Record washing is a necessity for vinyl lovers

I came up with the idea of ​​washing records after I bought several records from the 60s and 70s and, when I played them on the player, I heard “sand.” At first I chalked it up to the fact that the records were old and the tracks were broken. After listening to them, I decided to inspect the stylus of the pickup head and found a pile of fine dust on it. I realized that the noise problem was most likely not due to the age of the records, because outwardly they looked quite normal, in VG+/NM- condition.

Also, the production quality of modern records is not at a high level - on the surfaces of new records, especially from various indie labels, you can often see fine dust that remains during the production process.

How do we store it?

Beautiful record covers can be an excellent decoration for your home, and doubly so if placed correctly. We recommend storing your collection in an upright position to prevent the records from bending. Square “cubes” of various colors, which are easy to find in stores, as well as special wall frames for records will help with this. It is with them that the effect of an art space or art gallery is achieved anywhere you want. Choose, both options have proven their effectiveness.

While your favorite album is in the store or delivered to you from an online store, everything is fine with it - it is sealed in polyethylene, but when you open the packaging, dust and other contaminants get into the envelope from the outside and inside. The coolest accessories for protecting sleeves and records around the world are considered to be additional protective sleeves - external (for covers) and internal (for protecting records). To keep your collection clean, we recommend the Analog Renaissance brand - budget-friendly and correct in every sense. The clear outer sleeves are ideal for storing both single and double albums, and the inner record sleeves are anti-static so dust won't stick to them. With such protection, your music will be stored happily ever after and you won’t be ashamed to leave it to your grandchildren as an inheritance. And if you get tired of the album, then in such packaging even a used ear record for a gift will pass for a new one.

Methods for washing records

I started researching the topic of cleaning records. There are two cleaning methods - manual and using special washing machines.

Hand wash

In the first option, it is proposed to “collectively farm” a structure from PVC pipes (

), which protects the center of the record from moisture. Or you can buy a ready-made clamp for washing, it costs around $40.

Disadvantages of this type of washing:

• complex washing process;
• This method cannot clean the record well - deeply embedded dirt will still remain in the tracks;
• high risk of damaging the apple of the plate;
• you need to find a place where the records will dry after washing; it should be free of dust and dirt (this will be difficult for pet owners).

Plus: low cost.

Machine wash

The second option offers a purchased “washing machine” (Spin clean / Knosti), which is a plastic tray, in the center of which the center of the plate is fixed. A special cleaning solution is poured into the bath, and the plate is cleaned using brushes on the bottom and rotation around its axis. After washing the records, you also need to dry them for some time.

Minuses:

• unreasonably high price for such a simple design - from 8,000 to 18,000 rubles ($80-150 on American Amazon excluding delivery);
• The cleanliness of the record will be better than after washing by hand, but still not ideal;
• just as with the manual method, after washing it is necessary to allow the records to dry in a clean room.

Plus: easy cleaning process.

Before the audition.

Preparing vinyl for launch is an interesting special ritual. The disc is taken out of the envelope so as not to touch its working surface, otherwise fingerprints will remain on it. After installing it on the player, you need to wipe off the dust from the record. Many people like the crackle of vinyl - but, believe me, this should not happen. For convenient and quick cleaning of the record, use a special carbon brush Brush IT from the Austrian brand Pro-Ject. If you want to not only quickly clean your record, but also have fun, roll the Pro-Ject Vinyl Clean “slime” over the record – no dust, no stress. This jelly can penetrate deeply into the grooves of the disc and will change color itself when it needs to be replaced. Well, you can also throw it somewhere. However, the service life of the “lizun” is quite long. These accessories were made in Europe, that is, there can be no question of poor quality here.

If you look closely, the diamond needle is barely visible, but it is this that extracts music from the vinyl track. The needle must be protected - this is the law. The Clean it carbon brush, produced by the Austrians Pro-Ject, is perfect for cleaning it. Convenient, fast, effective, in other words, a must have, and Analog Renaissance Stylus Cleaning Liquid will remove dirt from needles of any sharpening. In general, both remedies are effective; all that remains is to choose the appropriate one.

How to wash records yourself

This method of washing records does not claim to be absolutely applicable for all types of record contamination and for everyone, but it is quite effective for the average dirty record and for the average music lover dealing with vinyl. The plate is washed according to the following algorithm. So initially it is simply doused with water. Water from a regular water tap in your apartment. The water temperature should be 40 degrees, that is, wash with warm water. You will notice that it is almost impossible to wash the record with just water, since on vinyl the water will collect in drops and not be distributed evenly over the entire surface. Nevertheless, we roll the plate with water and place it to the side against the wall.

