How to Clean Antique Vinyl Records

It's always exciting to find antique vinyl records at the used music store. The problem with these finds is that the records are often dusty or dirty, which sometimes affects their ability to play. While vinyl itself is a pretty sturdy material, antique records have already been through years of use. Thus, they require the utmost care to prevent them from getting damaged. Cleaning them the right way will allow for years of frequent listening.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Vinyl records
• Rubbing alcohol
• Two-gallon bucket
• Mixing spoon
• Microfiber cloths
• Distilled water

1. Make a mixture of one part rubbing alcohol and three parts lukewarm distilled water in your bucket (four cups of water per record works well). Stir with your spoon until the alcohol is evenly distributed.

2. Drop your microfiber cloth into the bucket. Then wring it out so that it will not drip or make a puddle on your records. Lay all of your records on a clean counter or table label side up.

3. Start wiping the records at the outer edge. Then move inward following the "grain" of the grooves. Pretend you are making a large spiral that culminates in the center of each record. More dirt tends to collect in the longer grooves, so pay special attention to the outside circles.

4. Hold your records vertically over the sink and pour distilled water over the label sides of each to rinse off your alcohol solution. Dampen a new cloth with water only and use it to wipe the records in a downward motion as you pour to help dislodge any remaining dirt in the grooves.

5. Lay the records flat on the table again, but this time put them label side down. Repeat Steps 2-4 for this side.

6. Dab the records with a dry cloth to absorb any remaining water and keep them free from water spots. Never wipe them dry since this could lead to scratches.

Tips & Warnings

• If you can't get your record to play after cleaning it, take it back to the store where you bought it. Oftentimes record retailers have special cleaning machines that can do a more in-depth job. Once your records are dry, put them back in their sleeves. It will help them stay clean for longer.
• Never clean your records with anything abrasive. Even a rough bristled toothbrush can scratch them to the point where they become unplayable. It's okay to wash the paper labels, but dry them as soon as possible. If they stay wet, they could bubble up or fall off of the records altogether. Never set records out in the sun to dry. They'll melt in a fairly short amount of time.

Resources

• More About Collecting Records