Everyone knows the pain of having settling down to watch your favourite DVD only to find it starts skipping or stalling once it starts playing: a victim of the dreaded disc scratch. Whether it be from being played with by one over-zealous young relative or left on a rough surface carelessly by another, without proper care a DVD can be scratched beyond all repair at the drop of a hat. This has led many people to believe that DVDs are delicate, but with a little bit of thoughtful maintenance you’ll sound find out that this is quite far from true.DVDs are designed to be watch and rewatched for many years as long as they are properly cared for and one of the simplest things you can do to ensure they stay in good condition is to think of them as precious. By handling your DVD correctly you’ll not only ensure it plays for many years to come, but also avoid those annoying moments where a grubby fingerprint causes you to have to stop a film midway through when it starts skipping. You should only ever hold a DVD by its edges to avoid this and other abrasion related damages and it should be placed gently into the DVD tray or slot.

Likewise, DVDs should never be left out of their box. Ever. Not even while you’re fiddling around with your player equipment, ready to insert it into the drive. Your DVD should only ever be stored one of two places – in its original box, held by the securing clip, or in the DVD player. It can take just one drop to the floor to render a DVD entirely useless, so don’t take the risk.

Storage is another important factor – your DVDs should be stored in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. Keeping them in bright or humid conditions can damage the condition of the DVD and cause it to bow, damaging it permanently. If you no longer have enough room to store your DVDs in your living room, don’t shove them away in a damp, dark attic or garage or be prepared to never be able to watch them again.

By following this simple advice you can be sure your favourite movies will keeping playing for years to come, but accidents happen to the best of us from time to time. Thankfully most films are now available very cheaply on DVD so it’s not as difficult to find replacements, but I’d advise keeping that ultra-rare original copy of Blade Runner somewhere safe!

Tyler Morton is an avid blogger. He focuses on consumer goods in the UK market.
Article Source