Audi Navigation Plus CD-ROM Drive Lens Cleaning Do not forget to eject the navigation CD-ROM before you disconnect the unit. This guide does not show you how to remove the unit from the car. This guide contains the least amount of steps to clean the lens. In case you drop the white plastic disk that holds the CD-ROM down (step 2), you have to take apart the unit. Follow this guide in case that has happened to you. Use the flat edge of a metal spudger and/or a flat head screwdriver to pry open the top cover. When closing the cover, make sure the cover is completely locked as shown in the third picture. Remove one gold colored Phillips screw located in the center. It is advisable to grab an old CD and push it half way into the CD-ROM drive until it is visible through the hole marked in the first picture. This will prevent the part that has to be removed in this step to fall down into the unit, with the risk of damaging the laser. The metal plate slides forward as shown in the first picture.

Use a pair of tweezers to very carefully slide forward and then lift up and remove the metal plate together with the white plastic disk, if they fall into the unit you are going to have to take it apart completely (using this guide). Locate the lens inside the CD-ROM drive. Make sure that there is no dust on or near the player and area you are working on. Dust can get on the lens and scratch it while you are cleaning. It is very important that the lens is not damaged because the lens is used to read the discs. Dip one end of a cotton swab in rubbing alcohol. Lightly dab the swab on the lens. Let the lens dry before putting the unit back together. 3 other people completed this guide.You may have heard some strange home remedies for cleaning CDs such as rubbing them with banana peels or applying automotive car wax to buff out the scratches. Do these techniques really work? Or do they do more harm than good? Optical storage devices are prone to scratching which makes home remedies for cleaning CDs necessary from time to time.

Before peeling that banana, take a few minutes now to find out which CD cleaning tips are safe for your CDs, CD-ROMS and DVDs.When Does a CD Need to be Cleaned?If your CD plays just fine and looks clean with no visible smudges or scratches, leave it alone. However, if your CD or DVD skips, gets stuck, shuts down, won’t play, shows no data when inserted in your computer’s CD-ROM drive or is physically smudged or scratched, it’s time for some cleaning.air purifier sound machineIf the debris or scratching appears minimal, try playing the CD in a different player. breathe clean home air purifierMany CD players and DVD players are more sensitive than others. air purifier scientificA disc that’s unreadable in one player may play perfectly in another.

Look at the disc, holding it at different angles. Does it look dirty? Or is it spotless? A spotless CD may be warped or have other issues preventing proper playback.Once you’ve decided it’s time for a good cleaning, you’ll need to know what to do. No matter which home remedies for cleaning CDs you try, a few key points must be made. First, never wipe your CD using a circular motion. Granted, it’s counter-intuitive since CDs are round by design and have concentric circles. Avoid the temptation to follow these circles. Instead, all wiping should be done using a straight across motion. Next, never use household cleansers like glass cleaner or bleach. Finally, never spray cleaning fluid, even fluid that comes in a home CD cleaning kit, directly on the disc. Instead, spray the fluid on a cloth.How to Handle the CDWhen preparing to clean your CD or DVD, it’s also important to know how to handle it. Avoid touching the shiny surface. Instead, hold it by its outer edges and inner circle hole.

For example, insert your thumb into the center hole and clutch the outer rim with your fingers. You can also hold it entirely by the outer rim with your thumb on one edge and your fingers on the opposite edge.Now that the precautions are out of the way, here are some popular home remedies for cleaning CDs:The Anti-Static Wipe Method Anti-static wipes are a terrific tool to use when cleaning CDs at home. Because of their anti-static properties, dust is repelled. You can use the anti-static wipe on its own or spray a little CD cleaning fluid on it first (remember to spray the fluid on the wipe, not the CD). Start by wiping the disc from the center hole outward in a straight across motion. You will need to do this all the way around the CD working from the inside center to the outer rim, one wipe at a time. Continue until the CD is clean and dry.If you don’t have an anti-static wipe, you can substitute a clean, lint-free cloth or a tissue designed for cleaning camera lenses in its place.

The Toothpaste RemedyToothpaste is thought to smooth out scratches on a CDs surface. By its nature, toothpaste is a gentle abrasive. Start by rubbing a thin layer of toothpaste on the CD remembering not to use circular motions. Allow the toothpaste to sit for about five minutes and then rinse it off under running water.This particular home remedy can cause additional scratches because of the abrasive action of the toothpaste. Use it as a last resort for large scratches where other home remedies for cleaning CDs have failed.The Baby Shampoo MethodUse a clean, lint-free cloth and a solution of water and baby shampoo. Dip your cloth into the soapy water and wipe the CD clean, using the approved wiping technique. Rinse thoroughly with water and dry using a dry, lint-free cloth, once again using the proper wiping method. This method is designed to clean a CD that’s greasy or sticky. If you don’t have baby shampoo on hand, a mild dish detergent is a suitable substitute.The Home CD Cleaning KitSeveral commercial home CD cleaning kits are on the market and are safe to use for cleaning CDs and DVDs. Typically, these kits contain a small bottle of cleaning solution and an approved cloth.

More deluxe kits such as radial cleaning kits consist of housing to place the CD. A chamois or foam cleaning disc and cleaning solution work to clean the CD without damaging it. Other Home CD Cleaning TipsYou can make your own cleaning solution using a solution of distilled water and dish detergent. The ideal ratio is about one quart of distilled water to one drop of mild dish detergent. The detergent adds just enough emulsion to help lift and slough the dirt away. If your disc is severely scratched but playable, burn a copy of it right away as insurance against the inevitable day that it stops playing.You can do simple tests to see if your CD is repairable. Hold the disc with the reflective side facing you. Now, hold it against a bright light. Do you see light coming through the tiny holes or scratches in the disc? If so, the aluminum layer is damaged beyond repair. If not, it could be fixable. Another test is to look at the scratch carefully and then tip the CD. Do you see a reflection of the scratch in the disc?

If so, you may be able to fix it. If not, it has punctured the aluminum layer. If the scratches are deemed repairable, use a commercial CD scratch repair product to buff them to oblivion.When going through this list of home remedies for cleaning CDs, don’t overlook the value of cleaning the actual CD tray and laser unit (or CD-ROM drive). Did you know that these components get dirty too? A dirty optical system will have difficulty reading the CD or DVD so even if you have a spotless disc, read errors may occur. To clean these units, it’s best to buy a commercial CD-ROM drive cleaning kit. These kits remove dirt, debris, dust and even hair. A typical CD-ROM drive cleaner has a cleaning disc and cleaning solution inserted directly into the tray. The cleaning disc usually has a small brush that cleans the laser as the disc spins. In addition, you ought to clean out the tray that holds the disc by using a damp soft, lint-free or anti-static cloth. Dry the tray completely before closing it.