Pledge on scratched blurays using makemkv

[christopher2222]

I'm just going to report my findings using pledge to try to help make a backup of a scratched bluray.
** quick update - I am getting improved results using the lemon pledge furniture polish - long term effects of the polish on the bluray are still undetermined **

Here's what I did
1 - clean with micro fibre cloth - make a backup
2 - clean with pledge with micro fibre cloth - make another backup
3 - clean with pledge again with micro fibre cloth - make another backup

For one disc after step 1 with minor scratches I got 0.24% corrupt - pretty good.
after step 2 makemkv reported 0.12% corrupt - nice!
after step 3 makemkv reported 0.01% corrupt - that's pretty great

Now I'm only guessing after a third application of pledge I might have a perfect backup

For a second disc same movie I tried but only the first 2 steps
After step one makemkv reported 0.74% corrupt
After step 2 it was down to 0.61% corrupt

So it appears pledge helps

*****edit update *******
as a step 4 to the first above disc or a 3rd application - no errors! I actually can't believe it worked. However, I still have to watch it to see if actually worked. Fingers crossed.

I have started another third disc that failed to save the main, most important, file. I thought I'd give it a try and after the 1st application - it actually saved! It saved with a 0.65% corruption - so looking good!

****** edit update 2 ******
I was in a rush last night, but I cleaned the third disc quickly, and just threw it in the drive this morning and started a backup, it was taking forever so I stopped (must have had some residue).
So, I did another re-clean - taking my time and being super diligent and the results were good it's down to 0.35% corruption on this third disc.

****** edit update *******
A fourth disc tried results - for more info see later down in the thread
1st try - 5.6% corrupt / 0.51% on main
2nd try - passed / 0.16% on main
3rd try - 8.54% / failed - I stopped before it completed, that's why it failed
4th try - failed to save / 0.37% on main
5th try - successful backup, no rip errors

[Coopervid]

I'm just going to report my findings using pledge to try to help make a backup of a scratched bluray.

Here's what I did
1 - clean with micro fibre cloth - make a backup
2 - clean with pledge with micro fibre cloth - make another backup
3 - clean with pledge again with micro fibre cloth - make another backup

For one disc after step 1 with minor scratches I got 0.24% corrupt - pretty good.
after step 2 makemkv reported 0.12% corrupt - nice!
after step 3 makemkv reported 0.01% corrupt - that's pretty great

Now I'm only guessing after a third application of pledge I might have a perfect backup

For another disc I tried but only the first 2 steps
After step one makemkv reported 0.74% corrupt
After step 2 it was down to 0.61% corrupt

So it appears pledge helps

What do you mean by "pledge"? Use liquid soap and warm water.

[BrettTheRipper]

What do you mean by "pledge"? Use liquid soap and warm water.

Pledge is a household cleaner/polish product sold in the United States and often used for furniture.

[Coopervid]

What do you mean by "pledge"? Use liquid soap and warm water.

Pledge is a household cleaner/polish product sold in the United States and often used for furniture.

Thanks! Not a good method / approach. I never came across that while living in the US.

[Woodstock]

I've used Lemon Pledge (actually more often equivalent store brands) a LOT on old DVDs. It fills in scratches well enough to get a rip done.

Not so effective on BDs, though.

[christopher2222]

Yes, pledge is a furniture polish that leaves a waxy coat. It is the lemon enhancing polish that I am using. I am surprised it is working well for blurays - now I believe this works only for light scratches, I am not sure about heavy scratches or long term effects. The ingredients listed on the can for those interested are water, isoparafin, dimethicone, sorbitan, oleate, nitrogen, glycerine, fragrance, 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1-3diol.scj formula#35*32815.
Again, I'm not sure of the long term effect on the disc and I don't endorse it, up to you to use it, I'm just telling you what I'm finding in the hopes it might help.

It's a liquid spray that behind leaves a protective coating without leaving behind a waxy buildup - so as a bonus it also helps add to the protection of the bluray. So the way I apply it is spray a quick bit in a couple of spots then with the micro fibre cloth continually swirl around as you go around the whole bluray and keep doing that until the pledge residue starts to disappear, if you want to stop and just remove the excess wax, during the clean, on the micro fiber onto a kleenex you can. But just a continual gentle swirling motion and it takes a few minutes to work it a little bit.

