How to clean UMDs?

Discussion in 'Repair, Restoration, Conservation and Preservation' started by Twilight, Feb 7, 2009.

  1. Twilight

    Twilight Site Supporter 2015

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    I have a rare UMD, but it's very dirty. There's much dust in the case and a lot of finger prints on the UMD.

    How can I clean it? Are there any ways to do it?
     
  2. skavenger216

    skavenger216 Familiar Face

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    Toilet paper will leave lint and "fuzzies" on the UMD, use a slightly damp, lint free cloth of some form and, if its really dirty, some non abrasive hand soap ( VERY little!).

    EDIT: Post #600!
     
    Last edited: Feb 13, 2009
  3. karsten

    karsten Member of The Cult Of Kefka

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    for the dust, buy one of those compressed air blowers specifically made for electronic equipment. a normal air compressor would blow in air wetness too.
     
  4. retro

    retro Resigned from mod duty 15 March 2018

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    OK, let's see....

    Toilet paper will scratch, so I wouldn't advise that.

    ANY compressor will introduce moisture. You can put a filter on to limit that.

    Liquid soap isn't a good idea. It will stick - how are you going to get it off? Have you tried just putting soap on your hands without wetting them first or washing them afterwards? Yuck!

    NEVER spin the disc by the disc! ALWAYS use the spindle in the centre. Just turn it with your finger - easy!

    We (retail shop, dealt with UMDs since the PSP came out, have seen thousands of the bloody things!) always used a cotton wool ball. Breathe on the disc through the hole lightly to reveal fingerprints, then clean gently with the cotton wool. Yes that's lint, but as long as you're careful, you will be fine. I wouldn't recommend using any kind of cleaning product. If you REALLY have to clean it with water, do so, but it is probably too marked to work!

    Other than that, get head cleaning chamois sticks. They're not that cheap, though.
     
  5. grahf

    grahf Spirited Member

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    I always scratched my head over the UMD design. Why the hell make an optical disk that's so hard to clean? You can buy a cheap back of CD wipes that will do the trick. They're slightly damn and won't leave a film or dust.
     
  6. riley

    riley Newly Registered

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  7. ASSEMbler

    ASSEMbler Administrator Staff Member

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    Never, ever use a paper product.

    Use 100% fine cotton or special wipes, though in my opinion
    they leave too much residue.

    Fine cotton cloth plus distilled water is what I use.
     
  8. Gamemaster14XIV

    Gamemaster14XIV The Master of All Games

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    I am guessing the idea was the disc is in a plastic case to prevent it from getting dirty or scratched but as we all know, things never work as well as the designer thinks they will.
     
  9. retro

    retro Resigned from mod duty 15 March 2018

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    The whole console was a poor design. Basically, they're saying f**k kids, this isn't aimed at them. And they shouldn't be touching your grown-up toys.

    Sony have taken the "PC naughty step" approach:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBeuKagEiKk
     
  10. Parris

    Parris I'm only here to observe...

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    Still laughing at the 'Use toilet paper' suggestion. So, in that vein I suggest using.... a brillo pad! ARGH!

    Those little UMD discs are a pain in the ass. I got one that was badly damaged in the post (the casing, but the disc had lots of plastic particles on the surface and inside the damaged casing). So, I bought a PROMO UMD, pulled the casing apart gently, cleaned it with washing up liquid, let it dry and placed the UMD disc inside the fresh casing, gluing the case together and re-labeling it. Worked!
     
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