How to properly care for your vinyl

There are many reasons, people buy vinyl.  

• They like the format/size
• The sound is superior
• Collecting for value or interest
• Cover art
• And I'm sure many other

For whatever your reason is, proper care of your vinyl will keep it in tip top shape for years, no matter what
climate you live in.

First lets talk about cleaning.  Cleaning records is oh so easy, and not expensive. Audiophiles will express the horror of touching vinyl with your fingers.  Well you know what folks, I've touched millions of copies of vinyl recordings, and I don't think my touch has ruined a one of them.  There is a correct way to handle your vinyl. By the EDGES!!  This leaves fewer chances of your harming your records by scratching with your fingernails. If you do get fingerprints on the vinyl, don't worry, they come right off.

First lets decide how much cleaning your record needs!.

• How often do you play particular records
• How long and where have your records been stored
• How careful are you with your recordings

If you don't play your records often, a simple wipe with an antistat cloth is sufficient.  Be sure to keep these
expensive cloths in a baggy type container to keep it moist.  Once they dry up - Throw out!

If your records have been stored for awhile and you have dirt or mold on them. Don't go out and buy an
expensive cleaner yet!  This will only smear the dirt around.  Use old fashion dish soap and a handiwipe.
Use a small few drops on your record. Clean thoroughly with the handiwipe, rinse, running under the water being careful to avoid getting water on the label, (Don't soak your records in water, the label will come off).  If you get the label slightly wet, it will dry. Dry with a soft cloth or pat dry with a good paper towel.  This gets all the dirt and mold off.  After you wash the record, apply a commercial antistat solution to decrease any static on the vinyl. (Discwasher D4 or Allsop )
I recommend the spray instead of the squeeze because their is much less waste. Why  a handiwipe?
Because they have no wood pulp and will not harm your records.  Now you could spend about $250.00 and
invest in a professional cleaning machine called Nitty Gritty.  We have two such machines, which cleans both sides at the same time and then vacumns the solution off.  This really gets deep in the grooves and can immensely improve the sound of even a scratchy record.  Nitty Gritty Home page.

Alcohol ! Will it harm your records? The answer is no.  Most (or maybe all) commercial products are alcohol based. My most frequently asked question is "What kind of Alcohol, do I use"?.  70% , like the kind for wound care, cost about .49 cents.  Please don't use grain alcohol.  This takes slight dust and dirt off and is the
best thing to remove fingerprints. We use a spray bottle with alcohol and a handiwipe for a quick cleaning
at our stores.  Remember, alcohol does not contain antistat solution, you must buy a commercial product like
D4 to free your records of static.

Storing your vinyl

Always store your vinyl standing up.  If you lay your records in a stack, overtime they will will warp. Don't
allow alot of space between records causing them to lean, this will also cause warping. Heat warping is
usually only caused by exposure to direct heat, ie (sun - don't leave your records in the car) furnaces ( I have
seen more records that have heat marks by being directly laid on something hot).  Records can stand a
fairly high temperature in doors as long as they are stored properly.

What kind of inner sleeve should I use?  

First, if you buy used records from anywhere and they have the old kind of plastic sleeve on them, TAKE THEM OFF!!  Here in Florida, those plastic inner sleeves adhere to the vinyl and if you can get it off, leaves marks that won't come off the vinyl.  We recommend plain old white paper sleeves with the cut corners.  These are inexpensive, and the cut corners make sliding the record sleeve in and out of the jacket much easier.
Always slide the open edge of the inner sleeve first into the record jacket.  This keeps the dust out, and prevents the record from falling out of the jacket.  (Broke an expensive Beatles album that way once).
If you choose to buy the polylined sleeve, these are perfectly fine.  The lining of the sleeve, serves to keep static down on your recordings.

Home
Contact us	Cd Care Tips