Are you a vinyl lover? You can find all the information you could ever need in Robert Halvari’s Vinyl Record Community! For today, we are going to be focusing on one of the most important aspects of vinyl care: cleaning.

Like anything, your vinyl will get dirty and worn, and at some point, it will need to be cleaned. There are two ways of doing this: by hand or with a record-cleaning machine. We will go through each of these processes in the sections below.

How To Clean Vinyl Records Safely

Cleaning by Hand

This might sound scary, but it’s incredibly easy and quick. It only takes about 5 minutes, so you can get back to listening in no time. Just follow the steps outlined below:

Use a carbon fibre record brush to clean off any loose dust and debris from the record. Get a brush with lots of small fibres, as these will work better than any standard brush.
Get the correct solution for cleaning your records. Options like GrooveWasher do a great job, and will not leave any residue behind.
Carefully apply the fluid that you will use to clean the record. Make sure that you place your record down on a microfiber cloth, then completely cover the surface of the record with the mist from the cleaning solution.
Wait about 10 seconds before you start cleaning
Place the cleaning pad on the record and start wiping with the grooves in an arc. Wipe the whole record a minimum of three times with some moderate pressure.
Start rotating the pad to dry and groom the record surface. If you notice a spot that is still dirty or problematic, spray n more of the cleaning fluid, wait 10 seconds, and carefully scrub the area with the pad. Make sure to only move with the grooves, not against them!
Filthy vinyl may need two or even three thorough cleaning sessions, so take your time!
Give the cleaned vinyl some time to properly air dry before you put it back in the sleeve or play it. You can leave it out on the dish rack to get the job done.
Once the vinyl is dry, you can play it again or put it away! It’s that simple.

**Please note – you should replace your microfiber cloth regularly, or have or thoroughly cleaned. There’s no point in trying to clean something with a dirty item!

Cleaning by Using a Record Cleaning Machine

Option two is cleaning your vinyl by using a record-cleaning machine. This is very quick and easy, too, and there are two kinds of machines: vacuum-based record cleaning machines, ultrasonic cleaning machines, and vinyl record baths.

Vacuum-Based Record Cleaning Machines

These might be a little pricey, but they are worth it. It will save you a lot of time and stress, and make your life a whole lot easier. This kind of machine will work by simply acting as a vacuum and sucking up all debris that it finds on the vinyl after the cleaning solution has been applied.

Ultrasonic Cleaning Machines

These machines will deep clean any record by creating millions of tiny bubbles inside the cleaning bath. The bubbles will form, then collapse, and release the energy as heat and build up a tiny amount of pressure. It’s a safe way to deep clean your records, but you will definitely feel the pain in your pocket.

These amazing machines will probably set you back close to $3k if you get a good one. There are cheaper options, but it’s always better to get a good quality product if you can afford it.

Vinyl Record Baths

If you want a cost-effective way to clean your vinyl, then a vinyl record bath may be what you are looking for. You can clean several vinyls in a single sitting, it’s easy, and it won’t break the bank. It works by simply brushing the vinyl on both sides at the same time, giving it a nice bath and getting it spotless.

Sure, the more expensive machines might sound like a lot of fun, but if you want a quick and easy way to get things done that you can save money on, this is it.

Summary

Cleaning vinyl doesn’t have to be scary! There are several ways you can do it, depending on your preferences and your budget. You may choose to clean it by hand, or use one of the three machines available on the market.

Whichever you try, make sure you do everything properly, and take your time. Vinyls are expensive, so you need to take care of what you have!

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