Tools, Tips and Tricks for Proper Vinyl Record Cleaning & Maintenance

[cHrRisToqH]

The rubbing trick in the end is great. :) Thanks for this video. I recently swapped from digital to vinyl so advice like this is invaluable.

[727JeffN]

The newer RCA Chinese-made Discwashers are junk. I have one that I bought about 3 years ago, and the pad isn't even flat. It's curved from side to side, so when you set it on the record, it doesn't cover the whole width. And the fabric is wearing out already too. Thankfully I have an original one from the early 80's.

[GuessImJustASpudBoy]

@727JeffN thanks for letting me know - that may be the reason I was inadvertently pressing down harder on the newer brush than those older ones. You're right - it might describe why so many of the 80s DiscWasher brushes are on eBay and they look brand new. (They were probably retired around 1990 when CDs came on really strong so there is little wear on those old used ones. ) I'll use my brushes from the eighties instead. I have plenty.

[TheSphinxStinks]

You should get yourself a real record cleaning machine that vacuums all the dirt off. With that you really get all the dust and grime out of the bottom of the groves.

You will get much better results than your method of using a cloth.

I myself have an cheap Okki Nokki machine and love it.

There are some videos about that machine here on Youtube.

[GuessImJustASpudBoy]

@TheSphinxStinks Yeah, this cloth method is pretty old school. My argument is that you don't hear so much as the smallest crackle between tracks on records I've owned and played for more than 30 years using these methods. But with Japanese pressings, audiophile pressings (MFSL, Nautilus et al.) I'm buying more of these days, a more professional method of cleaning is not a bad idea at all. Does this Okki Nokki use pricey consummables?

[TheSphinxStinks]

@GuessImJustASpudBoy I got it mainly because I buy a lot of used records.

And the most of them badly need to be washed.

No you don't need pricey consumables. Only the cleaning liquid.

And from time to time new velvet strips which are on the underside of the vacuum arm.

[InvaderOfYourHeart]

This vid is great...here's a request. How about cover the myths of cleaning vinyl. Glue? Steam? ...both have ruened some of my records (I've learned all of them on youtube)..

[GuessImJustASpudBoy]

@InvaderOfYourHeart Hmmm...we have those British ladies "Kim & Aggie", the former is English and the latter an attractive little lady from Scotland. These are shows from the U.K, called "How Clean Is Your House" and on one show Kim recommended that smelly WD-40 lubricant on records that skipped! So I tried it one really beat up Guess Who "Wheatfield Soul" and it didn't resolve the skips, and the record stunk, and the oil transferred onto the inner sleeve and stained the outer cardboard sleeve.

[GuessImJustASpudBoy]

@InvaderOfYourHeart So I saw the wood glue method on YouTube. That's the guy with the Curtis Mayfield 45? Funny thing, the record actually sounded better when he pulled that film of dried glue off. I wouldn't try it myself on my records, maybe a really beat up one like that single he used, but not my Japanese imports put it that way...

[InvaderOfYourHeart]

LUV the vid. Thanks!:)

[HardRockRecords]

i use a disc cleaner , with some cleaner. you get so much dirt and grime off its amazing.. that is a very effective way I may try it.

[GuessImJustASpudBoy]

@HardRockRecords Okay, so tell us more about this disc cleaner. With the investment in records down here, I'm always into something newer and better if it works. Thanks for the comment.

[HardRockRecords]

@GuessImJustASpudBoy i will make a video response sometime in the next few days .. i wouldnt say that the disc cleaner is better but it is the way that i was taught to do it.