I have recently been asked about how I care for my records. “Back in the day” this wasn’t really a big question because everyone knew the proper method of handling a record was to touch it only by the edges or the center. Actually touching the grooves of an LP was considered grounds for prosecution.
My best guess is that with the advent of streaming, handling of records became “lost knowledge”. Well, no matter because in this post I discuss what I do when I listen to the records in my collection.
Please note that any products or techniques mention here must not be considered recommendations promotions. I am only advising what I do, and you should use your own best judgement.
First and foremost, I have taken to wearing white cotton gloves when handling my records. Fingerprints are probably the most destructive elements to a record. Very simple, very cheap, and well worth any minor aggravation.
Dust and dirt are two other ways to traumatize your records. I have a two-part method of managing dust and dirt. The first step is to use a special record spray. I get mine from a local record shop and it works extremely well. Be sure to follow the instructions!
Note that some shops and many hard-core record collectors have sonic record cleaning machines. The principle is the same used in sonic jewelry cleaners. A record is partially submerged in a solution and while the machine slowly spins the disc sonic vibrations remove the ick. I have not tried it, but supposedly it works very well.
After applying the special record spray the next step I follow is to remove the ick with a Sonic Broom that is made by Audio Technica. This tool is reminiscent of the famous Discwasher that came out several decades ago. There are various models on the market, so you can choose whichever best suits your needs.
In this case, the Sonic Broom comes with a solution that you can put into the tool. That solution dampens the corduroy-like fabric of the tool. However, I use the broom with the special spray I mentioned above.
I spin the record on the turntable and use the Sonic Broom to lift off dirt, dust, and excess solution. The result is a nicely cleaned record. Again, if you do this be sure to follow the instructions.
Every now and then I use an anti-static brush on my records. The brush will remove very light dust, but more importantly it reduces the static that naturally builds up in vinyl records. Honestly, I cannot say that I can hear the difference absolutely and positively for sure. Still, I am fairly sure that it helps and some record collectors say that such a tool is the bees knees.
There you have it. Those are the things that I do when I play records. Note that clean and properly cared for records are also a great way to reduce wear and tear on your turntable, especially the stylus and cartridge. Dirt can cause extra wear, and with the cost of a good cartridge, wear is something you want to avoid.
