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How to Clean PS2 Games With Toothpaste

Scratches on a PlayStation 2 game make themselves known when the game freezes or flickers during play. Examine the back of the disc and you'll notice anywhere from a few tiny scratches to lots of deeper scratches across the surface. If your game won't work properly, you can clean the scratches off with toothpaste to get it up and running again. Keep in mind that toothpaste will not work for scratches that run too deeply.

Things You'll Need

White toothpaste
Paper plate or napkin
Cotton swab
Towel

Instructions

- 1
  Squeeze a small glob of toothpaste onto a paper plate or napkin. Choose a plain white toothpaste for best results and avoid gels. The paste cleans off the scratches, while a gel simply smears on the disc and leaves smudges.
- 2
  Dip a cotton swab into the toothpaste and twirl it around to cover the end with a thick paste. Wipe any excess onto a paper towel or dab it onto an area of the scratched game to use later.
- 3
  Press the cotton swab onto the scratched area of the game and rub in circular motions. Apply light pressure but avoid scrubbing. The toothpaste gradually will wear down the game's surface, and scratches on the surface will disappear. Rubbing too hard can erase the data on the game.
- 4
  Rinse the game disc in warm water and pat it dry with a towel. Allow the disc to air-dry thoroughly and test it. If it does not work, repeat the method again. Rub a little harder to try and remove the scratch. Rinse and repeat. Continue pressing a little harder each time. If the game still doesn't work, the scratch may be too deep to repair.

PlayStation 2