A Portable CD Player
If you have a CD player that powers on, but skips, won't play certain tracks or refuses to play music altogether, then you probably need to clean it in order to restore functionality. Clean your CD to remove any dust and particles that were previously hindering its performance.
Dusting
The first thing you need to do with a dirty CD player is dust. The best thing to use for this is a high-grade feather duster, as it will get into small crevices in your CD player. If your CD player is top loading (like the one pictured above) open the top and then use a lint-free cloth to wipe the lens area as well as the door and the hinges. If you have a tray-based CD player, then open the tray and dust around the door. Do not open the player to access the laser lens, as this could damage the player.
Cleaning the Lens
If you have a top-loading CD player, after you have wiped any dust from the lens, you can further clean it by dipping a cotton swab in alcohol, and then gently rubbing the lens in a circular motion. It is very important not to use too much alcohol, as this can damage the glass, but you want to use enough that the cotton swab is damp to the touch.
Running a Cleaning Disc
If you do not have a top-loading CD Player, you can still clean the lens by running a cleaning disc through the system. A cleaning disc is a special CD that you can purchase from an electronics shop that has special brushes on the bottom that clean the CD player's lens. Simply place the CD in the machine and hit the play button to run the disc.
Note: please read the manufacturer's instructions for the cleaning disc before running it as you may need to skip to a certain track for the brushes to start working. See the Resources section below for more on CD cleaning brushes.
Tags: cleaning disc, cotton swab, have top-loading, your player
