How To Clean Records

Here's my method for cleaning used records. This gets all of the dirt and fingerprints off of the surface gently without leaving behind any unwanted residue. Thank to my wife Lynn for playing camera man! :) JC

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Vintage
• Audio
• LP
• Reocrd
• 45
• Turntable
• Sterep
• Hi-Fi

[Audioquest56]

Why not use a blow dryer on a low or no-heat setting to blow the standing water off?

[BadEditPro]

@Audioquest56 That's the worst thing you could do because it would leave all the minerals in the water on the record. The idea is to get the water off before it drys so it doesn't leave any residue behind. :) JC

[bluecollarmusic]

My God. This is horrible advice. I do not recommend this method of record cleaning on rare collectable records. Cleaning using water and soap is ok but doing this with a spong in a sink is absurd. And to rinse it under the faucet? You risk getting the labels wet and any damage to a rare record's label can decrease the value buy as much as 50% of guide prices. I wrote a book on tips for buying, selling and taking care of your rare record collection. Find it online by searching Weldon T. Toms

[BadEditPro]

@bluecollarmusic I've dine this with literally hundreds of records and not one has had label damage. Don't knock it until you try it. :) JC

[jvcforce]

I use microfiber to wipe records, when the record surface is clean, but it is very dusty. spray water to microfiber cloth to make the cloth a bit dumpy, then wipe the record with the groove. I should try your method them I got old and dirty vinyls.

[BadEditPro]

@jvcforce I use an AudioQuest fiber brush to keep the dust down after cleaning. This method is for extreme cases and does wonders with used records that have 50 years of filth on them. :) JC

[srsairbags]

thanks for the vid . . will try this

[Alantgv]

@bluecollarmusic

Just shut up. No one cares about what you have to say.

[bluecollarmusic]

@bluecollarmusic I would like to add.... If you told a Jazz or Classical collector to try this method, they would laugh at you. Trust me. I been a rare record specialist for 25 years. I worked with both Jerry Osborne (Rockin' Records) and Tim Neeley (from Goldmine Magazine). Your method has been attempted by numerous others and all we heard was how the labels came off or became so wet they peeled, feathered and eroded on the edges.

[bluecollarmusic]

Records from the 70s up through the 90s glued labels on and the glue becomes weak when wet. Labels from the 50s through the 60s were sometimes printed directly to the records inner ring. This was more common with 45s than was with LPs. If you get these wet, the print begins to fade and wear away. Now if you are talking about cleaning common issues like there were in the 70s and 80s then its not a big deal. Most of those records can be replaced cheaply.

[jvcforce]

@BadEditPro Yes, I also use Audio Quest fiber brush, it is great brush. 3M microfiber cloth (one that feels like velvet) is great, it even removes light molds on records. If you haven't tried yet, please try (it does not replace wet cleaning method, but it is very useful.) Also, thank you for sharing info on how to clean stylus tip, it is a genius idea.