Today's useless fact - How do you fix scratched CDs?

CD scratches cause the laser in your CD player to mistrack, resulting in that oh-so-familiar skipping sound. Locating those scratches can be tricky, but it helps to remember that CDs are the opposite of LPs -- the first track is towards the center of the disk.

There's a bunch of CD-cleaning fluids sold in CD stores. Believe it or not, most of these products actually work. CD-cleaning fluids work by filling in the CD scratches with chemical softeners and tiny abrasives; the process is similar to getting a touch-up on your car's bodywork. That's why a lot of them are called "resurfacing kits." You'll still be able to notice the scratches on the disk, but it should play fine. If you don't feel like shelling out the cash for a special kit, you can try fixing your scratched CDs with just a cloth and a mild abrasive like toothpaste.

Just remember - always brush your CDs with a soft, lint-free cloth in a straight line, from the inside out. Never use a circular motion -- this could create scratches that won't go away. Check out the links in our Compact Disc category for more.