How to clean a vinyl record

How to clean a vinyl record is a must-have skill if you’re serious about really enjoying your record collection. But why do you need to clean your records? What could it possibly be that gets them dirty?

Keep your hands off

Well, the primary source of dirt will be your grubby mitts. Now, I’m not suggesting that you do this willfully; that you deliberately smear filth all over your precious vinyl. Oh, heaven forbid no.

The truth is though, that your hands are greasy, and you shed skin cells like a tree drops its leaves in the Autumn (sorry, Fall). Then there is any other substance known to humankind that will adhere to your record due to static electricity.

Static electricity

Everything about your records lends itself to the generation of static electricity. The very material itself is a great medium for the generation of static electricity. Indeed, the thicker the vinyl, the more static it will generate.

Then there is the act of playing your records. Spinning them round, in contact with the stylus is a source of friction and hence static. Even pulling a record from its sleeve is another source of friction and static buildup.

Anyway, once they are suitably positively charged, your records will attract dust and dirt onto the playing surface, causing those familiar pops, clicks, crackles and hisses like nobody’s business.

But how to clean a vinyl record?

Got lots of cash? Buy a record-cleaning machine. Simple. Job done.

Not got lots of cash? Never fear, for solutions are at hand.

Dry cleaning

First of all, you need an anti-static kit. This would have three elements. Something to clean your vinyl, something to store it in and something to reduce the reattachment of dust as your record turns.

Vinyl cleaning tools

Believe it or not, this means nothing more complicated than, wait for it, a brush and a lint-free cloth. Your brush fibres will perform two roles. One is to remove the dust from the grooves on your record. Secondly, they will remove or at least reduce the static and hopefully reduce the amount of dust attracted to your record.

Using smooth, long strokes along the groove of your record without downward pressure, sweep the surface of the record. This will dislodge particles in the groove and hopefully away from the record. Avoid blowing across the surface of the record as the particles do tend to reattach themselves as a result.

Now, grab your lint-free cloth. Gently wipe over the surface to remove any particles removed by the brush. Too much pressure equals friction equals static electricity. Lint-free is important as these types of cloth, if used correctly, do not contribute to the buildup of, yep… static electricity.

Such a cloth will also help in removing any oils which have been transferred to your record by your sticky mitts. Sorry to be blunt, but there you are.

Vinyl storage solutions

Store your beautiful vinyl in a lovely anti-static sleeve. Put it in straight after playing your record and the next time you spin that disc; your static problems will be greatly reduced.

Anti-static record mat

An anti-static record mat will help to reduce friction and therefore the buildup of static electricity. Usually made of carbon fibre felt, they will also have additional damping properties which will reduce the effect of small unwanted vibrations due to speakers, amplifiers and such like.

Dry cleaning is all well and good; and let’s face it, an essential part of your care regime for your records. But it’s only part of the cleaning story.

Wet cleaning

As discussed, dry cleaning will help you to maintain your records in a relatively static- and hence dust-free state. However, your hands harbour all sorts of potentially dirtying substances, from oil, grease, sweat and dirt. These will be transferred to the surface of your records no matter how careful you are to keep them clean.

So, you will need to use chemicals to wash your records. It’s best to go straight for it and use a fit-for-purpose cleaning solution for your vinyl.

Whatever you choose the mechanics of washing your discs will use the following basic steps:

  1. Remove dry dirt using your dirt-removing brush and lint-free cloth.
  2. Take a good look at the surface of the record and identify those areas where the dirt is.
  3. now you are going to treat the areas you have identified as dirty. With your record lain on a micro-fibre cloth located on a secure, flat surface dab on your chosen cleaning solution and then follow the advice given for using your brush. That is, wipe along the grooves, applying gentle pressure to wipe away that dirt.
  4. Take care to avoid using too much solution and on no account allow the solution to come into contact with the record label.
  5. Once it is clean, you need to make sure that your record is dried. Using a clean micro-fibre cloth, gently rub along the grooves to ensure it is fully dried. Some people do allow their records to air-dry, but others believe that this would allow dust to resettle on the surface.
  6. Finally, before you put the disc back into its anti-static sleeve in order to put it away, give it another once over with your dry brush and lint-free cloth. This will ensure that it is as static- and dust-free as possible before you store it.

At all times, remember to handle your discs only by the edges. Sticky Fingers is a fine album by the Rolling Stones, but you don’t want them touching your vinyl pride and joy.

Other sources of dirt

And finally, remember, your record player can also contaminate your records. The stylus especially is as likely as anything to bring dust or dirt into contact with your freshly cleaned records.

A stylus cleaner, which looks much like a mascara applicator will be something that you would want in your cleaning armoury along with multi-purpose cleaning wipes for electrical equipment.

In conclusion

There you go. As with most things in life, if you cherish them, then you will want to keep them for a long time. Care and maintenance, of which cleaning must play a part, are essential.

I hope that this has been instructive. Please comment below if there is anything you have anything to add to the discussion.

Furthermore, if you love what you've read, please tell your friends.

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