Comments on: How to Clean a Vinyl Record

on 5/14/2008 Also, don't use cartridges with a a considerably limited frequency output range! If the styli are cheap and nasty and leave your record with cue more cue burn after more more cue burn per play then you may not find out until you buy decent cartridges! I discovered this to my disappointment and now all my rare records are damaged unless there is a way to get rid of cur burn... Don't cheap-out on cartridges as it may cost you in the long ter like it has me!

on 5/14/2008 Also, don't use cartridges with a a considerably limited frequency output range! If the styli are cheap and nasty and leave your record with cue more cue burn after more more cue burn per play then you may not find out until you buy decent cartridges! I discovered this to my disappointment and now all my rare records are damaged unless there is a way to get rid of cur burn... Don't cheap-out on cartridges as it may cost you in the long ter like it has me!

on 4/29/2007 I have used this mehtod since the 70s when I was shown it by an 'audiophile'. The records come up shining and very clean. Use 1-2 drops mild handwash into 1/2 cup filtered water and 1 cap of Methylated Spirits. The 'soap' acts on the deep dirt, the water is just the medium to get it into the grooves and the Metho is used to dry it out. Using a toothbrush, with only enough of the mixture to wet the record, work in the direction of the grooves from inside out, in sections, for 2x around the record. Then tilt the brush 45 degrees to the surface with the same action, 1-2 times around. Wipe off with a slightly damp foam cloth in the direction of the grooves, rolling the material to pick the grunge up and away from the surface. The results will amaze you on really dirty records.

on 1/28/2007 I have several vinyl LPs that have a HUGE amount of dust on them. WOuldn't it be better to lightly vacuum them with a soft brust FIRST before 'wet/washing cleaning them?'

on 9/10/2007 I heard that some people actually spit shine their records, this is just plain gross and ignorant. So I like to really clean my used records when I first get them. Start by spaying a very small amount of Lysol Disinfectent on the record, then rubbing with a dish rag, then soak them in steaming hot water for about 60 seconds. Then dry them with a hairdryer and wash them down again with some good alcohol and you could at this point even repeat the process. And there you have it.

on 10/11/2006 Cleaning Vinyl records with liquid soap, will that lose any sound quality on the record when played back? Might sound like a stupid question, but I figure I ask
before trying.

on 8/8/2006 Although someone said that hand soap would leave a residue on the albums; I found that if you use about a drop of hand soap with a soft sponge, and dry in a circular motion with a clean lint free cloth and that let the album dry on a flat towel, the results are satisfactory. I am sure there are more expensive and more time consuming "audiophile" methods, but for what I need this method worked very well.

I typically try to buy large lots of vinyl or collections for my own personal use and often times these come out of basements/attics and they were mishandled by 70's stoner kids. Often times they are million sellers with a few rarities thrown in. (READ-they are not that valuable usually) I guess what I am saying is; if you need to clean a whole collection use the hand soap and you will get the smudges and fingerprints off with no problem. The only thing is that you will run into are colorfast labels. Go simple.

on 7/20/2006 I have found that regular Swiffer cloths (the ones that go on the sweeper) are great to have next to the turntable. That way you can give them a quick wipe to remove dust before they go back in their sleeves. The dust clings to the cloth and the cloths seem to be very gentle on the records.

on 6/30/2006 Don't spend money on replacement rollers for the classic dust bug (or copies).
Go to a haberdasher and buy 16mm wide crush-resistant velvet, and then carefully peel off the old, warn out roller cover. Use the old piece as a template. Use a craft knife to cut new ribbon to length. Carefully glue to roller, ensuring edges are carefully butted together. Suitable glues are; rubber solution (as in cycle repair kits, pritstick, PVA or UHU. Allow glue to almost dry before offering new ribbon onto the plastic roller. One metre of ribbon costs half the amount of replacement rollers...if you can even get them! Imagine how many replacement covers that will provide!

on 2/2/2006 I now use mini-vacuum cleaner attachments and the fiber brush (used carefully sucks up most particles. Next, I wet clean using an ethanol mixture or proprietary cleaning fluid. Then, and this is the best bit, dry it in circular sweeps using the new microfiber dusters. The increase in sound quality equals that produced by top of the range cleaning machines. As with anything new, try the process on an unwanted record before trying it on your treasures. Save yourself a fortune.

on 11/22/2005 Fast clean (regular) - Use denatured alcohol on a clean cotton rag.

Super clean - Use a high quality liquid detergent on a good quality, new paintbrush. Work well in both directions. Rinse thoroughly under the tap. Do a final rinse with distilled water. Lean them somewhere where there is no breeze, and allow to dry.

I usually perform this type of cleaning once a decade or less. It has only been necessary on records other people use.

on 11/22/2005 I use equal amounts of alcohol and distilled water mixed in a spray bottle. I use one side of a cotton towel to clean the record, and I go back over it with the other dry side of the towel. I've experimented with many different ways of cleaning records, and I have found this to be the most effective.

on 11/22/2005 Many vinyl-cleaning brushes and kits use Velet. The texture is non-abrasive, and it removes some of the debris that finds its way in and rests on your grooves. Use circular movements, and resort to harsher pressure if more serious cleaning is required. Old-fashioned velvet works best.

on 11/22/2005 By far the best way to clean a large record collection is with one of the record cleaning machines. It costs about $500, but it really deep-cleans the records.

on 2/12/2007 Never, EVER use dish soap on your records. I am stunned by the casual and ignorant use of dish detergent to clean vinyl records. Dish soap and household detergents contain chemicals that will leave residue on your records--exactly the thing you want to avoid, right? Typically, distilled water and a diluted amount of denatured alcohol will do the job. Check websites for recipes, and research various methods. Without endorsing a specific product, I advise you to check products used by or manufactured by conservationists/preservationists. Say NO to dishsoap!