Nintendo Wii U games come on optical disks, Wii U’s own unique game medium to be exact. But like any disk they can easily pick up dirt and light scratches, hampering their ability to load games.

Fortunately the disks can be cleaned relatively easily with a few house hold items. Here are the simple steps to clean a Wii U disk, from Nintendo.

1. Dampen a clean, soft, cotton cloth with water.
2. Use straight strokes and wipe the disc (non-labeled side) from the inside rim to the outside rim.
3. Using a dry part of the cloth, repeat step 2 to dry the disc.
4. After all of the water is gone, let the disc sit for at least two minutes to completely dry before inserting it into the Wii U console.
5. Do not use solvents such as: benzine, window cleaner, paint thinner, anti-static aerosol spray or abrasive cleaners to clean your disc.
6. Do not use machines designed to clean discs or remove scratches. These types of devices have been known to damage the surface of the disc.
7. After cleaning, be sure to store your games properly. Storing games in cases other than the ones they came in, or storing them outside their cases, may damage the disc.