Although streaming is the most popular way to listen to music, billions of CDs are still played. Keeping them in good condition is key to their longevity. If a CD skips or gets stuck, there may be stains or dirt on the disc. If this is the case, a good cleaning is probably the best solution. However, if the CD still skips or gets stuck after cleaning, it may be scratched. If a CD is scratched, there are several methods you can try to fix the problem and make it playable again.

Squeeze some toothpaste (or toothpaste-baking soda mixture) onto the shiny side of the CD where the scratches are visible, not the label side. Then spread the toothpaste with your finger or a microfiber cloth.

Spread the toothpaste radially across the CD, from the center outward. However, if the CD has round scratches, use a circular motion (not recommended if you are cleaning CDs only) to spread the toothpaste. Even if only a small portion of the CD is scratched, cover the entire surface.

Rinse the CD under the tap (use a damp microfiber cloth).