Jack Joseph Puig Interview with Andrew Scheps
November 25, 2020
Andrew Scheps on Mixing 100% in the Box
December 28, 2020
Vinyl Cleaning : How to Clean Vinyl Records. A Useful Guide.
Many people think of cleaning their vinyl as a complicated, confusing procedure. But all of these difficulties can be overcome by regular, simple cleaning techniques.
Cleaning your vinyl has the reputation of a difficult, time-consuming task. But we don’t think it is. In fact, much of the unwanted materials on your vinyl’s surface can be removed using soft, micro-fibre cloths and a circular cleaning motion, or an anti-static gun. If this doesn’t work, you can do a heavier clean using homemade cleaning solutions and a bit of elbow grease.
However, in the long run, if you do not store your vinyl correctly, no amount of cleaning can save your records
Cleaning your vinyl is a worthwhile, therapeutic errand. It ensures a clear, warm sound from your beloved record in exchange from just minutes of cleaning.
How to Clean Vinyl?
Cleaning your vinyl records can be a tricky process, but it doesn’t need to be. The most important step is inspecting your vinyl, seeing what kind of dirt/debris/gunk is upon the vinyl’s surface and cleaning it appropriately. There are two tactics used to do this: a light clean or a heavy clean.
The steps involved in a light-clean of your vinyl are:
- Study your vinyl under natural, bright light.
- If there appears to be any dust/debris/unwanted materials on the surface, you can remove it using canned air, a micro-fibre cloth, an anti-static brush, a stylus brush or a static gun (these are explained in greater detail below).
- Inspect the vinyl again under natural, bright light. If there remains any marks/dirt on the vinyl, move to the heavy-clean steps
The steps involved in a heavy-clean of your vinyl are:
- Create a cleaning solution of either soap and water, vinegar and water, or purchase a pre-mixed bottle of cleaning solution. Place this solution into a large bowl and follow the detailed steps for each method below.
- Remember, when applying the cleaning solution to the vinyl’s surface, only move in circular motions. Do not wipe from the vinyl’s centre straight out to the record’s edge. Additionally, do not place a heavy pressure on the vinyl as this may damage it, and use a clean, dry, non-abrasive micro-fibre cloth.
- Repeat the cleaning process of choice in Step 1 until the vinyl appears clean. Then allow a period of time for the vinyl to dry
- If some solution remains on the surface after a period of drying, remove it with a clean, dry micro-fibre cloth.
How to Clean Vinyl with Anti-Static Brushes?
Cleaning vinyl can be a delicate procedure; that’s why its vitally important that you use the right tools. One perfectly designed tool for cleaning your vinyl is the Anti-Static Record (Vinyl) Cleaning Brush.
An Anti-static brush is very good at cleaning your vinyls for two reasons. Firstly, with the brush’s design, specifically the spacing between brushes, it is able to enter the grooves on your record. This means that dirt, debris, and generally bad things can be removed from these grooves.
Secondly, because of the material the brush is made from, the brush will actually drain static electricity from the record’s surface. Dust is chemically attracted to this static electricity, so with it removed dust should not gather.
How to Clean Vinyl With a Static Gun?
The main cause of static electricity building up on your vinyl records is the friction generated between the record player’s stylus and the vinyl grooves (which are cut into the vinyl), which the stylus runs along. A second, though less prominent source is the removal of the vinyl from its storage sleeve.
A solution to this problem is using an anti-static gun. So how to you clean with with a static gun? The gun works by removing the static electricity gathered on the record. In turn, this reduces the build-up of dust and grime in your vinyl’s grooves.
How to Know When There is Static On Your Vinyl?
The easiest way to know if there is static on your vinyl record is just using your sight. If there is any dust/dirt/grime on the surface, there is static electricity (this is because they are attracted to the electricity).
A second way to tell if there is static on your vinyl record is to use your hearing. When removing the record from its sleeve, if you hear any kind of crackle, there is static present.
How to Clean Vinyl With Micro-Fibre Clothes?
If an anti-static gun or anti-static brush is out of your price range, you can use a micro-fibre cloth to clean your vinyl.
