had nowhere to go, if it is in fact a product of offgassing.

I’d make a note not to leave those on in the future, but even some slip-less cases have the same smudges. So I wonder what it is really. Gonna get some microfiber cloths and try to wipe them away.

Maybe lens cloths for the discs? Sony says it’s alright to wipe from the center out with a dry lens cloth, but I do worry about potential scratching like steel_breeze mentions.

[steel_breeze]

Originally Posted by ArtistADC

Maybe lens cloths for the discs? Sony says it’s alright to wipe from the center out with a dry lens cloth, but I do worry about potential scratching like steel_breeze mentions.

The scratching issues I've had with my micro-fibre cloths are almost entirely confined to 4K discs. I find Blu-ray anti-scratch coating is a lot more resilient; it's tough to scratch one o' those with a high-end lens cloth. (EDIT: and in fact I've successfully used a soft T-shirt on a Blu -- not a 4K disc -- if I'm wearing one and need it in a hurry, to no ill effect) But yes... from the center out, always from the center out.

But again... I wouldn't wipe at all unless it's a huge cloud of off-gassing on the disc surface or unless you're actually having playback issues. Just my 2 cents.