Vinyl Records is enjoying a great resurgence despite the evolution of listening formats and the rise of the streaming era, probably because of artist involvement and events such as the annual Record Store Day.
But fans often overlook one key ownership element: keeping their records clean. Records wear thicker if not properly cared for. It can create unwanted noise on the audiophile’s choice of format, fingerprints, dust, and scratches on the record’s surface. This wear can lead to further diminishing of sound. Natural oils from your hands can also cause severe damage.
Fortunately, cleaning records is an easy process that doesn’t require much effort or preparation. Keeping records as clean as a whistle from dust, dirt, static, and oils helps have an unexpectedly excellent experience, preventing any pops and clicks.
Cleaning vinyl records
Record brushes and carbon fiber brushes are commonly used for cleaning vinyl. Record cleaning solutions are also helpful if they are available. Record brushes aren’t necessary because you can’t apply them with a record brush. After all, it can harden the vinyl. Microfiber cloth is the finest, easiest, and fastest way to clean vinyl records and not harm; it is the only non-adhesive and non-abrasive cleaner.
Below are four different methods for cleaning vinyl records.
How to Clean Vinyl Records by Hand
Cleaning vinyl records by hand is the easiest and cheapest way. It takes only five minutes to get it done. This is the best manual way. Below are six steps to cleaning vinyl records by hand.
Dry cleaning should always be the first step in vinyl cleaning. Use a carbon fiber record brush for it. We recommend AudioQuest brushes with smaller fibers in more significant numbers than standard brushes. It also features improved conductivity to help neutralize static.
The right record-cleaning solution is the next important step. Loose dust and particles should be removed as much as possible so we can safely move on to wet cleaning the record. If we don’t dry it, it risks pushing the loose dust into the groove to become sludge, making removal difficult. For this, you need a better solution. We recommend GrooveWasher record cleaning fluid. G2 Fluid leaves no residue in a single-step cleaning method that relieves you from buying any secondary residue. The company has years of research and guidance from the popular 1970s dishwasher. We recommend GrooveWasher because it is the fastest and most convenient manual hand-cleaning solution. It is available worldwide.
Place the record on the microfiber towel included in the GrooveWasher kit. Use a soft, clean cloth or record cleaning mat, preferably if it does not include a microfiber towel in the kit. Place a record label protector on the record label. Cover the record surface with 5 to 6 mist sprays. Wait for 10 seconds more.
Start applying the cleaning pad to the record. Apply the leading edge and wipe the record in concentric arcs. Wipe the record at least three times under moderate pressure.
Gently dry and groom the surface of the record by rotating the pad. Respray G2 fluid if visual inspection shows a problem area. Wait a few seconds and scrub the area gently, but follow only toward the grooves. Filthy records often require 2–3 cleanups.
Keep the record and let it dry before playing. Playing a record wet or worse can cause severe damage. Toast or dish racks are perfect as drying stands.
Clean or replace the microfiber cloth regularly.
A microfiber cloth must be cleaned while cleaning the vinyl record by hand to avoid spreading dirt from one record to another. Distilled water and a little dish detergent are superb for gently cleaning microfiber cloths or a microfiber cleaning pad. Rinse the pad or cloth thoroughly, followed by squeezing to remove moisture.
Allow for a night to dry. Putting microfiber cloths in the washing machine can cause lint, contaminating or damaging records. So try to avoid putting microfiber clothes in the washing machine.
Dusting Records
Carbon Fiber Brush: Use a carbon fiber brush to dust your record. Keep a record on the turntable and gently brush on the record. Then, spin the record slowly with your fingers, guiding the brush fibers into the grooves. Or, manually sweep from the inner to outer rings. Replace the brush as the fibers bend, fall out, or appear dirty. Dust records before and after you play. Before you play music, clean the record needle or stylus. Clean the tip of the needle gently using a stylus cleaning brush.
Microfiber Cloth: Use a microfiber cloth to wipe dust away. Start at the innermost groove and wipe in a circular motion. Then, follow outside of the record.
Compressed Air: Spray away dust and debris with compressed air. Try a compressed air can nozzle inches away from the record. Then, lift off the dust and blow it away by inches above your record. Then, gently puffing the air onto the record’s grooves,
Record Roller: Use the record roller to collect dust and debris. The record roller’s sticky surface helps pick up debris and dust. Brush the roller over the record in circular motions. Rinse a roller under water to rinse dust, dirt, or debris. You can also use a lint roller.