However, to clean your vinyl using micro-fibre clothes, you have to make sure the cleaning material is non-abrasive and smooth. These cloths can be found comparatively cheaply, and they are very good at absorbing oils, dust and grime that can appear on your vinyl.
How to Clean Vinyl With Canned Air?
A simple method of cleaning your beloved vinyl is to use canned air. These pressured containers are very good at quickly removing the things you want from your record’s surface.
Remember, you have to follow the instructions on the canned air’s packaging carefully and to avoid spraying the record from too close a distance. Additionally, canned air can often release condensation when spraying air – if this happens, quickly wipe up any liquid from the vinyl’s surface with a dry, soft cloth.
How to Clean Vinyl With Stylus Brushes?
Using a Stylus Brush is one of the most effective methods of quickly cleaning your record. Over time, it is an inevitability that dust will gather on your stylus. This dust that can transfer onto your record, specifically into its grooves, and cause skipping and even damage.
To prevent this, we recommend using a Stylus Brush. This brush can be attached to the end of your record player’s arm (which hovers above the record). Then, as the record rotates, dust will be removed and prevented from coming into contact with your stylus.
When you are not using your stylus brush, we recommend storing it face up (so the bristles do not become further contaminated) alongside your record player.
How to Clean Vinyl With Cleaning Solutions?
Applying cleaning solutions to your vinyl must be done carefully. For example, if caring for an older, much-played record, do not liberally apply cleaning solution. In fact, to be safe, test out any cleaning solutions (whether bought pre-mixed or create yourself) on a less-loved, trial vinyl disc.
The actual method used to clean a vinyl record using a cleaning solution is quite simple.
- Use an anti-static brush or gun, or microfibre cloth, to remove any accumulated dirt on the vinyl record’s surface
- If there remains any unwanted material on the vinyl, spray a small portion of the cleaning solution onto a clean, dry, smooth micro-fibre cloth.
- Lightly wipe your record with small, circular motions. Do not wipe from the centre, outward in a straight line.
- Remember, do not press too hard on the record as this may cause unwanted materials to become further embedded into the vinyl.
- Once dry, play the vinyl on your record player to test it out. If there is still any leftover solution on the vinyl’s surface, allow it time to dry.
How to Clean Vinyl With Soap and Water?
Hands down, this is the most-accessible method of cleaning your precious vinyl (because there is no need to order any new equipment or cleaning solutions). All that is required is hot water, soap and your vinyl for choice.
- Use a microfibre cloth to remove any accumulated dirt on the vinyl record’s surface
- If there remains any unwanted material on the vinyl, fill a large bowl with warm water. This water should not be too hot, but warm enough to dissolve any soap you add to it.
- Once you have added soap to the water, take another micro-fibre cloth and wrap it around your index finger. Then dip this finger into the soap and water solution.
- Now rub your index finger (with the damp cloth around it) in a circular motion along the grooves of your vinyl record. Do this clockwise once, then anti-clockwise once.
- If the water in your bowl has become dirty, replace it with a new solution until your record’s wiping is complete
- Then rinse the record using plain, distilled water. This removes any leftover residue.
- Now leave it to dry
- Once dry, play the vinyl on your record player to test it out. If there is still any leftover solution on the vinyl’s surface, allow it time to dry.
How to Clean Vinyl With Vinegar?
For many record collectors, the only ‘true’ way to clean your vinyl is to use vinegar. This is not a complicated method but be careful when creating your vinegar-water solution. Too much vinegar can prove acidic and damage the vinyl.
- Use a microfibre cloth to remove any accumulated dirt on the vinyl record’s surface
- If there remains any unwanted material on the vinyl, fill a large bowl with a solution of warm water and white vinegar at a ratio of 50:50.
- Place the vinyl in the solution for 2-3 minutes.
- If there remains any gunk/residue, take a second micro-fibre cloth and wrap it around your index finger. Then dip this finger into the soap and vinegar solution.
- Now rub your index finger (with the damp cloth around it) in a circular motion along the grooves of your vinyl record. Do this clockwise once, then anti-clockwise once.
