How to Clean a PS2 Game

Take your PS2 game out of the PS2 and check it for scratches. The best way to do this is to turn on a lamp and hold the disc under a lamp, moving it in a circular motion and checking for any scratches, smudges, grime and fingerprints. Make sure to hold the disc by the edges, or with a finger in the hole in the middle of the disc, to avoid placing any additional fingerprints on the game.

Visit your local video game or computer store and purchase a video game cleaning kit. Most video games today are on a disc, so just about any cleaning kit will do the job. You may also want to purchase a specific kind of cleaner that actually fills in the scratches on the disc.

Take a soft piece of cloth and dampen it with water. You will want to avoid using a washcloth, as these are typically a little bit scratchy and can cause more damage to the disc. You should cut a decent-sized piece of cloth from an old t-shirt that you don't wear and use that if possible. Make sure that you just get the cloth damp; it does not need to be soaking wet.

Wipe the disc in a circular motion from the middle of the disc outward. This will help to clear away any fingerprints, dust and other surface dirt that can easily be removed. You may have some grime or other tough-to-remove dirt still on the disc after wiping it down with a damp cloth, but this is what the game cleaner is for.

Take the PS2 game cleaner and apply it generously to the disc. Make sure that you do not put too much on--just enough to cover the disc.

Take the damp cloth and once again wipe the disc in a circular motion, moving from the center of the disc outward. Keep wiping in this fashion until all the cleaner has been wiped away and the disc is clean, with no dirt or grime still visible. Insert the game into your PS2 and check to see if it works.