How to Clean Xbox 360 Disc? – All You Need to Know!

If you own the Xbox 360, you know that it’s not all play. You need to know how to clean Xbox 360 disc to prolong its lifespan.

In this article, we’ll talk about why your Xbox 360 disc stopped working and how to clean it. The Xbox 360 game discs are usually difficult to scratch up.

However, there are instances when you do need advanced steps to clean it to make it work again.

A scratched and grimy disc begs the answer to the question of how to clean Xbox 360 disc.

Luckily, we’ve got you!

To clean the Xbox 360 disc, make a mixture of water and alcohol and wipe the disc using a clean cloth. You can also use toothpaste as a last resort. But, we believe that prevention is always best.

There are many ways to clean your Xbox 360. We’ll delve into that at the end. But, first, let us talk about the possible causes for your device stops working.

What Causes Your Xbox 360 Disc to Stop Working

Your Xbox 360 disc will be scratched over time, especially if you share it with your friends. After intensive use, crashes may arise.

It can even get scratches during a game when it’s rotating within the device. You may cover the disc in grime and smudges if you pick it up.

Your Xbox 350 disc can stop working due to intensive use. But don’t worry. Video games are meant to be played with.

If you can’t play your favorite game, check the disc for the following:

1. Accumulated Dirt And Dust

If you don’t clean your Xbox regularly, dust, dirt, and debris can accumulate and get into your console.

It can cause the disc to stop working and your Xbox to overheat and malfunction.

2. Light Scratches On The Surface

If you constantly touch any of the disc’s surfaces, it will get covered in scratches. Using tissue, paper, towels, and cotton can also scratch the disc.

3. Damaged Disc

If you don’t return the disc to its case after use, it can get damaged. Direct sunlight and improper cleaning materials can also wreak havoc and render it unusable.

4. Faulty Disc Reader

If your Xbox disc is flawless and you store it in a low humidity environment, you may be dealing with a hardware issue. The disc reader itself may be broken.

These are the possible causes for your Xbox 360 disc stops working. Luckily, we have the solutions to the problem.

How to Clean Xbox 360 Disc

Knowing how to clean Xbox 360 disc is important if you own one. Maintaining it properly can prolong its life and make previously unusable ones playable again.

But, because we believe prevention is better, here are a few things you can do to keep the disc working:

• Store the disc in its case when not in use.
• Keep out of direct sunlight.
• Maintain them in a low humidity environment.
• Hold the game by the corners when removing it from the case.
• Keep your console clean.

While preventing further damage is always best, it can’t be avoided that your Xbox 360 disc gets dirty.

Here are the different ways you can clean it.

Method #1: How to Clean a Disc for Xbox 360 with a Cloth

There are a lot of ways to clean your Xbox 360 game disc. One of the most basic and effective ways is by using a cloth.

It’s easy, and you surely have access to a piece of cloth. However, you need to remember a few key things when cleaning your disc with a cloth.

For one, you just can’t use any cloth. There are fabrics that can be abrasive and aggravate the problem with your disc.

Other types of fabrics can keep dirt, which can cause scratches on the surface of your disc.

The best cloth to use is microfiber since it has incredibly fine and can effectively clean dust and dirt, trapping dust that can scratch your disc.

Here’s how to use a cloth to clean your Xbox disc:

1. Hold the disc using the hole in the middle and the outer edges.
2. Get a microfiber cloth.
3. Start wiping from the center of the disc out to the edge.
4. Rotate the disc and wipe.

Pro Tip: Do not wipe the disc in circles, as this will only cause scratches.

Method #2: How to Clean an Xbox Disc with Water

Did you know that you can clean your Xbox disc with water? An Xbox 360 disc is mostly made of plastic, so it’s safe to use water to clean it.

A disc is different than a game cartridge making it safe to use water to clean it.

Before cleaning it, you want to examine the underside of your disc. You want to check for scratches and their severity.

You can use this method to clean if there are light scratches or smudges on the disc.

However, for severe or excessive scratches, we recommend proceeding to Method #3 or #4.

Here’s how to use water to clean your Xbox game disc:

1. Hold your Xbox disc by the edges without touching the underside.
2. Get a soft, clean microfiber cloth.
3. Dab a part of it in water.
4. Lightly wipe the disc from the center outward to the edges.
5. Allow it to air dry for around 10 minutes.

Tip: You can also use a solution of the same parts of water and isopropyl alcohol if you can see smudges on your Xbox disc.

Method #3: How to Clean Disc with Car Wax

The first two methods are mostly for disc that is generally in good condition.

They should work if the discs only have light scratches and smudges. A dry or damp cloth should get them back to pristine condition quickly.

However, if you’re dealing with a disc with lots of scratches, you’re going to need a little bit of help.

You can actually use car wax to polish the underside of your disc and lighten up some of those scratches so you can get the disc working again.

Here’s how to use car wax to clean the disc:

1. Remove excess dust and dirt using the steps in Method #1.
2. Polish the disc using the steps in Method #2.
3. Now that your disc is clean get a polishing cloth.
4. Put a small amount of car wax on the cloth.
5. Polish the disc with the cloth using a vertical motion.

Note: Make sure your disc is dry before you test it out on your console.

Method #4: How to Clean Xbox 360 Disc with Toothpaste

Toothpaste can get a little abrasive, which is perfect for cleaning your Xbox 360 disc.

Toothpaste can have the same properties as car wax and can easily remove stubborn scratches on your disc.

If you don’t have car wax available, this is an excellent alternative that you can use.

You’ll have to watch out for its abrasiveness, and you don’t want to be hard on it as you buff up the disc.

As long as you don’t overdo it, you should be able to clean your game discs and get them working again using toothpaste.

Here’s how to use toothpaste to clean your Xbox disc:

1. Place a small drop of toothpaste on the disc.
2. Add a couple of drops of water to make a paste.
3. Get a microfiber cloth and start buffing out the scratches.
4. Use a vertical motion and not a circular one.
5. Rinse your disc with water and dry it out.

Tip: Don’t use whitening or bleaching toothpaste, as these come with ingredients that can damage your disc.

Method #5: How to Clean Xbox Disc Reader

If you’re having a hard time getting an Xbox disc to run, you need to look at a couple of culprits.

One is the condition of your disc, and if you’ve tried Method #1 through #4, you want to check your console’s disc reader.

It’s not all the time that the issue is going to be related to your disc.

As long as you can make sure that your disc is not filled with dust and not scratched up, your disc reader has a problem. If it can’t read your disc, your game won’t run.

Here’s how to clean the disc reader on your Xbox:

1. Get a can of compressed air.
2. Open your Xbox disc drive.
3. Point the compressed air into the disc drive.
4. Blow air into it to remove dust and dirt from the lens.

Tip: You can also use a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol to clean the lens.

That’s how you clean your Xbox disc and drive!

If you continue to experience issues with your game discs, you can contact Microsoft customer support for additional help.

They can advise you if there’s something wrong with your hardware and if it needs repair or replacement.

Read Next: Xbox 360 Controller Not Charging?

Bottom Line

Now that you know how to clean Xbox 360 disc, you can now do it yourself.

You can now enjoy your favorite Xbox games without worrying about scratches since you know how to get rid of them.