Cleaning Vinyl Records On a Budget

This is the process I use to clean my vinyl records. Please keep in mind this process won't work on vintage 78RPM records. Any record cleaning solution that contains alcohol will destroy your record. Alcohol is like acid to shellac.

My home made cleaning solution is One part Alcohol (more pure the better), Two parts distilled water, and a few drops of Ivory soap.

If you have a different formula, please let me know. I'm always open to new ideas.

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[longde]

The first thing you should do is to try to do an initial removal of any big dirt particle using a carbon fibre brush and/or a wet paper towel applying very, very light pressure. Otherwise those particles become abrasives to the groove. The worst thing you could do is... to drag a nylon tootbrush over the record, even more so to move it perpendicularly to the position of the grooves!! That's a total no-no. Utterly crazy!!

[jasonmit]

@longde Gotta get the dirt out somehow. I add Ivory soap because it helps lift out the dirt and it acts as a conditioning and lubricating agent. Cleaning in the grooves with nylon bristles in a wet environment is far better than dry dirt on a metal needle.

I only use a toothbrush with records that's been collecting dust and dirt in storage for many years. For normal use, I have a carbon fiber brush and anti-static cloth.

[RanieroSupremo91]

It seems good, but are you sure that it doesn't scratch them??

[jasonmit]

@RanieroSupremo91 Haven't scratched a record yet using this method.

[Condorsat10]

Nice video ... I would use a soft paint brush vice a toothbrush ... Aquafina vice distilled water (it purer) .. you could substitute a green general purpose cleaner like Seventh Generation (cleans w/out leaving residue) but dawn works in very small amounts. The final drying and buffing of the LP could be done with a HQ micro-fiber cloth like 3M Auto Detail. My home brew is 80% Aquafina 17% Isopropyl alcohol [90% proof] 3% Seventh Generation. Cheers!

[jasonmit]

@Condorsat10 I'll give that a try. Thanks for sharing.

[dave631bnetzero]

@jasonmit Hay, I might be able to help.. I have cleaned many records. The table you are using will help. Window cleaner (Windex) mixed about 50 50 with water works wonders on old wax. A soft brush is also a big time saver. You will have to apply to the entire surface of the record. The brush helps get it done and not scratch the disc. The most important part is Vacuum off so all the dirt is gone. Shop vac works real well with a home made adapter. Ask for more if interested.

[longplayforum]

Please visit longplay . tk for further info. The unique worldwide community of LPs!

[jasonmit]

@TheShospitali Cool. I'll give it a try. With records I don't really care about first, of course. Thanks

[TheShospitali]

It leaves it smelling like it a little bit, but it's not bad, the vinegar worked for, the needlw never glided across the record any better, and the sound was the cleanest I ever got out of the old record, it came to me since their are so many uses for vinegar in cleaning, so I tri9ed it on my reacord lps, the results astonished me, the records sounded like they just came off the press, might not get all the scratches out, but will clean up what is their.