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Care of Records

How to Clean, Store, Handle and Play Vinyl Records

How to Care for Vinyl Records

Many people never bought into CD's as a music recording medium. They love their vinyl records, think they sound better and have let the digital revolution pass them by.

Elvis, 1956

Also some classic records have not been re-issued on CD's.

However,one of the problems that plague vinyl records is dirt and scratches in the grooves which cause pops and clicks when the record is played.

Oils from our fingers can cause even more dirt to accumulate.

So proper care and handling is necessary to get the best sound from these recordings as well as to maintain their value.

Cleaning Vinyl Records

Here are some tips on properly handling and cleaning vinyl records. Most records produced after the early fifties are made of polyvinyl which is more durable than the very fragile shellac which had been used on mass produced records to that time.

However, durability is relative. Vinyl records are still quite easy to damage, either from improper handling or improper playback.They also tend to warp easily if not stored properly.

Only handle the records by its edges. Don't allow you figures to touch the grooves.

When cleaning vinyl records, a 50/50 solution of isopropyl alcohol or denatured alcohol, which is purer, and filtered or distilled water works well.

Alcohol can actually damage the record so you must be careful to dilute it properly. If you don't think you can do so, buy one of the commercially made record cleaning solutions.

The Beatles

All record cleaning solutions are designed not to leave a residue behind in the record grooves. (Products used to be sold to apply to the grooves to try to reduce the problem of pops and clicks by essentially filling in scratches. It's best not to use these products on collectible records.)

You can also use mild detergents, like baby shampoo or Photo Flo, a solution designed to prevent spotting in photography. Both have to be used in small amounts with water.

Use a soft, clean cloth - an old diaper is good, so are cotton balls. Wipe in a circular motion with the grooves.

Rinse the cloth often in the solution and replace with a fresh mixture when needed.

You can dry the record with a clean soft cloth or let it air dry after a thorough rinsing.

Record brushes of various designs are sold. Some work better than others, but you risk depositing the dirt even more deeply in grooves.

Some styli come with little brushes attached, which helps prevent them from grinding in dirt during replay.

Dirt on the record album covers or on the record label is best left alone. You may be able to remove marks with an eraser, but you might end up doing more harm than good.

If you consider your records as collectibles, you can do a lot of harm by damaging the printing, wearing off or scratching the colors of the cover or leaving behind signs of the use of water, chemicals or solvents on the jacket.

Meatloaf

Care and Storage of Vinyl Records

Records should be kept in clean intact sleeves. You can buy new sleeves if the original is ripped or damaged.

Record collectors have been known to remove the original sleeve and album jacket and place them together in a safe place. Then they use new generic sleeves and covers to protect the actual record. This allows you to avoid any kind of wear and tear on the originals, which, if kept pristine, will increase the overall value of the vinyl record.

Serious collectors will also put the jacketed record into another closeable sleeve to further protect and cushion it and also to prevent dust infiltration.

Records should be stored away from heat- which can cause warping and even melting of the vinyl - in a vertical position, usually with the album title and artist visible. They should not be crammed together too tightly and you should prevent them from leaning to one side or another, since this can cause the vinly record to warp.

Records should only be handled by the edges, Do not allow your fingers to touch the grooves.

Also your turntable has to be balanced properly and the right stylus in good condition has to be used.

Different styli are designed for 33 RPM, 45 RPM and 78 RPM records.

Once you have played the record, you should return it to its sleeve and jacket.

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