- Then rinse the record using plain, warm water and leave to dry
- Once dry, play the vinyl on your record player to test it out. If there is still any leftover solution on the vinyl’s surface, allow it time to dry.
Remember, vinegar is acidic. That means if you live somewhere where mould is a constant problem, acidity can accelerate this growth and potentially damage your vinyl. Also, only use white vinegar as it is 95% water.
How to Care For Your Vinyl Long-term?
If you care for your vinyl collection properly over-time, you will not need to do these deep cleans quite so frequently. Below, we have listed a selection of easy tips-to-follow on how to keep your vinyl in pristine condition
- Always remove any moisture from your vinyl records. Each time you take out a record, or place it into storage, give it a wipe down with a dry micro-fibre cloth or allow them sufficient time to dry.
- Be careful with your fingerprints. The same principle applies to interacting with CDs. Whenever you are touching your vinyl, be specific with where you touch. As a general rule, try to avoid the interior grooves – instead, manipulate the record by holding the perimeter of the disk, or by only touching the vinyl’s label.
- Put your vinyl into protective sleeves. After cleaning them using our above techniques, do not undue all your good work – place them into a protective sleeve (which are explained in detail below)
- Always, always, ALWAYS, store your vinyl vertically. If they are stored flat, or on-top of one another, you risk them warping and bending. The same can happen if your records are stored on a slight lean. The best method is straight up.
What are Inner Sleeves?
After you’ve made sure your records are as clean as can be (using our guidance and advice from above), you can either play or store records. If you are going to store your vinyl, we would recommend you invest in some inner sleeves to protect your records.
Inner Sleeves are thin, paper holsters that act as a buffer between the actual vinyl record and the sleeve/jacket/case it lives in. These paper lines are made of heavyweight, alkaline, and acid free paper which will help reduce static and therefore, dirt accumulation.
If possible, avoid using plastic inner sleeves as a replacement for these paper sleeves. The light plastic can actually stick to your vinyl (under heat) and leave permanent marks on the record’s surface.
What are Outer Sleeves?
Another underappreciated method of keeping your vinyl records in tip-top shape is using Outer Sleeves. An Outer Sleeve is a thin, plastic covering which slips over the entire record and its sleeve/jacket/case it lives in.
These sleeves will ensure your vinyls don’t get dusty in between spins thanks to the durable polypropylene plastic that the sleeves are made from.
What Not to Clean Vinyl With?
Vinyl is a sensitive, delicate material. Particularly when we consider the interior grooves cut into the surface. Therefore, there are certain things that we should not subject our vinyl to, in case we damage it permanently:
- Rough, abrasive cloths. These can add extra, more permanent scratches to the vinyl’s surface and render them unplayable
- Boiling water, this can be too hot for the vinyl and warp/distort it.
- Wood glue, which can stick to the vinyl and peel off in large pieces ruining the record’s playing ability
- Windex, a highly synthetic solution which chemically disagrees with vinyl
- Cleaning solutions with high alcohol contents, which does not actually remove gunk from the vinyl’s surface.
Hope that was helpful!
Thanks,
Tom
Absolutely amazing service just received my cd sleeves today and they look sooo good!! Tom was absolutely brilliant I’ve never done this before and he helped me through the entire process and went that extra mile to make sure I got the cds before a gig highly recommended and will be using there service again in the future ❤️
Stevo ClarkNovember 12, 2021
If ya looking for the right sound of your product, dont waste your time. Tom is the person you need!!
Henna JonezDecember 16, 2020
Thank you for all the help with mastering my tracks.
I happily recommend anyone looking to have work mastered to use Audio Unity. Their service is fast, professional and incredibly understanding and helpful. Definately using you guys again in the future.
The songs sounded crisp and nicely balanced……..great job!!!
Many thanks
Tony DelicataNovember 16, 2020
Hey I’m Tom, I’m a mastering engineer here at Audio Unity Group. I mostly look after Vinyl production and audio side of things. I hold a bachelor’s degree with honours from Kingston University in London. I love audio and helping others create outstanding-sounding records.
