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How do you clean your vinyl records?

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I’ve actually found that soap and a microfiber cloth with warm water works pretty well.
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mravitz
8
Mar 11, 2019
Blue Dawn, or any detergent is the way to go. If it is good for your hands or is called a soap it will leave a film behind. Dawn is just a detergent without anything else. My approach is to put a few drops of detergent in a bowl that is wide enough to dip a record into, but not so wide that the label gets wet. I use my fingers to suds up the record and then rinse it in cool to warm water. Drying is on microfiber or paper towels. I have found cotton to leave behind some fibers.
rastus
1391
Mar 13, 2019
mravitzPaper towels contain a considerable amount of abrasives, as does any cheap paper, better to simply stay away, unless it is specified for optics etc.
GunsOfBrixton
911
Dec 19, 2018
I went way down the rabbit hole on this topic, since thrift stores are my primary source for vinyl. I ultimately came to the conclusion that you really just need four things: water, surfactant, fine bristled brush, and a very soft and absorbant towel to dry with. After much experimentation, I ended up with a Vinyl-styl kit, but I just use blue dawn & warm water, instead of the chemical solution it comes with. Although it's still manual, having the kit helps me industrialize the process, since I tend to find stashes of records, rather than individual ones. I also feel better having the protection for the labels. Works wonderfully. Once clean, I just maintain with a carbon brush each play.
BetaWar
191
Dec 18, 2018
I use a micro-fiber pad with some cleaning solution. It works quite well, far better than what I used in the past (a sticky roller).
MonnoM
79
Dec 18, 2018
I have a crazy amount of old European classical vinyls from my bf's family. Haven't been dusted off in 30+ years! Luckily, I ALSO have a good relationship with my local record store guy and he's been running them through his machine in batches for a nominal fee & first pick of what we're not keeping.
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