How to properly and safely clean your records

The warm, rich sound of a great vinyl record played over the right equipment is something you can never unhear once you’ve experienced it. The spellbinding ups and downs of the inlaid grooves in the plastic reveal a full spectrum of sound. Keeping those grooves clean and free of debris is paramount to getting the most out of each record.

Whether you are already a seasoned vinyl collector, a casual listener, or someone thinking about picking up record collecting as a hobby, we thought it might be nice to put together a guide on how to properly clean your vinyl records.

A light dusting

Keeping your record collection in good condition is a matter mostly of preventative maintenance, and if you’ve acquired a brand-new record, or found an old one in great condition, keeping it clean is incredibly simple.

Each time you pull out a record to play on your table, take a clean microfiber cloth or velvet vinyl cleaning brush and give it a wipe to remove any dust that might have accumulated since your last spin.

You’ll want to be a bit gentle so that you can catch any potential damage before it occurs. Follow this process to remove any light dust and static from your record before playing it.

The old dusty record

Maybe you’ve just pulled out an old record from your parents’ attic that hasn’t been touched in 40 years. If it was properly stored it might be quite clean, but if not, it will likely have quite a bit of dust on it from the years.

Once you have your dampened microfiber cloth, wipe the record down, again making sure to wipe in a circular motion following the grooves.

The center label is often made of paper, and could warp or bubble if it gets wet.

EVEO Premium Vinyl Record Cleaner Kit

Best vinyl cleaning kit

A simple kit with all the essentials

This kit includes a velvet cleaning brush, a vinyl cleaning solution spray, a plastic cleaning gel for your cartridge needle, and a small dusting brush.

If you don’t have distilled water, you could also use a vinyl cleaning solution. These solutions which are found readily available online or in your local record store have safe vinyl ingredients. Typically, these will come in the form of a spray. You’ll spray the solution on the microfiber cloth to dampen it, then wipe down your record as before.

What should I do if my vinyl is warped or scratched?

Unfortunately, there is nothing you can do to fix a warped or scratched record, which is why proper storage, cleaning, and maintenance are so important. Keep your records away from heat, and be sure they are always safely stored in their protective sleeves.

What if my vinyl is caked in mud?

You must have quite a story to tell if you have a vinyl that is totally caked in residue, mud, or some other substance. If you feel this is a record worth trying to rescue, i.e, you can’t just pick up another copy for $10 or $20, and you absolutely must try to clean it, then perform the following emergency surgery.

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Grab yourself a gallon of distilled water from the grocery store. Only distilled water, as even the best tap water, will have minerals and residue that will dry on your vinyl. Get yourself a container wide enough and deep enough to hold your vinyl and the distilled water. Soak the vinyl in a solution of distilled water and a little bit of liquid dish detergent.

Once whatever has stuck to your vinyl has softened, wipe off with a microfiber cloth. Work your way through all the cleaning steps until you have a dry, clean vinyl. Always let your vinyl completely dry before playing.