Guide to Cleaning Vinyl Records
Collecting vinyl is a beautiful physical experience. Your shelves get stacked full of your interests. You pull those interests off the shelves. You hold them in your hands. You examine the art. You pull that black orb out of its sleeve and gently lay it on the turntable, and listen to that gorgeous warm sound. Et cetera, et cetera, blah blah blah, other record-collecting cliches.
You know you love this stuff, and let’s be honest: you wouldn’t be reading this if you didn’t.
The essential element of a vinyl collection is proper care. It doesn’t matter if you have the best musical taste in the universe, because if you treat what your vinyl poorly or irresponsibly, well, you look like an idiot. It would be best if you did not look like an idiot. That’s why we’ve created this guide for the best ways to clean vinyl records.
It’s a common problem for vinyl records to pick up dirt, grime, dust, grease, and other forms of general yuck through daily usage. This is one of those things that you cannot prevent, even if you have the cleanest house on the planet. It’s just gonna get dirty, no way around it. And your records collect this stuff even if it’s not visible to the naked eye. That’s what’s causing all that clicking, hissing, or crackling that you can’t stand hearing. You need to actively think about how you’re cleaning your records.
Best Ways to Clean Dirt, Dust & Grime off Vinyl Records
Cleaning vinyl records isn’t too tricky. But different situations call for different approaches. Below, we’ve outlined how to get dirt and grime off your favorite album, pending the kind of dirt and grime you’re dealing with.
Cleaning Fingerprints Off Vinyl Records
Ah, fingerprints on vinyl. The ultimate culprit. Typically, these little annoyances can be taken care of with standard cleaning strategies — brushes, microfiber cloths, and other strategies we’ve listed below — but for those pesky fingerprints that won’t go away, there is a solution. And it’s one you’re already familiar with because you (hopefully) do a version of it every day.
The best way to clean fingerprints off vinyl records is by mixing a tiny amount of odorless liquid soap — we prefer Dr. Bronner’s — with a generous amount of water in a bowl. Remember, less is more. You can always add more soap or water to a solution, but you can’t take it away.
Then, lightly dampen a microfiber cloth, take your time, and slowly wipe the record to clean off the fingerprints.
Clean Dust and Dirt Off Vinyl Records
Dust and dirt are the ultimate enemies of any audiophile. If you don’t clean dust and dirt off your vinyl records, you’ll risk scratching your vinyl and destroying your needle. Two bad things!
The best way to ensure this doesn’t happen is by regularly cleaning your vinyl records with a microfiber cloth. But if things remain dirty and that dust has made itself at home, an effective way to clean dust and dirt off vinyl records is to dampen your micro cloth with distilled water. Don’t soak it, but just enough to smoothly wipe down your records without leaving a water trail. If the dirt and grime persist, try one of the more deep-cleaning methods we list later in this article.
Clean Mildew and Mold Off Vinyl Records
Maybe you found a goldmine of vinyl records in a relative’s basement. Awesome, right? Yes — until you realize half the records experienced water damage and might be covered in mold.
Fear not, these vinyl records are not lost. There’s a chance some of them can be salvaged, and after some proper cleaning, they could even still sound great. This is going to sound a little weird, but your answer to how to restore old vinyl and clean mildew or mold off vinyl records is wood glue.
First, we recommend using this technique on a record that may not be as important to you as others so you can get a feel for it. But done correctly, this could make that old Beatles album sound great again.
The water-soluble wood glue, Titebond II, is ideal for cleaning your vinyl records. Spin the record on your player and apply wood glue over all the grooves from the inside out, being sure to avoid the record label in the center. What happens is that the glue finds its way into the grooves and locks into all particles (dust, mold, mildew) that might be missed by other washing or cleaning techniques.
Next, remove the record from your turntable and evenly spread the glue using a business card to cover the entire surface. Then, let it sit for at least 3-6 hours, or ideally overnight, so it has plenty of time to dry.
