Cleaning Vinyl Records.
Printed From: Progarchives.com
Category: Other music related lounges
Forum Name: Tech Talk
Forum Description: Discuss musical instruments, equipment, hi-fi, speakers, vinyl, gadgets,etc.
URL: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=75724
Printed Date: November 22 2024 at 22:34
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 11.01 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Cleaning Vinyl Records.
Posted By: CloseToTheMoon
Subject: Cleaning Vinyl Records.
Date Posted: February 06 2011 at 14:09
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I couldn't find a topic on this, but I've seen various youtube videos and there seems to be a few schools of thought on the proper ways. I'm going to start ripping some of my vinyl into iTunes and I want them to sound as clean as I can get them (most are dollar bin/flea market finds). Any suggestions? Obviously, I'll test them out on worthless hand-me-down junk. ------------- It's funny how the colors of the real world only seem really real when you viddy them on the screen. |
Replies:
Posted By: Easy Livin
Date Posted: February 06 2011 at 14:12
I've actually found that for some of my badly soiled LPs , warm (not hot) soapy water makes a huge difference.
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Posted By: Catcher10
Date Posted: February 06 2011 at 15:20
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That's exactly what I have done to vinyl I have bought at yard sales, antique stores and such......what I do not do is actually wipe the record with a cloth of any sort. I let the soappy solution sit for about a minute to work into the grooves and loosen up the crud...then just rinse it off with water and allow it to air dry. -------------   
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Posted By: AtomicCrimsonRush
Date Posted: February 07 2011 at 06:31
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I was given a spray some years back when vinyl was still in - it smelt like flyspray but was superb for getting off the gunk. These days - warm water and wipe around with the groove, not against it, with a soft cloth. Never failed me yet. Scratches only appear when you wipe against the groove. The stylus can be cleaned with a soft brush and a blow. Seriously, it works! ------------- 
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Posted By: Snow Dog
Date Posted: February 07 2011 at 06:47
This was my method. Must dry in as dust free enviroment as possible. I was once told meths does the trick but you can only play the albumj once because the meths destroys the vinyl. Does anyone remembr those things you could buy. It was an arm that stuck to your turnatable and cleaned it as ypu played.
------------- http://www.last.fm/user/Snow_Dog" rel="nofollow"> 
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Easy Livin wrote:Posted By: Slartibartfast
Date Posted: February 07 2011 at 07:13
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Funny you should ask that. A significant portion of my collection went underwater in a house flood. My boss at the time expressed interest in salvaging them. I do believe he did the soapy water method.
------------- Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened... 
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Posted By: Vompatti
Date Posted: February 07 2011 at 07:21
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I use a record brush for dust and a moist t-shirt for stains. (By the way, the http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=99837" rel="nofollow - wood glue method is either very tricky or doesn't work.) |
Posted By: Blacksword
Date Posted: February 07 2011 at 07:37
They were called 'Dustbugs' in our local Dixons. I used to have one many many years ago. I remember reading some article in a hifi magazine in the 80's, saying that you shouldn't clean your vinyl with clothes, brushes etc, but you should let the stylus pick up the crud, and then wipe the stylus. ------------- Ultimately bored by endless ecstasy! |
Posted By: cannon
Date Posted: February 07 2011 at 07:57
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http://www.turntablebasics.com/cleaners.html" rel="nofollow - http://www.turntablebasics.com/cleaners.html
The anti-static brush I've been using for 35 years. Essential IMO as is cleaning your stylus.
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Posted By: clarkpegasus4001
Date Posted: February 07 2011 at 09:37
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My mate used to use a mild washing up liquid in warm water, never done this myself but he swore by it.
------------- Tony C. |
Posted By: Paravion
Date Posted: February 07 2011 at 15:41
| I use isopropyl alcohol (it's cheap) and those round cotton thingies girls use to wash away make-up from their face. It works fine.. |
Posted By: Paravion
Date Posted: February 07 2011 at 15:47
For severe cases - I use something like that. It's not wood-glue, but something gluey made specifically for vinyl cleaning purposes by some local inventor-type - the result is great! I'll try wood-glue some day..
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Posted By: Slartibartfast
Date Posted: February 07 2011 at 15:51
That brought back memories of this Dual turntable I used to have that had a dust brush on the cartridge head. ------------- Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened...
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Posted By: Rottenhat
Date Posted: February 17 2011 at 16:44
Yep, the same happened to me. The cellar in my house was flooded because the drains were clogged or something like that. My vinyls got a nice musky smell of mold after that. The solution to this dilemma was that I gave away all my vinyls at the local pub. That worked. :) ------------- Language is a virus from outer space. -William S. Burroughs |
Posted By: Blue Effect
Date Posted: February 21 2011 at 07:40
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I have a pile of square cloths cut from old sweatpants which have a nice soft texture that "gets into the grooves" so to speak. I use the outside as opposed to the inside which usually has a rougher, uneven texture. I spray some distilled water onto the cloth and wipe down the surface of the record. Once it's clean I wipe it with a dry cloth. For really dirty records I use a small amount of dishwashing liquid mixed with the water first. If clean labels are important then put something between your fingertips and the label while doing this because some labels are very sensitive to fingerprints. I usually put an old t-shirt on the table then put a new plastic album cover bag on top of that and then I place the LP on top of the bag.
One of these days I will invest in a proper record cleaning machine, everyone I know who has one swears by them. But my method works for me, anyway.
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Posted By: oliverstoned
Date Posted: February 23 2011 at 01:42
| Yes, a proper cleaning machine is what's needed. |