Cleaning Vinyl

Taking care of one’s vinyl collection is a good idea if the music is to last any reasonable length of time. The amount of effort put into cleaning the vinyl depends on the person. Some record collectors spend thousands of dollars on a cleaning machine and follow proper storage procedure to the letter. For most enthusiasts, a plastic sleeve to protect the album cover and an affordable cleaning solution are enough.

Hardcore collectors and large institutions can spend thousands of dollars on cleaning their vinyl. Record cleaning machines are the best and most surefire way to get a record clean. They have a wash cycle that sprays a cleaner onto the vinyl, then a brush digs deep into the music grooves and scrapes the dirt away. A built-in vacuum sucks away the detritus. These machines start in the low hundreds for a basic model and rapidly expand into the thousands of dollars.

The average vinyl fan can either purchase cleaning solution or make their own. A store-bought solution starts off at five dollars and climbs quickly. Many solutions are sold in kits that include a nylon or carbon brush, a soft towel, and vary widely in price. Orange Records sells cleaner and cleaner kits. The kits are twenty dollars. A quick online search will lead to various websites and a vast array of cleaning products.

It is generally accepted that one part rubbing alcohol, 70%, diluted with three parts water, distilled water if available, and a few drops of a mild detergent such as Ivory dish detergent, or a photographic wetting agent if available, is a vinyl-safe recipe. Mix these ingredients together and either spray onto the record surface or apply directly with a wet cloth. Be careful to not get the paper label wet. Wipe dry with a clean cloth or use the brush and then wipe clean. Start from the inside and work outwards. Avoid wiping across the grooves and make sure the vinyl is dry before inserting back into the sleeve. Air drying or cloth drying are both okay.

The jacket should have a new inner sleeve, as inserting a clean vinyl into a dirty inner sleeve is senseless. Plastic sleeves to protect the outer case also protect against dust and are available at Orange Records. Most record owners tend to put older vinyl in plastic cases, not because they are worth a fortune but because they are rare.

Storing vinyl is as important as keeping it clean. Because of the addition of plasticizers, vinyl is susceptible to gravity, which means that over time vinyl will warp because of the downward pull of gravity. The Library of Congress rotates all their archival vinyl one quarter turn every few years to offset this force. This isn’t much of a concern for most collectors but storing the vinyl in cabinets in such a way as to not damage the sleeve and the vinyl is an important and inexpensive way to help preserve a collection.

Vinyl records are ideally stored in such a way as they lean very little on each other. This reduces the stress on the records and prevents ring wear on the sleeves. Records should always be stored vertically, never horizontally, as the weight pressing down can damage the record.

When done listening to a record, put it back into its sleeve so as to avoid unnecessary exposure to dust. Avoid sunlight, direct heat, and humidity. Heat will melt plastic records and humidity fosters the growth of fungi and molds which can damage the sleeves and get into the record’s grooves.

Vinyl doesn’t have to be cleaned on a regular basis. There isn’t a recommended frequency because individual listening habits are different. A good rule of thumb is that all vinyl purchased used should probably be cleaned as well as frequently played records and records left out exposed to air for long periods of time.

Vinyl is meant to be enjoyed. Don’t get carried overboard by trying to maintain spotless vinyl. Cracks and hisses are a part of the mystique of vinyl and there’s a good chance that on even clean vinyl, those sounds won’t be eliminated. Try to keep vinyl clean so they will be around for tomorrow but don’t clean them so often that you don’t have time to listen to the records.

Information presented here has been culled from various sources and is presented in good faith. Neil Schloesser and HPR are not responsible for damaged vinyl.