Once the glue has dried, slowly peel it off. Beginning at one side, find a little edge to grab, and gently pull all the wood glue off the record. This is going to feel strange but also very satisfying. You should be able to get all the glue off in one motion.
Wipe off any residual wood glue with a damp micro cloth for a clean finish. Now you’re all clean, and you’ve also got a cool snakeskin made out of vinyl that you can use to freak out your friends. Or something like that?
Common Mistakes Made When Cleaning Vinyl Records
The internet is full of advice on how to clean records — but believe it or not, everything you read on the internet might not be true. Shocking, we know.
To help the world out, here’s a section on how to NOT clean vinyl records. If you use these products, there’s a strong chance you’re gonna destroy that Miles Davis Kind of Blue record. And boy, oh boy, we do not want you to destroy that Miles Davis Kind of Blue record.
In other words, when there are many great options for cleaning vinyl, why risk it?
Using Isopropyl Alcohol
Some people swear by this — but when you use rubbing alcohol (or something similar) to clean a vinyl record, you’re playing with fire. Yes, it’s true that appropriately distilled, there’s a chance the right alcohol-to-water mix could help get grime off an old record. But if not mixed properly, you’re pretty much screwed.
Using White Vinegar
White vinegar is excellent for cleaning floors, walls, and other objects around the house. It is not great for cleaning vinyl records. Don’t do this. You’ll strip the vinyl, and your favorite blues album will sound like a chainsaw lit on fire (and not in a good way).
Using Windex
Windex — the ideal cleaner for vinyl, right? Wrong!
Window glass cleaners should stick to keeping glass squeaky clean. The chemical cleaner doesn’t interact with the surface of a vinyl record very well. It might look like you’re cleaning off grime, but you’re also damaging the record because Windex is such a harsh cleaner. Remember, vinyl is delicate. It must be cared for carefully — specifically when cleaning.
Think about it another way: Would you use a sandblaster to wash your car?
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Thought-provoking content aimed at helping you find an ideal vinyl storage solution.
Best Methods for Cleaning Vinyl Records
Now that you know what not to clean your vinyl records with, let’s cover some of the most common methods that are safe to use.
The best way to clean your vinyl records is to keep them well maintained by cleaning them before and after each use. It’s like changing the oil in your car. If you follow best practices and do it regularly in a timely manner, your vehicle will last for a very, very long time.
These are some of the best ways to clean and maintain vinyl. Keep your sound warm and the vibes strong.
Anti-Static Record Cleaning Brush
Using Anti-Static Brushes to Clean Vinyl Records
Good for: Surface Dust, Dirt, Grime
Everyone needs a record cleaning brush. They’re simple, affordable, and straightforward to use. Plus, sometimes, they can come in flashy colors and look pretty slick. Moreover, record-cleaning brushes are not only good for wiping dirt and grime off your records, but they reduce static — which attracts dust and sounds awful.
Place your record on the turntable and lightly brush it as it spins in a repetitive, circular motion. Don’t let the brush sit on the record as it spins, as that could potentially damage it.
Record Cleaning Solution + Microfiber Cloth
Using Cleaning Solution & Microfiber Cloths to Clean Vinyl
Good for: Surface Dust, Dirt, Grime
This is your standard, most affordable choice for cleaning vinyl records. It’s pretty easy stuff. Each time you take a record out of its sleeve, you spray a microfiber cloth with solution and then gently rub the record with the cloth. Don’t press too hard because you may cause it to bend or break — and make sure your record dries before you put it back on the turntable.
A number of different cleaning solutions can be used, but we recommend ones that are made specifically for vinyl records.
Do this every time you play a record. Add it into your routine. Your records will last forever. We mean it.
