Never, never, never use a CD-ROM cleaning disc in your CD recorder. Sure, they look innocent and harmless enough just hanging on the shelf at your local discount store. But don't be tempted to try a cleaning disc in your CD or DVD recorder. These discs typically use a tiny brush on the underside of the disc, which is supposed to "sweep" dust and dirt from your CD-ROM lens. Unfortunately, they can damage your recorder's read/write lens system (which, by the way, is self-cleaning anyway). Those tiny bristles can be pulled loose and stick in your drive, or the brush can scratch the surface of the laser lens.

The best way to keep your recorder clean is to keep the tray closed. Don't leave it open unless you're loading or unloading a disc. If you have an external recorder, wipe it from time to time with a dry, static-free cloth to remove surface dust.