How to Clean Vinyl Records & Cleaning Solution

Cleaning your vinyl records can give you years of listening enjoyment.

While CDs and mp3s may be the newest thing, there can be something wonderful about listening to a classic vinyl record. Unfortunately, if your vinyl records are not cleaned, the sound will distort and eventually wear to a point where they are no longer playable. You can clean your vinyl records at home, keeping your records in good shape for years to come.

Things You'll Need

• Tergitol
• Distilled water
• One gallon glass container
• Spray bottle
• Soft lint free towels

Instructions

1. Pour 2 milliliters of Tergitol into the glass container.

2. Fill the rest of the container with distilled water. Store this container in a refrigerator. This will be your cleaning solution.

3. Pour some of the cleaning solution into a spray bottle.

4. Lay your vinyl record on a soft towel on a flat surface. The towel will protect the other side of your record from scratches as you clean it.

5. Spray the record with the cleaning solution.

6. Wipe the record with a soft, lint-free towel, going counter-clockwise to remove any dirt or contaminants from the record.

7. Pour a little distilled water onto the record and wipe it off carefully with a soft, lint-free towel. This will remove any of the cleaning solution left on the record.

8. Wipe the record dry with a soft towel.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not play your records while they are wet. This can damage your records, digging the dirt in more.

References

• Library of Congress: Cylinder, Disc and Tape Care in a Nutshell