How to Clean Vinyl Records Properly?

Sep 14, 2023 musiccorners

How to Clean Vinyl Records – Haven’t started cleaning yet, but you can already imagine the hassle, right? Even though it may be a bit more difficult than cleaning other items, keeping vinyl from dust and other dirt is very important if you don’t want your favorite collection to be damaged easily. Damage to recordings can affect aesthetics and playability, and make music sound scratchy and of poor quality. This causes tracks to appear and be skipped, or even not playable at all. So how do you clean vinyl so that it lasts?

Cleaning Vinyl by Hand

Before starting the process of cleaning vinyl by hand, make sure you wash your hands first so that the oil and other dirt on your fingers is removed. Don’t let fingerprints or dirty stains get on the center of the label or the surface of the vinyl. Next, place the vinyl record on a soft surface. You can use a slipmat on a turntable or a large cloth. But it’s best to just put it on the turntable because the spindle can hold the cassette while you clean it.

Use a soft brush to remove any dry dirt that may still be on the surface of the record. After brushing, pour a small amount of cleaning fluid onto a soft cloth. Remember, You only use record cleaning products that are low in chemicals or pure deionized water! After that, wipe the surface of the cassette using a cloth to smear the cleaning fluid. Be careful, don’t press too hard, but strong enough so that the microcloth can remove dirt stuck in the grooves. Once clean, dry it using a cloth, and check again whether there is still dirt left behind. If there’s still something dirty, repeat the steps above.

Saving Vinyl Records

To keep your vinyl clean, never store it without backing or wrapping. So make sure you put it in a wrapper or vinyl cassette cover that is clean and undamaged. Apart from that, you can also wrap it again in plastic, to protect the album cover and cardboard cover from dust, dirt, and liquids. If you need suitable storage for your vinyl collection, you can look for a box that is specifically designed to hold vinyl cassettes, which are made of wood with a carrying handle. Not only for storage, this box can also be a practical decorative choice for storing your vinyl.

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If you want even more maximum protection, you can choose a special case or suitcase for vinyl. This case is designed to be carried anywhere or portable and can protect recordings from impact and wear. This case is perfect for DJs who travel a lot or for musicians who sell their vinyl as merchandise.

So, if you want to show off your vinyl collection at home, you can look for furniture that is suitable and also has aesthetic value. Look for a special cupboard or shelf that can hold a lot of vinyl at once, and you can also look for furniture that can be used as a place to place your vinyl player on top. So simple and compact.

So, those are some ways How to Clean Vinyl Records Properly. Make sure you care for it and store it well so it doesn’t get damaged quickly.