We take a cotton pad, such cotton pads are sold in any cosmetic store and are used to remove makeup.

We moisten it with the same tap water.

Apply 1 drop of detergent. The ideal option would be a detergent that is completely washed off with water, leaving no residue or the feeling that glycerin remains on the surface. This way you can use Amway washing liquids, which themselves are not only completely washed off, but are also antistatic, which will also be important in our case. If you find something else for yourself, then great, we only recommend what has already been tried, as it has proven itself well...

Next, we begin to move the swab with detergent along the perimeter of the record, along the grooves. Here you will notice not only the appearance of foam, but also that the surface tension of the liquid has changed. Now it is distributed over the entire surface of the vinyl, which is a good sign. The grooves are washed evenly over the entire length with some effort, slightly pressing. You can wash it this way for 3-4 minutes on both sides alternately.

Afterwards, it is best to use a shower, and with pressure. We hold the plate and wash off the entire detergent composition with water from the shower, at the same temperature as before. Here you will again notice how the water has begun to collect in droplets, and does not cover the entire surface of the vinyl record, as it was before.

Next, shake off the water. First, just with a sharp movement, and then place the record on a fiber towel, which you will buy exclusively for washing records. The requirements for such fabric should first of all be the following: - it should not be old, so as not to crumble before your eyes and thereby not cover the plate with newly appeared dust particles, reducing your work to nothing. - must absorb moisture well; - it is best to cover the entire surface of the plate with the entire surface of the evenly straightened fabric.

After we have collected all the excess moisture, you can simply place the plate against the wall for 5-10 minutes so that the remaining water evaporates from it.

As a result, the first time you listen to a record on the turntable after washing, there may be slight clicks from static, but the next time you listen, you will probably feel how much better your vinyl record begins to sound after this washing procedure.

About the same thing, but in the video

For a large collection.

If your collection has grown to dozens of records, and you inherited some of them, don’t expect a normal sound. The Analog Renaissance kit, which consists of three items, will help you cope with global cleaning of your vinyl collection. The flexible mat does not slip on any surface, and the vinyl on it will not fidget or scratch. A practical thing that can be stored along with records. Magic Groove Cleaner spray evaporates quickly and is alcohol-free, so you can rest assured that it will last at a party. No special cleaning skills are required. We rubbed the spray with blue Analog Renaissance microfiber - and everything was as good as new. This cleaner will last a long time. The set does not take up much space and can easily wash any disc.

Washing records with an Okki Nokki RCM II machine

There are two types of machines - vacuum and ultrasonic. Since I don’t have such a large vinyl collection, I didn’t see the point in investing in an ultrasonic machine ($1000 and up). I started studying the budget segment, read reviews, and chose Okki Nokki RCM II.

The device was ordered from Germany and cost $594 (33,000 rubles) including the cover and delivery.

Main characteristics:

The factory packaging looked very reliable, thick cardboard, several layers of protective film with air.

The equipment is as follows:

• machine,
• protective cover (often the machine is sold without it),
• network cable,
• suction tube for 12″ records (for 7″ and 10″ tubes are purchased separately),
• goat hair brush,
• record clamp,
• 3 bottles of cleaning concentrate.

Actually washing the records

The process of washing records using this device is simple, but requires a lot of manual operations. 1 bottle (50 ml) of cleaning liquid is diluted in 1 liter of distilled water.

Next, the record is installed on the disk of the machine and secured using a special clamp.

Pour a little liquid onto the surface of the record (there is also a small risk of getting the label wet). If this happens, you need to blot the liquid with a soft paper napkin. The disk rotates.

Using a brush, the liquid is evenly distributed over the plate and dirt is removed. We start the mechanism first in one direction, then in the other.

After cleaning with a brush, turn on the suction device; with a strong rumble, it removes all moisture and dirt from the surface.

All steps are repeated for the other side of the record and cleaning is completed.

Minuses:

• The cost can be considered a disadvantage, but when compared with the previously indicated price of Spin Clean in Russia, it does not seem so high;
• using this machine for a small number of records is not optimal, you need to accumulate 10-15 pieces and then wash them, since after a couple of records it will be difficult to drain the dirty water and it will remain in the body;
• high noise level during the cleaning process, approximately like a vacuum cleaner.

Pros:

• ease of operation;
• high quality cleaning;
• You can listen to the recording almost immediately after washing.

What's with the turntable?

And don't forget to take care of your turntable. Records come in color, so why not make felt mats for vinyl in color? Pro-Ject did it! Such a change of clothes for a week will come in very handy, as if you had bought a new turntable. The hype should be endless at 33 rpm!

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