How to Clean and Care for Your Vinyl Records: The Complete Guide

A well-kept record can last a lifetime, or several. A neglected one quickly loses its value and its sound. Here are our tips, based on what we see at the counter every day, to keep your collection in top shape.

1. Handle your records properly

Always hold a record by its edge and the center label. Fingers on the grooves leave oils that attract dust and end up causing surface noise. Take the record out of its inner sleeve by bowing the sleeve slightly rather than pulling on it.

2. Clean before and after playing

A pass of a carbon fiber brush every time you play removes surface dust and static. Let the record spin on the turntable, hold the brush still for a few turns, then sweep it off toward the edge.

For a deep clean (used records, embedded dust), use a record cleaning solution and a microfiber cloth, following the grooves. Avoid household cleaners, pure alcohol and tap water, which can leave residue. Let the record dry completely before putting it away.

3. Replace the inner sleeves

Old paper sleeves scratch and shed fibers. Replace them with lined anti-static sleeves. Add a plastic outer sleeve to protect the cover from wear and dinged corners. It also keeps the record's value if you ever sell it.

4. Store your collection the right way

• Upright, never stacked flat: the weight warps the records at the bottom.
• Not too tight and not too loose, so records don't lean and warp.
• Away from heat and sunlight: a radiator or a window can warp a record in a few hours.
• In a dry, temperate room: basement humidity encourages mold on sleeves.

5. Take care of your turntable

A clean record won't do much good with a dirty stylus. Clean the stylus with a small stylus brush, from back to front. Also check that the tracking force is set correctly and replace the stylus when it's worn: a damaged tip can permanently harm the grooves.

Brushes, cleaning fluids, sleeves and turntable mats: it's all in our vinyl accessories, online or in store at 1477 Mont-Royal Ave. East in Montreal.

What about used records?

Every used record we sell is graded on a clear scale. To learn what NM, VG+ or VG mean, read our grading guide, then browse our selection of used vinyl.

Got a collection sitting in the basement? We buy records, in store or at your home.