Record Cleaning Arm: Add a record cleaning arm to remove dust as you play music. It’s an attachment brush that you place on the record player. The arm sits above the record and gently removes dust and dirt as the record rotates. It can also prevent static charges that can attract dust and dirt. Most record-cleaning arms are attached using adhesive at the edge of the record player.
Anti-Static Gun: This is an impressive method to prevent dust from settling on the record. They remove static electricity that can attract dust. Hold the device 12 inches above the record. Slowly squeeze the trigger and then release it. Repeatedly aim to squeeze and release. It is likely to be full of static if it makes crinkling, crackling, or crunching noises.
Professional cleaning methods
Record Cleaning Kit: This kit is for a specialized deep clean. Most kits feature unique cleaning solutions and record brushes. Follow the package’s instructions for a deep cleaning of the record. Typically, it involves dusting the record with a brush and spraying with the solution.
Record Washing Machine: Using a record washing machine, you can wash both sides at once. This smaller machine brushes and cleans your record. For most machines, fill with distilled water, add a few drops of cleaning solution, insert vinyl, and rotate for sparkling cleanup. Most record washers feature record cleaners.
Record Vacuum Cleaner: A record vacuum machine is the perfect choice if you’re a serious collector. A specially designed vacuum provides clean-up in one of the best ways. They delicately and thoroughly remove dust and debris, causing no harm to the record. They are expensive but great for fad record collectors. Never use a regular vacuum cleaner for cleaning vinyl records. Suction Power MP is influential and can damage or warp vinyl.
How do you clean vinyl records?
The process is simple, and here’s advice if you want vinyl records at home:
- Always use distilled water; never tap water, as it contains impurities that can harm your record. I prefer distilled water because it kills off bacteria and provides safety in the cleaning process.
- Use isopropyl alcohol at a low level. There’s a lack of consensus in the industry about the safety of alcohol on PVC-based vinyl records; the best thing is to stay on the safe side. Prefer 1% of the overall liquid.
- I added surfactant to the solution to improve cleaning quality. It reduces the surface tension of your cleaning fluid, which helps the liquid penetrate the groove entirely. Grooves exist on the microscopic level, and if you don’t add surfactant, fluid might sit on the surface, reducing the groove depth’s effective cleaning.
How to take care of vinyl records
So, you have a nice collection of vinyl records and want to know how to keep them in shape?
We know vinyl records have made an astonishing comeback. Sales are continuously rising. So, whether you’re a novice or a seasoned vinyl veteran, below are some tips to ensure records last a lifetime.
Keep Records Dry: Ensure records are completely dry before playing and storing them. Act contrary to the myth that wet records don’t reduce static buildup. Wet records can damage the grooves and cause even more severe issues. Storing wet records is more likely to attract more dust and dirt. When doing deep cleaning, use a microfiber cloth to completely air dry on a cleaning mat or rack.
Hold from Outer Edges: Hold them by the outer edges and record labels when cleaning or placing records. Upon touching the record, you may leave dirt, dust, and oily fingerprints inside the grooves. This causes pops and clicks when you play music. Handling the record from the outer edges with fingernails or holding on to the label is better.
Plastic Sleeves: Plastic sleeves help to remove static, block dust, and prevent scratches. After each clean-up or playing record, place it in an anti-static, archival-quality plastic sleeve and place the sleeve inside the record cover. Avoid using paper sleeves because they can scratch your records and generate static.
Store Vertically: Store records vertically, keeping a lot of space between them, so removing one won’t be a problem. They can become warped and unplayable if stacked records are stacked flat on each other. So, place records vertically next to each other. Give each record space to breathe to avoid jamming and causing them to warp. Also, store them away from direct light, extreme temperatures, and humidity.
Wrapping up
The aim is to keep vinyl records as clean as possible, not harm. You don’t need to opt for a heavy-handed approach either, which leaves the disk spotless but damages the groove and sound quality.
Ask 10–15 people how they clean vinyl records, and you’ll probably get different answers. You’ll get conflicting advice. Some collectors may even claim to have used soap and water or high amounts of alcohol for a long time. Whether they do, the deterioration of a record over time is a slow process. You might have to ask for certainty about the claim.
The best advice is to take your time and remember to enjoy music as you get along. This is not a clinical medium; there’ll always be some surface noise. Choose whichever method works best for you.