Mine got ruined when I left my window car open and it rained that night, the next morning all my CD's in my CD case where all wet, moldy, and discolored. They didn't work anymore. But I'm guessing if they just get wet and you wipe it off right away, they will be okay. In my case it stood over night and caused damage to all of them.

I can tell you this. If your CD accidently gets sprayed with a little water, it's no big. I've had this happen before, and all was well, but if it has been left in water for a sustained period of time, then it will usually get ruined.(Although this has never happended to me personally, it has happened to others.)

As a matter of fact your CD's might still be saveable. if they are not warped. Take some toothpaste and gently rub the surface in circles, with your finger, starting from the inside working out. This might just make them readable again.

I have a friend who wipes his cds with a wet cloth when they get stuck, to try and make them work again. I'm not sure if the water does them any real good, but it doesn't instantly ruin them. (And it does make them work again)

Water on its own will not damage a CD. Water and a soft cloth (e.g., lens cleaning cloth) are recommended for cleaning any type of optical disk. Other posters have noted secondary problems, such as mold. Problems such as these are caused by improper storage, not because the water itself has damaged the CDs. Mold can damage CDs by staining the disks or attacking the label inks. It is fairly difficult to damage a CD, particularly when compared to vinyl records. The side that is read by the laser has a thick layer of polycarbonate for protection. The label side of the disk is more prone to damage, as it is much thinner. Radial scratches on the bottom of the disk are much less likely to cause read errors than circular scratches. This is why it is recommended that disks be cleaned using a cleaning cloth and wiping from the inside to the outside, rather than rubbing around and around. DVDs are more easily damaged by scratches, since the data tracks are packed much more closely. Minor scratches on the bottom of a CD can be repaired and products for this purpose are available commercially. Scratches on the label side may damage the optical layer, which is unrepairable. The plastic disks can warp if they are stored improperly, e.g., left exposed on a car seat in summer. Audio CD players can scratch CDs. The disk is inserted in a slot on most automotive players and some type of fabric is attached to the top and bottom of the slot. Dust and grit can adhere to this material, scratching the disks when they are inserted or removed. I strongly recommend that you protect your investment by making copies of any disks you want to take outside the home. For example, all of the CDs I play in my car are copies, because of the potential for damage when used in an automobile and because some of my disks are both expensive and difficult or impossible to replace. Careful handling and storage will prevent damage to your CDs. Store them in the jewel case, only take them out to play, and return them to the case afterwards. Don't leave them lying around on a table, where they can easily be damaged. ---------------------------------------- Edit: Please note that I am not advising "bootlegging" CDs. Copyright law in Canada, where I live, permits you to make copies of a recording for your own use, providing you purchased the recording.

Red John I think has put his finger on the likely problem: the mold has damaged the label side in some way. A quick damp wipe, or even a dousing, would not damage the CD, unless it had a paper label. There is a very important point about CD care which RJ alluded to but which can't be overstressed. The working surface of the CD is actually just under the label. The underside that we tend to be so careful with is indeed a relatively thick piece of plastic, so that even pretty deep scratches can be repaired. it just has to be clear enough that the laser can focus through it. A minor scratch on the upper or label side can remove the reflective surface which carries the information, and irreparably damage the CD. Some molds may indeed be able to penetrate this surface.

No, not if get wet because i found a CD outside one day when i was walking and it was wet but when I played it at home, it worked fine and it still does.

If you make sure you dry them before you play them, they should be all right.