Anti-Static Gun
Using an Anti-Static Gun to Clean Vinyl Records
Good for: Surface Dust, Dirt, Grime
The reason dirt and dust, in particular, stick to records in the first place is because the record has built up some static electricity. This attracts tiny particles, and due to the high surface area available in the grooves, the particles can get firmly lodged in. Because of this, to thoroughly clean any record, you really need to de-static it. Many of the methods on this list will do this, but the best way to remove static is to use a Milty Zerostat 3 anti-static gun.
Point the static gun at the record and shoot. Ions will be sent from the gun that will neutralize static charge, which lets the dust now become free. Then, gently wipe it off with a microfiber cloth or clean it with a vacuum or canned air. It’s extremely effective, and extremely psychedelic. There couldn’t be a better combination.
Compressed/Canned Air
Using Compressed Air to Clean Records
Good for: Surface Dust, Dirt, Grime & Deep Groove Cleaning
As a single method for cleaning vinyl records, canned air is not enough to effectively clean your vinyl records. This method should be viewed as an addition to the cleaning process. It’s like a bonus track, baby. The canned air method works especially well in addition to using a microfiber cloth and cleaning solutions.
After you finish carefully wiping those suckers down, run the canned air over the record’s grooves. This will remove any moisture that is still remaining on the record after cleaning. This helps with the longevity of the record because you’re seeing the cleaning process from start to finish.
Buy Canned Air
Vinyl Record Cleaning Machines
Using Record Cleaning Machines
Good for: Surface Dust, Dirt, Grime & Deep Groove Cleaning
Using a record cleaning machine is without a doubt the most effective way to deep clean your records. These machines are essentially record players, except instead of having a stylus that plays music, they have one that will run through the grooves and remove any dust or grime buildup. Moreover, if you’ve done some serious crate digging, these machines can give your records new life.
Something to note is that vinyl record cleaning machines tend to be much more expensive than the other cleaning methods on this list, but the true vinyl connoisseur won’t use anything else. Buy it once for life. It’s worth the investment.
Buy Record Cleaning Machines
Wood Glue (Titebond II)
Using Wood Glue to Clean Vinyl Records
Good for: Deep Groove Cleaning
This one is a little weird, and we recommend using this technique on a record that may not be as important to you as others so you can get a feel for it. But done properly, this is an extremely effective way to remove all the dust and grime from your vinyl records.
The water soluble wood glue, Titebond II, is ideal for cleaning your vinyl records. Spin the record on your player and apply wood glue over all the grooves from the inside out, being sure to avoid the record label in the center. Next, remove the record from your turntable and evenly spread the glue using a business card so that it covers the entire surface. Then, let it sit overnight to dry.
Once the glue has dried, peel it off. Beginning at one side, peel a little edge to grab, and then slowly pull all the wood glue off the record. This is going to feel strange but also very satisfying. Ideally, you should be able to get all the glue off in one piece. Now you’re all clean, and you’ve also got a cool snake skin made out of vinyl that you can use to freak out your friends. Or something like that.
Buy Titebond II
Vinyl Vac 33 Vacuum Attachment
Using a Vinyl Vac 33 to Clean Your Records
Good for: Surface Dust, Dirt, Grime & Deep Groove Cleaning
To remove dust and grime from your record’s grooves, you can use a Vinyl Vac vacuum vinyl cleaner. Simply hold the nozzle of the vacuum over the record while you spin it, going over all the grooves.
One advantage to using a vacuum for cleaning your records is it will minimize pressure on the record. This avoids any risk of bending, damaging, or breaking it.
To be clear, do NOT use a household vacuum cleaner. Using a household vacuum cleaner is sure to damage or destroy your record (when in doubt, remind yourself of that ol’ “don’t be an idiot” thing).
Proper Vinyl Records Care Will Make Your Collection Last a Lifetime
Look, we all know vinyl ain’t cheap. But we all also know great sound is worth the investment. So do your future self a favor, and take care of each record you purchase. When you pick out an album for your turntable, don’t skip the proper cleaning steps. General maintenance will ensure your collection lasts. Make sure you’ve got the best vinyl record cleaning tools on the market.
