Be it the Beatles CD you play in the car, the precious Spiderman 3 DVD you got for your birthday or the CD-ROM with the snaps from your last holiday, chances are you have no idea what to do if the toddler in your life leaves her mark on any of them, let alone how to care for a disc at the best of times. Some tips from the Optical Storage Technology Association:

1. Always hold CDs and DVDs by the outside edge or the centre hole.
   
2. Store discs in plastic cases in a box, drawer or cabinet away from light, heat, dust and humidity.
   
3. Blow off any dust that settles on discs to keep it out of your player.
   
4. Clean discs using a soft, dry, lint-free cloth or camera lens tissue. Gently wipe from the centre to the outer edege in a straight line; do not rub in circles or around the disc.

CD cleaning fluids may help to remove sticky fingerprints.