how do you clean a music cd that kids have handled so that it will work?

Answer 1

If the plastic is not terribly scratched, just wipe it with a very soft cloth and water. The "CD" part is actually a very very very thin film of metal foil covered by a plastic protective layer. You hold a CD and only eve touch the plastic unless you break it in half and peel out the metal inside.
If the plastic has been marred and/or scratched, a good product that will buff out slight imperfections is the "Disc Doctor" or "CD Doctor" usually available at music or electronics stores.

Answer 2

Plenty of cleaners on the market. Typically called radial cleaners and come with some form of isoproyl cleaner. Absent that I use mild detergent like baby shampoo or dial hand soap. I rub from the inside near the whole in a straight line out then rinse thoroughly. I haven't scratched one yet nor seen any scuffing or debriding of the surface from this technique. Once, on a home made DVD I did wash off the label.

Answer 3

You can wash it with soap and water then dry it off. As long as the back (picture side) of the cd hasn't been scratched clear through, it will still be playable.