08/03/2021
HOW TO CLEAN YOUR RECORDS
how to clean vinyl records I've always found cleaning records to be a hassle.
But it’s something you need to do if you want to keep your record collection in good shape.
But what’s the best way to clean them?
Read 100 websites and you’ll learn 100 different methods. The truth is: the best way is to use a vinyl record vacuum cleaner (covered in the section on ‘the best method’ below). Unfortunately, they are not cheap.
For most people the best compromise between cost and not doing damage to your records is to use distilled, de-ionized water with a bit of cleaning solution (or dish soap) added. This is covered in the ‘budget method’ section below.
But before I explain how to clean vinyl records, I want to briefly talk about the best way to handle and store them.
Incorrect handling and storing is the number one cause of damage to records, but even if it doesn’t cause damage, incorrect handling can make your records dirty. And since the best cleaning method of all is to not have to clean them in the first place, it makes sense to try and minimize the amount of dirt you get on your records.
Storing and Handling Records
Cleaning Records: The Best Method
Cleaning Records: The Budget Method
Quick Tips
How to Properly Store and Handle Vinyl Records
The absolute best way to clean your records is to not have to do it at all. Storing and handling your records properly will help minimize how often they need to be cleaned.
Storage
You know those paper sleeves many records come in? Those are actually not a good way to store records. They can damage records chemically. The only safe sleeves are plastic sleeves.
Always store your records vertically and don’t squeeze them together too tight. Never lay them flat and stack them on top of each other. This can warp them.
Handling
The number one rule when handling records is to not touch the surface. Try to touch them only where the label is and on the outer edge, in order to prevent oils from your finger from transferring to the surface of the record. The best way to hold a record is with two hands on the outside edges.
Ideally, you should give your records a quick clean with a carbon fiber brush (or a suitable alternative, like the cloths you use to clean glasses or cell phone screens) every time you play them, one time before playing and one time after.
Finally, it is very important to keep the stylus clean. Since it runs along the grooves of the records, it picks up any dist found there. You want to clean it before and after every use, to prevent it from causing any damage to your vinyl.
How To Clean Vinyl Records At Home
If you’ve searching for cleaning methods, you’ve likely come across hundreds of pages, each of them with the secret solution. The truth is, you’re probably better off avoiding most of those methods. None of them work better than the two methods below and some will actually result in damage to your vinyl records.
There are really only two cleaning methods worth considering and we’ll cover both here. We’ll start with the best option, but it will require spending some money. For most casual collectors, the second method works just fine. And chances are, you already have all, or most, of the tools required lying around your house.
The Best Way To Clean Vinyl Records
The best way to clean a record is with a vinyl record vacuum cleaner kit. Unfortunately, they are not cheap, which is why I don’t generally recommend them for most casual record collectors. Professional ones cost several thousand dollars and even the ones for home use cost several hundred.
Here is an affordable semi-professional kit and a great home kit I recommend, which is also one of the lowest priced kits available (at least among those that are any good). The main reason it costs less is that you have to turn the record by hand while it is being cleaned.
Cleaning records with a vinyl vacuum cleaner is easy. First you want to remove any loose dust or debris with the brush. Then you apply the cleaning fluid. Finally, you put the record in the vacuum cleaner, which sucks the cleaning fluid out of the grooves along with any dirt.
Your records end up cleaner than with any other method and the risk of doing damage is much lower as well. But due to the cost of the vacuum cleaner, it’s really only worth it if you have a lot of records.
