Whether new or old, every record needs a bit of care to keep it sounding as warm and lush as intended. Luckily, some of the most common issues with records are also the easiest to fix. We’ve outlined a simple guide for pain-free vinyl maintenance. From brushes and sleeves to sprays and crates, these are our favorite products for cleaning and caring for your records, as well as how to use them.
Preventing Record Warp
Store your records away from direct sunlight. Leaving them in sunlight or heat can cause warping. Keep the records away from windows and heating. You’ll also want to make sure you don’t leave your records in a vehicle on a hot day
Avoid stacking your records. Vinyl records are relatively heavy, and stacking them atop each other puts significant pressure on the records at the bottom of the pile. This can cause them to get warped, scratched and scuffed.[6] Make sure you store your records vertically to avoid this pressure.
Keep your records away from humidity. While most people typically store their records in a basement, the typical humidity in these spaces will likely warp the records. Try to find a space you can use that isn’t overly humid. If a basement is your only choice, you should consider installing a dehumidifier to provide a safe place to store your records.
For the Record:
Whether your record is freshly pressed or older than the surviving members of The Beatles, a quick cleaning will do wonders. To get the most out of your record, we recommend a Cleaner Brush. The key with any vinyl brush is to make sure it’s anti-static.
A stylus brush is a solid bet for every record enthusiast. As you play record after record, small amounts of dust will build up and collect on your stylus, causing skipping or even damage, as the stylus will force contaminants into your records. To prevent this from happening, we recommend a Style Brush.
The deep clean, for a brand new record this isn’t an issue, but for those rare record finds at your local shop, this is an extremely important step. we recommend a Cleaning Solution and Microfiber Cloth
Record Storage. There are many different options for storing, one rule remains the same: never stack your records horizontally. Whether you keep them in a crate or on a shelf, it’s very important to keep your records vertical as stacking them horizontally can cause uneven pressure to weigh down on your vinyl's, warping and distorting them.
Article provided by wikiHow, original wikiHow article. Content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons License
Comments