How to Clean an Old LP Record
The sound quality of LP records is affected by dirt on the playing surface. Dust and other debris tend to build in the grooves of the record over time. The method used to clean a record is fairly important to ensure its longevity. There are some dangers to consider. Some cleaners could have an adverse chemical reaction to the record that could render it unplayable. In addition, cleaning methods that scratch the surface of the record could result in unfixable sound quality issues.
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Instructions
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1
Put a soft cloth on a flat surface. The surface area of this cloth should be larger than the record.
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2
Lay the record on top of the soft cloth.
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3
Wet the other soft cloth with the record cleaning fluid. The cloth should only be damp. Wring out any excess cleaning fluid before using it.
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4
Wipe the entire surface of the record lightly with the cloth. You do not need to scrub or apply any significant pressure to the cloth. The dirt and debris in the grooves is picked up as the cloth passes over.
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5
Turn the record over after the surface has dried completely. Most record cleaning fluids are alcohol based and should not take more than a few minutes to dry.
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6
Repeat Step 3 and Step 4 for the other side of the record. Allow the record to dry completely before putting it away.
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Tips & Warnings
Some record cleaning fluids come with a special applicator brush. Most record cleaning fluids use similar chemicals. The applicator brush or soft cloth should be interchangeable to apply the cleaning fluid to the surface of the record.
A homemade version of record cleaning fluid can be made with distilled water, isopropyl alcohol and a photographic wetting agent. Add a quarter of a gallon of isopropyl alcohol to three quarters of a gallon of distilled water. Add 12 drops of photographic wetting agent to the solution. Three drops of dishwashing detergent can be substituted for the photographic wetting agent.
References
- Photo Credit old gramophone record image by Julia Chernikova from Fotolia.com