I can confirm now the original blue ray I started with, after the 4th application, now has zero corruption parts and completed the backup with success.

I have started another bluray that failed to save. So with my first success I have decided to give it a go. I was actually surprised. After the 1st application I have now got the main movie to save with a 0.65% corruption rate. I will see what happens after the 2nd application and update my findings.

[mustang5o]

Yes, pledge is a furniture polish that leaves a waxy coat. It is the lemon enhancing polish that I am using. I am surprised it is working well for blurays - now I believe this works only for light scratches, I am not sure about heavy scratches or long term effects. The ingredients listed on the can for those interested are water, isoparafin, dimethicone, sorbitan, oleate, nitrogen, glycerine, fragrance, 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1-3diol.scj formula#35*32815.
Again, I'm not sure of the long term effect on the disc and I don't endorse it, up to you to use it, I'm just telling you what I'm finding in the hopes it might help.

It's a liquid spray that behind leaves a protective coating without leaving behind a waxy buildup - so as a bonus it also helps add to the protection of the bluray. So the way I apply it is spray a quick bit in a couple of spots then with the micro fibre cloth continually swirl around as you go around the whole bluray and keep doing that until it starts to disappear, if you want to stop and just remove the excess wax on the micro fiber onto a kleenex you can. But just a continual gentle swirling motion and it takes a few minutes to work it a little bit.

I can confirm now the original blue ray I started with, after the 4th application, now has zero corruption parts and completed the backup with success.

I have started another bluray that failed to save. So with my first success I have decided to give it a go. I was actually surprised. After the 1st application I have now got the main movie to save with a 0.65% corruption rate. I will see what happens after the 2nd application and update my findings.

Is this the Pledge you have been using? https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000VDUWO0

I have some stubborn discs I'm willing to try it on.

[christopher2222]

Yes that would be it. I will add that if there are deep scratches it might not work well. The one I am testing on has a cm visible scratch that I can see some dirt in there with a magnifying glass but I've got it down to 0.20% corrupt. I will also stress to take your time easily cleaning making sure theres no residue left. I did it quickly once and the disc wouldn't read - thought I killed it but just did a reclean and I was back in business.
Don't expect miracles for heavily scratched blurays. I'll upload a picture of the one I'm working on later tonight.

**edit** so the backups were successful without any corruption errors, or actually, no errors at all. But I still yet have to confirm by watching the backups.

[mustang5o]

I'm actually running into issues with discs that don't look scratched at all. Maybe I'm just not seeing the scratches but I'll get out my lighted magnifier before I start trying Pledge on the few discs I've recently had issues with.

[christopher2222]

What sort of errors? Failed to save errors?

If they're new discs then might not have anything to do with scratches.

[christopher2222]

Unfortunately I can't insert images on this forum and I don't have a url location to post so sorry. The first disc had minor scratches. The third one had a nice visible short scratch.

The 3rd disc I was working on, I got it down to 21% then 20% but it also failed once before the 21%. I'm at the 10th save of this disc. so it's giving me difficulty but it's getting better.

I think it has a lot to do with technique and how hard or lightly you "polish". I'm working on this to figure out what's best.

There is a 4th disc I tried. The 5th save of the operation I got a good rip, no errors. It went like this ..
disc condition - a couple of short small scratches and a few light scratches. Not easily seen scratches. Unless otherwise stated 1st try is just clean with micro fibre cloth and no pledge and after each successive try an application of pledge will have been done...

1st - 5.6% corrupt / 0.51% on main
2nd - passed / 0.16% on main
3rd - 8.54% / failed - I stopped before it completed, that's why it failed
4th - failed to save / 0.37% on main
So at this point it was started going worse again, I was actually cleaning with a little more pressure with the dry part of the micro fibre cloth. Because it got worse I used my finger to rub over the worst scratch area, just medium pressure, then I applied pledge.
5th - successful backup, no rip errors
Not sure yet if it was my finger that helped or the light technique I used - but again take your time and go nice and easy. Rushing the process doesn't help.