How to clean an LP and how to care for vinyl records?
Somebody told me: "I don't think that CDs are better for long term storage of music than vinyl. Dozens of my compact discs became useless, while none of my vinyl records went wrong."
I have got the same experience. However, you must know how to clean an LP and how to care for vinyl records. Records areextremely sensitive to mechanical damage. But a proper record care ensures a long life for them. Some of the records of my collection are more than 50 years old. Has anybody such an old CD?
Here you will find some useful tips for proper record care.
What is the material of a record?
"Wax" and "shellac" are terms associated with phonograph records. For that matter, no record was ever made of pure shellac. The old-style 78 rpm "shellac" record was made of a molding material in which shellac was greatly extended by assorted neutral filler materials, among them the carbon black, which gives the black look to most records.
Records are now pressed from vinylite, a copolymer of vinyl chloride and vinyl acetate, mixed with carbon black to colour and increase the strength of the record.
Virgin vinyl means new, not recycled vinyl. Virgin vinyl offers higher quality.
How to clean an LP?
Why should I clean my records?
It depends on your demands. If you are a demanding and ambitious music listener than you have to pay attention to the quality of sound. Dirty records have higher level of noise. The reduction of the noise after cleaning might be a surprise for you. The styles can't track every small detail of the groove if it is full of small particles or it is covered with different residues. A clean record may produce a more detailed and clear sound.
How can I clean my records?
First of all, you have only two possibilities to clean your records safely:
- You may buy a professional record cleaner
- You may let your records to be cleaned by a professional.
I know, you may find a lot of cheap record cleaning solution on the market or "excellent" home recipes on the Internet. However, records are very sensitive and vulnerable (and expensive). An inferior cleaning may produce irreversible damage of your fond records. I regularly buy second hand records, some records are dead because of the DIY cleaning. Inadequate cleaning may damage the styles as well. It might be a very expensive adventure, or better to say nightmare.
I used to clean my records with a brush. Is it enough?
No, it is not enough. With a brush you cannot remove all the dust and residues. A brush may charge the record with static electricity and may cause damage of the grooves.
What is the best record cleaning fluid?
If you have a professional record cleaner, you should use a professional cleaning fluid designed for your cleaner. Do not mix your own.
Is it worth to buy a record cleaner?
It depends on your record collection and your listening practice. If you have 500+ records and listen to regularly, it is worth to buy an own record cleaning machine.
How to care for vinyl records?
How to store records?
The long life of your records depends on the storing conditions. Temperature should be lower than 35 °C, humidity should be stable and less than 75%. Dirt, warmth and humidity are ideal conditions for mildew and other fungi which can infest the cover, label and inside the grooves.
Keep your records away from direct sunlight or heat. Store records vertically, leaning as little as possible. Storing records horizontally or too tightly may cause unnecessary stress to the record's materials, surface and label, resulting in warps and contact damage.
How to handle records?
When handling and playing records, hold the disk by the outer edge and label. Eliminate contact with the playing surface. Always replace disk in it's sleeve and cover immediately after play.
Top 10 tips of proper vinyl record care:
- Always use clean and antistatic inner sleeve.
- Never leave an LP outside its sleeve or on the turntable when not in use.
- Always replace disk in it's sleeve and cover immediately after play.
- Never touch the playing surface.
- Keep the stylus clean.
- Be sure that your turntable is properly set up and adjusted.
- Always play with the record deck lid closed.
- Always store LPs upright (not flat).
- Never wipe the record surface.
- Never wash LPs unless with a professional record cleaner.
Order a professional record cleaning service...