Main points
- Keep records upright to prevent deformation, and purchase anti-static sleeves for storage.
- Clean your records regularly with a microfiber cloth, and consider using a vinyl-friendly cleaning solution.
- Maintain the needles on the cartridges and clean the carousel monthly to prevent dust build-up.
A great vinyl collection is a labor of love. Record lovers will spend hours tirelessly flipping through albums, always looking for something on their wish list. Other records may be prized possessions passed down from parents or grandparents. However, when your record collection comes together, you’ll want to take as good care of your records as possible. This includes cleaning and protecting them, as well as cleaning and maintaining the important parts of your record player, such as the cartridge, tonearm, and platter.
As a vinyl lover and audiophile, I’ve put together a quick and effective guide on how to clean your vinyl records and maintain your turntable to ensure you enjoy rich, full-bodied vinyl for years to come sound.
1 Store your records upright
Stack, wrap or purchase anti-static sleeves
Not splashed
Safeguarding your records begins the moment you bring them home. You need to store records upright at home, as stacking them horizontally on top of each other can put undue stress on the records at the bottom of the heavy pile, causing them to warp. Most records you buy will come in their original vinyl sleeves, which often include an interior dust jacket. Most inner sleeves are paper, and while that’s certainly better than nothing, you might consider investing in anti-static plastic sleeves for your records.
Over time, paper sleeves can leave fibers in the record’s grooves and create static electricity, which attracts more dust to the record’s surface. Anti-static sleeves go a long way in protecting them over time.
Additionally, your collection should be stored in a temperature-stable, dry indoor space rather than a garage.
2 Regular, gentle cleaning of your records
Not all record scratches are cool
Hopefully you will find records in good condition initially, but you will inevitably find yourself having to clean the records of the occasional fingerprint or dust. Vinyl records are easy to clean, you can do a very basic cleaning by wiping the record with a clean, dry microfiber cloth in a circular motion. Simply follow the record’s grooves in a circle and remove dust as you wipe.
For heavier cleaning, you might consider using a mild vinyl-friendly cleaning solution. This can help remove stubborn spots or dirt from the record’s surface.
Many vinyl cleaning kits also come with a velvet brush for easy, gentle dusting. Using a velvet brush, you can practice the simple practice of giving your vinyl records a quick wipe before playing them each time. Regular cleaning will save you time and ensure the cleanest possible playback.
It’s important to use distilled water because the minerals in tap water can dry out in the grooves of vinyl records, affecting playback.
If something terrible happens and you spill something on your record or need a deeper cleaning, you can carefully rinse your record using distilled water and a drop of soap. Make sure not to brush it with anything that might scratch it, so stick to a microfiber cloth. It’s important to use distilled water because the minerals in tap water can dry out in the grooves of vinyl records, affecting playback. Let it dry completely before playing.
3 Clean your cartridge needles
Make sure the needle stays sharp
A record player’s cartridge houses the stylus and the necessary components to transmit the sound picked up by the stylus to the turntable through the tonearm. Many cartridges come with a protective plastic cover that you can flip down to cover the needle when your desk is not in use.
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Over time, it’s entirely possible that the cartridge’s needle picks up some dust particles from daily use. When you buy a vinyl cleaning kit, be sure to buy one that includes a needle cleaner. It can take many forms, but is usually a small piece of polyurethane gel into which you can carefully dip the cartridge needle to remove any dust or debris. The stickiness of the gel removes anything stuck to the needle without damaging it.
4 Clean the turntable
Prevent dust accumulation
Turntable mechanics and maintenance vary greatly from table to table because it depends on whether your table is motor-driven or belt-driven, and how the turntable (the part where the vinyl sits when you play) is constructed. Generally speaking, you’ll want to wipe down the exterior portion of your table with a microfiber cloth once a month or so to remove dust or debris.
How to clean your records correctly and safely
Whether you’ve inherited your parents’ records or are an audiophile, knowing how to properly clean your vinyl records is crucial to achieving great sound quality.
This is especially important if you have a table that doesn’t come with a dust cover, although it’s generally recommended to install a dust cover on the table. If you don’t have one on your desk, you can look for third-party options online.
The rule of thumb for proper turntable and record care is to prevent dust from accumulating and remove it when you see it, whether it’s from records, cassettes, or the record player itself.
Good care, proper cleaning and correct storage will ensure that your collection lasts for a long time.